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Category: Arts

  • ‘The Christmas Spirit’ brings life and death to community theatre

    The Scarborough Theatre brings “The Christmas Spirit” to the stage and with it, a theatrical encouragement to the public to spend quality time with their loved ones this holiday By: Aliya Karimjee Santa’s coming down the chimney for his annual delivery, but this year’s present could be a deadly one.  “The Christmas Spirit,” presented at…

  • The feeling of home: An exploration into ‘Afghanistan, My Love’

    A new art exhibition provides a pair of fresh eyes on Afghanistan through the contemporary works of Afghan artists By: Kaden Nanji Reflecting on their home, artists explore their nation’s identity — transcending any physical location — in Toronto’s Aga Khan Museum’s newest art exhibition, “Afghanistan, My Love.” When searching for pictures of Afghanistan on…

  • Painting ‘forever’: Wedding painters capture everlasting moments of love

    Trending videos on social media shine a spotlight on wedding and live-event painters By: Aliya Karimjee Caught on camera, a painter gently places a canvas on an easel as a bride and groom take their first dance, ready to begin their new life together. The first brush stroke is placed and, by the end of…

  • Painting pieces of Canadian past with local artists at Art Toronto

    Global art, photography and beyond filled Metro Toronto Convention Centre as the city’s most prominent art fair made its 23rd return By: Anna Maria Moubayed Over 90 galleries from across Canada, the U.S. and other countries came together from Oct. 27-30 at one of Canada’s biggest art fairs, Art Toronto, returning to the city for…

  • 7 places to get spooky tattoos this Halloween

    Local Toronto tattoo parlours are offering discounted ink for thrill seekers this October By: Amany Abubaker For some, tattoos and Halloween exist synonymously in the fall season. Getting tattooed is a popular activity during this time of year, as local parlours often offer special discounts on tattoos, allowing customers to choose from exclusive Halloween-themed flash…

  • Healing with pottery: How an all-women studio is hand-moulding a strong community

    Marginalized communities are finding support between clay pots and spin wheels at a downtown Toronto ceramic studio By: Aliya Karimjee Toronto’s Inspirations Studio highlights the intersection between art and collectivity, allowing communities of women and other marginalized groups to connect through pottery. As of July this year, Inspirations Studio officially became a part of YWCA…

  • Toronto Dragon Festival made a grand return after a two-year pandemic pause

    Despite a shortage of time and funding this year, the Toronto Dragon Festival team pulled together a massive success in promoting Chinese culture By: Meilin Ma The 2022 Toronto Dragon Festival (TDF), one of the largest Chinese festivals in North America, was successfully held at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto from Sept. 2-4., after a…

  • The South Asian Yard to host its first in-person event for Brown creators

    What do you SAY? By: Aru Kaul The South Asian Yard (SAY) is bringing young Brown voices to the forefront of arts and culture with their first in-person event happening on Aug. 19. Founded in 2021 by TMU social work alumni Ria Arora, SAY is a non-profit organization with the mission to empower all second-generation…

  • Asian Heritage Month: Celebrating culture and combating anti-Asian racism

    For more than 20 years in Canada, May is a time to celebrate the culture, arts and history of the Asian community and its many contributions to the country and the world’s creative scene. But with the rampant anti-Asian racism, this year’s celebration looks a little different By: Meilin Ma In honour of Asian Heritage…

  • Q&A with the co-directors of Italian Mime Suicide

    “Why is a laugh similar to a cry?” asks Kari Pederson, who explores the idea with co-director Adam Paolozza in their mostly silent production at The Theatre Centre. By: Rowan Flood Named one of 2021’s top 10 shows in Montreal by the Montreal Gazette, Italian Mime Suicide came to Toronto this spring. The show, which…

  • 5 upcoming Toronto summer art festivals

    Toronto’s live art scene is back and better than ever with these spotlighted summertime art festivals By: Olga Bergmans  (John Thomas/Unsplash) Summertime is approaching, which means it’s time to queue in the warmer weather, and pair it with a variety of unique art festivals. Art lovers are ready to unite through new festivals in the…

  • X University students display their artwork at annual creative industries showcase

    Ranging from photographs to paintings, the diversifying works from these three X University students uphold artistic visions  By: Teresa Valenton Cultivating a range of works from students in the X University creative industries program, the annual showcase event provided a platform for aspiring artists at the Great Hall in Toronto.  On April 7, the Creative…

  • Head Over Heels marks thrilling return to musical theatre at X University

    XMTC has returned in a comedic and campy night of fun By: Nalyn Tindall Promotional graphic for Head Over Heels via XMTC on Facebook The X Musical Theatre Company (XMTC) debuted their first musical theatre production since the beginning of the pandemic, with in-person showings of the musical Head over Heels from April 6 to…

  • Picking up pieces of Ukraine: An exclusive Q&A with street artist Mahyar Amiri

    By experimenting with various mediums, this Toronto-based artist is raising awareness for Ukraine By: Teresa Valenton Amiri finishes up the final details on his latest mural MAKE LOVE NOT WAR by adding the remaining petals beside a young girl.(Dylan Kavalsky/VOCAB Communications)  In embracing a creative rebellion against tradition, mixed-media artist Mahyar Amiri explores the boundaries…

  • New York-based artist transforms MOCA Toronto into a vibrant space for storytelling

    Referring to a multitude of historical archives, an engaging new exhibit creates a stage for the untold stories of European history By: Teresa Valenton By creating interactive spaces for the general public to immerse themselves in, a New York-based artist facilitated an accessible space for marginalized communities at Toronto’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). On…

