Category: Arts

  • 10 Black Canadian artists to follow and celebrate

    A curated list of Black Canadian fine artists you should be supporting on Instagram.  By, Lauren Battagello The contributions of Black art and Black artists to the Canadian fine art world are immeasurable. Although they are seldom acknowledged for their boundless efforts, Black creatives have long functioned as the backbone of all mediums of artistry…

  • Artists who don’t study art: the intersection of engineering and art

     In the first rendition of the “artists who don’t study art” series, Jennifer Kim breaks down how she maintains her custom shoe-painting business as a Ryerson engineering student, highlighting the importance of prioritizing your art even when it’s not centred in your studies.  By, Sama Nemat Allah  “Your degree determines your career” is a widespread…

  • Canada’s artful architecture: A listicle of structural appeals

    Art pieces in themselves, take a look at the diverse aesthetics Canadian architecture has to offer. By, Aylia Naqvi Over the years, Canada has evolved into one of the ultimate tourist attractions. This is in large part due to its diverse and bountiful architectural zeitgeist. Canadian architecture has evolved vastly over the course of time,…

  • How to sell your art on etsy

    From understanding Etsy listings to promotions, find out how you can take your art to a virtual marketplace.  By, Sakina Chaudary Etsy has become a go-to, accessible place for self-employed creators. The ease and convenience of running an Etsy shop remotely have led to an increase in use since the start of the pandemic.  This…

  • 7 affordable ways to transform your room into an artsy living space

    Make the most out of your space with these cheap and creative ways to bring life and excitement back into your room. By, Allissa Hibbs Here’s the deal: we’re facing a global pandemic that is keeping us confined in our homes, amid a dark and gloomy winter season no less. Staying at home means we…

  • Art is an inaccessible mode of expression—this artist is working to change that

    Artist Kat Germain unpacks the nuances of her role as an audio describer.  By, Sama Nemat Allah  In a society where the indisputable gap between the art world and the communities who have long been denied access to it is ever prevalent, people like Kat Germain are working to fix it.  Germain is a writer,…

  • How Artwork and Music Intertwine

    Design communicates the music’s message visually and contributes to the artist’s branding.  Written by Madison Kelly  Jud Haynes album cover design for Chris Hadfield album in Canada, on Oct. 9, 2015.  When shuffling through music apps or going to a vintage record store, we search through dozens of album covers, unaware of the effect they…

  • Capturing Moments Distantly : How Ryerson Photographers are taking Photos in the COVID-19 Pandemic

    Ryerson photography students are adapting their practice to the pandemic’s restrictions, capturing and chronicling the ebbs and flows of the omnipresent pandemic.  By: Justina Kewal  When the novel coronavirus unfurled, life came to a standstill — schools and daycares closed, non-essential businesses shut down and large social gatherings were banned. As many continue to question…

  • Speaking up through spoken word: Fauzia Agbonhin Artist Spotlight

    Slam poet Fauzia Agbonhin unpacks the capacity of art and poetry to make a societal impact in a world in need of change. By, Sama Nemat Allah  Fauzia Agbonhin, a 19-year-old author and spoken word artist. (Courtesy of Fauzia Agbonhin) In May of 2020, amidst the resurgence of Black Lives Matter protests and the radical…

  • Sit back, relax and let Gogh – Toronto’s immersive exhibit offers a safe space

    Sensory Processing Disorder affects how I am able to perceive stimuli. As a result of my condition, I am often unable to enjoy sensory experiences like art exhibits due to their high stimulus environments – but is Toronto’s latest Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit an exception? By Shannon Schaefer Inside the Van Gogh Immersive Exhibit, on…

  • How Julia Antimirova went from a 9-5 to a full-time artist

    She realized she was unfulfilled and unhappy with her inner creativity that wasn’t being unleashed to its full potential. By Sarah Tomlinson Julia Antimirova playing at one of her first live shows in Toronto on Sept. 23, 2020. (Valeria Shatskyaya/CanCulture) During a time where switching between full-time careers isn’t ideal, singer-songwriter Julia Antimirova doesn’t regret…

  • Five women who made a mark on Canada’s arts and culture scene

    Celebrating the diversity and creativity of exemplary Canadian women By Justina Kewal Canadian women have made a tremendous impact on music, literature, art, and film. As we wrap up October’s Women’s History Month celebrations, let us continue to be inspired by the great accomplishments of Canadian women in displaying the diversity of our country and…

  • Artist Profile: Sarah Moreau

    An interdisciplinary artist sending a message through fibre. By, Sania Ali Sarah Moreau (Courtesy of Scott Minor) Sarah Moreau’s career as a fibre artist began with something ordinary: she was simply in search of a new hobby. Now, the interdisciplinary artist portrays intersectional environmentalism and feminism through her eco-conscious crochet and fibre art.  She discovered…

  • The development of contemporary art from the 60s to now

    An introduction to the modern movements that changed art forever  Photo: Amaury Salas/Unsplash By Will Lofsky The 1960s From the counter-culture rebellion and rise of rock n’ roll to the domination of the Vietnam War, and assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr and John F. Kennedy, the 1960s was one of the most culturally significant…

  • Artist Profile: Hanin Mazri

    Ryerson photographer Hanin Mazri has spent the last two years developing his own unique style By Manus Hopkins An impromptu photography session was all it took for Hanin Mazri to get hooked.  He joined a soccer teammate of his, who was already an experienced photographer, to shoot some photos around downtown Toronto just for fun,…

  • Toronto Light Festival: A little light and winter cheer in the Distillery District

    By Serena Lopez On Jan. 17, the fourth annual Toronto Light Festival began in the streets of the Distillery District. Those looking for an escape from the cold, dreary winter months can visit this exhibit that encapsulates the pockets of light that art gives the public, all in one space and at no cost. As…

  • Valentine’s Day in the city: How creative do your gifts get?

    By Lauren Kaminski Photo: Johnny Brown/Unsplash As Feb. 14 rolls around in Toronto, for some, this celebration of love can become a matter of what gift will best show your gratitude or affection for your significant other. With this added pressure, some find Valentine’s Day to be just to be another “money-grab” — a capitalist…

  • Opinion: Winter Sucks for Artists

    Courtesy of Da Kraplak/Unsplash By Mia Maaytah It is half-way through my third year of university, and once again I am experiencing that same dwindling in my creativity that I face every winter season. As an artist, I am finding that in the winter my creative side is very much unreachable, and though this occurs…

  • The immersive Dr. Seuss Experience reimagines your favourite childhood stories

    This whimsical art exhibit has something for all ages The Cat in the Hat balances various objects while talking to guests. (CanCultureAnnemarie Cutruzzola) By Annemarie Cutruzzola If you’re looking for some childhood nostalgia, you can get lost in the fantastical world of Dr. Seuss and his beloved characters at this local interactive art installation. The…

  • 40th Festival of Authors showcases poetic wonder of the world Ian Keteku and local Toronto talent

    By Mia Maaytah Ian Keteku, 2010 World Poetry Slam winner at the Toronto International Festival of Authors on Oct. 25, 2019 at the Harbourfront Centre in downtown Toronto. (CanCulture/Mia Maaytah) The 40th anniversary of the Toronto International Festival of Authors wrapped up their 11 day celebration on November 3 which featured over 100 Canadian novelists,…

  • Looking back at the 14th edition of Nuit Blanche Toronto

    Torontonians set out for the multilayered, mind-bending treasure hunt that is Nuit Blanche By Pooja Rambaran Toronto hosted the 14th annual edition of Nuit Blanche, an art exhibition that kept the city awake on the night of Oct. 5 and continued into the early hours of the following Sunday morning. Over 300 artists with nearly…

  • 29Rooms: The art exhibition where every room has a different story to tell

    By Serena Lopez Placed at the entrance of the exhibit is a 29Rooms sign that guests see as they embark on their journey. (CanCulture/Serena Lopez) Media company Refinery29 brought their immersive and collaborative art exhibition into Toronto for the first time this September.  For its debut in Canada, 29Rooms was set up as an art…

  • ‘Liked.’ – The comedy show straight from your Instagram feed

    Toronto-based monthly improv show bases comedy off of audience’s social media The show’s poster. (Liked./Carley Thorne) By Alexander Sowa Liked. is a Toronto-based improv-comedy show, based on taking an audience member’s Instagram posts and using them as a jumping point for hilarity, only escalating as the performance goes on. In their show at Bad Dog…

  • Top 5 Canadian photographers you should follow on Instagram right now

    By Anastasia Barbuzzi Luckily for photographers, all millennial eyes are glued to one photo-sharing app: Instagram. So far in 2019, it seems that Canadian photographers are racking up major followings for their talents. From one curated grid to the next, their feeds are a limitless display of colour, style, and adventure inspiration. Not only are…

  • How Bettina Bogar is provoking skin cancer awareness and empowerment through photos

    By Anastasia Barbuzzi Creative Director Katherine Murdick chats with a visitor about the skinwork exhibition. (skinwork/Bettina Bogar) In a new photo exhibition called skinwork, Toronto-based photographer Bettina Bogar managed to highlight the female form, raise awareness for skin cancer, and pay tribute to a late friend, Heather Mundle, with a humble grace unlike anything I’ve…

  • 5 Canadian books to look for in March

    By Bree Duwyn A Mind Spread Out on the Ground By Alicia Elliott Release Date: March 26, 2019 A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Haudenosaunee writer Alicia Elliott is an important and personal reflection on racism, oppression and trauma. Alicia Elliott offers raw insight on the treatment of Indigenous people in North America…

  • Mickalene Thomas’ Femmes Noires highlights Black femininity and inequality in the modern era

    By Will Lofsky Mickalene Thomas, an African American artist from Brooklyn, N.Y., has outdone herself with her first major solo exhibition in Canada, Mickalene Thomas: Femmes Noires, at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). While managing to address the complexity of African femininity, Thomas highlights powerful black celebrities and the struggle for representation and inequality…

  • Winter weather got you down? Warm up at #The7TO

    By Chloe Cook The7 is a brand new installation in the heart of downtown Toronto aimed at curing cabin fever and sprucing up Instagram feeds across the city. The7 is open to public until the end of the season. (CanCulture/Chloe Cook) When’s the last time you were able to dive straight into a ball pit?…

  • 5 Black Canadian authors you should be reading right now

    By Chloe Cook February is Black History Month, and there’s no time like the present to start reading some of Canada’s most celebrated black authors. Dionne Brand Photo courtesy Pearl Pirie/Flickr Dionne Brand is an award winning poet, novelist and documentarian. Born in Trinidad and Tobago in 1953, Brand moved to Canada after high school…

  • Valentine’s Day poetry event at Union Station intrigues local commuters

    By Alexander Sowa ‘Poetry in Union: Railway Lines and Valentines’ lets travellers get a personalized love poem written by one of nine professional Toronto poets Union Station passersby were encouraged to engage in early Valentine’s Day festivities by allowing Toronto poets to personalize a poem for them. Commuters and visitors were invited to sit down,…