  • These 5 women advocates are championing for change

    To celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, it’s time to know this list of Canadian activists By: Kinza Zafar The purpose of International Women’s Day is not to merely celebrate women’s accomplishments—it’s to spark a much larger discussion regarding liberation beyond patriarchal standards and decolonizing our minds. For some, it’s a push towards awareness…

  • Calgary art museum announces permanent free admission

    Glenbow Museum will also undergo a name change as part of the Glenbow Reimagined campaign By: Iqraa Khan Free general admission is coming soon to one of Calgary’s most notable art museums. Glenbow Museum made this pivotal announcement at a press event on Feb. 17, along with more information about the transformation of the museum.…

  • Opinion: Fatuma Adar’s She’s Not Special: Exploring your trauma, sort of

    Opinion: Fatuma Adar’s She’s Not Special: Exploring your trauma, sort of February 27, 2022 Blending stand-up comedy with music and theatre, a Toronto-based writer engages with ideas of Blackness, Muslim identity, trauma and Linkin Park  By: Sophia de Guzman Adapted to an online theatrical experience, Fatuma Adar’s She’s Not Special at Fringe Toronto’s Next Stage…

  • Calgary dance studio makes significant cultural changes to “The Nutcracker”

    The local studio changed two dances in the classic ballet considered culturally insensitive By: Mijal Kleinkopf Madrigal “Nutcracker Season” has performers scrambling to put on a magical show for audiences. But in the 2021 season, one ballet company made an effort to represent different cultures in a more inclusive and positive light.   Evolutions School of…

  • CanCulture’s homemade holiday gift guide for everyone on your list

    Five timeless treasures you can make yourself to show how much you care By: Sabrina Scroppo My earliest memory of the holiday season is one of my mom dressed in a ruffled apron decorated in stains and hovering over our oven while notes of warm vanilla float through the air. With her face powdered with…

  • Photo Essay: The meanings behind Canadian street art

    What stories lie just behind the spray-painted brick or airbrushed stucco? By: Olivia Wiens Photos by: Haley Sengsavanh, Kinza Zafar, Olivia Wiens While many people turn to galleries and museums to enjoy stunning art pieces, fantastic artwork can be found on many streets in Canada. From small graffiti scratches in the back alleys of prairie…

  • With the increase of online art exhibitions, where do physical museums stand?

    After COVID-19 shifted galleries and exhibitions to a digital space, artists and art institutions are now adjusting to a new normal By: Anna Maria Moubayed COVID-19 left museums and art galleries with highly restricted access since the start of the pandemic. With 61 per cent of all global art fairs cancelled, the market was forced…

  • How 2 Toronto projects are creating dialogue about BIPOC art and communities

    BIPOC communities are making their mark on Toronto’s growing art scene — and they’re just getting started By: Kayla Higgins A collaborative initiative in Toronto is hosting events and projects to highlight art created by young Black and Indigenous artists. ArtWorxTO’s “Stolen People, Stolen Land” is a series of interconnected films and poems from exclusively…

  • Art as a healing tool: The benefits of art therapy

    Art therapy isn’t a very well-known therapeutic practice, but it is an effective method to express intense emotion non-verbally, according to registered art therapists By: Olivia Wiens Do you ever find yourself drawing or writing when you’re particularly stressed or anxious? Do you turn to singing, dancing or painting in order to calm your mind?…

  • Toronto’s emerging artists are drawing their inspiration from the city

    These young artists are helping the city recover from the impacts of the pandemic By: Teresa Valenton The arts and culture scene in Toronto has grown rapidly through a collective search for local representation. While searching for local talents, ArtWorxTO was created to spotlight artists that reflect the cultural vibrancy of the city. As the…

  • Design for beginners: 10 tips to guide your graphic design projects

    Get into your graphic designing mode with these ten useful tips By, Aylia Naqvi Whether you’re creating social media graphics or making educational infographics for an academic endeavour, knowing the basics of graphic design is a transferable skill that will be indispensable in any and all pursuits. When done right, design has the capacity to…

  • Twirling into Tabletops: Dance Students Feel Limited in the Pandemic

    Ryerson dance students feel that practicing in make-shift home studios makes improving in dance class a challenge By, Anna Wdowczyk Karly Benson (left) uses her home railing as a dance bar, while Kathleen Pick (right) finds just enough practice space in her basement . (Courtesy of Benson and Pick)  Despite tighter spaces and the lack…

  • The Beauty of Arabic Calligraphy

    Arabic calligraphy is emerging as a popular art form in Canada. These artists are unearthing ways to inspire   By, Sakina Chaudary View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Open Easel (@the_open_easel) Arabic calligraphy is an artistic handwriting practice that can be found in many homes across Canada. It’s beautiful to look at,…

  • 9 BIPOC photographers to look out for in Canada

    These Canadian photographers are redefining the art medium and altering its historically monolithic identity.  By, Madeline Liao  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Felicia Chang (She/her) (@feliciachangphoto) Marginalized communities have often been historically overlooked in photography, but these Canadian photographers are changing the industry with their art. Their practices challenge the status…

  • Sheri Osden Nault: Art beyond the binary

    Métis artist, Sheri Osden Nault, talks about what it means to be an Indigenous and non-binary artist  By, Reema Najjar  Sheri Osden Nault with their art piece, named “miina kawapamitin” (until we meet again, in Michif). (Courtesy Tina Bararian).  Sheri Osden Nault, a queer, Métis/Michif artist breaks the binary with their artwork. Through artistic forms…