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Come One Come All!

If you would like to get involved in your community, meet some cool people and have some fun, this is the news for you!  Herewith a call for volunteers and some ‘what’s happening’ information on a number of fronts.

Farmers Market

One of the wonderful things about the East Lynn Farmers’ Market is that it is more than a row of vegetable stalls, it’s an event every week.  We like to have music and face painting/children’s activities every week and we like to host special events.  Our market has always been about community – a way to bring neighbours together, increase foot traffic on the Danforth and strengthen the fabric of our neighbourhood.  If you have an idea for an event or activity at the Farmers’ Market, we’d like to hear about it.  We’ve had square dancing, unicycling, music of all kinds, theatre, storytelling, paper-making, movies, food demos, corn-shucking contests.  If you would like to help organize an event, please contact Catherine at catherine_porter(at)rogers.com.  Also contact Catherine if you would like to cook for the farmers this year.  If you are able to spare a few hours on a Thursday afternoon at the DECA tent being an all around helpful person, let her know that too.

Art of the Danforth 2012

The absolutely fabulous Art of the Danforth will be back in all it’s glory in…2012!  And Cindy sent me the note below to tell you a bit about what is in the works and how you can get involved.  And let me tell you – you want to meet interesting people in your neighbourhood – this group is the place to start.

Art of the Danforth is returning in May 2012  and we have some stuff to tell you!

In short….

·         We are now accepting applications from artists to fill three curatorial roles, as well as for initial project proposals for the 2012 event.  Deadline:  May 31.  Full details at www.artofthedanforth.com or email info@eastdanforthcreative.com

·         We are recruiting volunteers, especially those interested in taking on ongoing, important roles over the next year.

·         We are holding our first community meeting on Thursday, May 12  2011, 7 pm – 8:30 pm at LucSculpture Studio & Schools, 663 Greenwood (just north of Danforth).  All are invited!  RSVP to info@eastdanforthcreative.com

And now, the juicy details….

The Event

Art of the Danforth is a large scale multi-disciplinary art event held along Danforth between Greenwood & Woodbine.  Established in 2010, the first AoD broke new ground in bringing together artists & members of the community together in creative collaboration.  The next  Art of the Danforth will be held May 1 – 31, 2012.  The goals of the AoD 2012 are to:

·         Bring community members together through the creation of art

·         Increase the sense of history and engagement in the community

·         Explore the aesthetic possibilities of urban space

·         Increase pedestrian traffic down Danforth between Donlands & Woodbine

AoD 2012 is inclusive and open to all forms of artistic practice.  Free public exhibitions of art, site specfic installations and the popular Art in Stores program will run all month long, May 1 to May 31st.  In addition, performance (music, dance, theatre) activities will be presented on the weekends.  Finally, community workshops will be held leading up to and during the festival, allowing community members to participate in the creation of visual art exhibits and performances.

AoD 2012 is public and aims to transform as much public space as possible into venue for creativity. Please see our website for a preliminary list of potential spaces:  www.artofthedanforth.com

 Curatorial Proposal Submissions

Deadline: May 31, 2011 

We are currently accepting proposals for curators to present exhibitions in one of three regions within the event boundaries. See website for zone descriptions. Curators will be requested to address one or all of the goals of the event. Preference will be given to proposals which involve local community involvement and use of existing resources. Whimsy is encouraged.  Each curator / curatorial team will be given a budget of up to $3000 (including honorarium), to commission the creation of 4 – 8 public art projects that will stay up for the duration of the month of May 2012.  Projects in all media are encouraged, with particular emphasis given to works that involve community interaction and revitalize the neighbourhood.  At least 1 project must involve the input of community members.

To apply, please complete and submit the application, available online at www.artofthedanforth.com.  For more information email info@eastdanforthcreative.com

Project Proposals – Initial Call

Deadline: May 31, 2011

Art of the Danforth is currently accepting proposals from artists and art groups for visual art exhibits or installations, performing arts and community workshops series that will result in a visual art piece or performance for exhibition, for inclusion in the Art of the Danforth 2012.   Examples of projects and available locations are available online. Both new and pre-existing work will be accepted. Preference will be given to works that either involve the community or engage public space. Approved new work may be eligible for some funding.

To apply, please complete and submit the application, available online at www.artofthedanforth.com.  For more information email info@eastdanforthcreative.com

Volunteers Needed

We also are on the hunt for dedicated volunteers to take on major roles of responsibility for the next event.  In particular, we are seeking community-oriented individuals to fill the following major event roles:

·         Interactive Coordinator: responsible for envisioning & implementing social media outreach, i.e. updating facebook, twitter & website updates (wordpress)

·         Music/performance Coordinator: to help coordinate a world music showcase in East Lynn park.

·         Social Coordinator (i.e. “the party person”): responsible for planning & organizing entertaining activities to help us build community and balance our work with fun (not that we’re not fun already, of course)

We also need volunteers to team up with our planning committee to help with:  neighborhood outreach and promotional.  If interested in any of the above, email info@eastdanforthcreative.com, visit our website, or come to our community meeting on May 12.  And speaking of….

Community Meeting Thursday May 12

Interested in Art of the Danforth 2012? Thinking of volunteering or submitting a project but want to meet the event team first ?  Come out and chat with us at our first AoD community meeting:

Date & Time: Thursday, May 12th from 7 – 8:30 pm.

Location: LucSculpture Studio & Schools, 663 Greenwood Avenue (just north of Danforth)

Business Improvement Association Fun Fair

The Danforth Mosaic BIA will be hosting a fun fair on June 11 and 12 in East Lynn Park.  There will be inflatable things and games and many other fun activities.  They’re looking for volunteers to help out with all of those activities and more.  If you would like to know more or to kindly offer your services, contact the Chair, Litsa at litsakosta(at)gmail.com.

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Danforth East Arts Fair

September 18th and 19th make your way to East Lynn Park for DECA’s 2nd annual Danforth East Arts Fair. This is a high-quality fair with a range of arts and crafts to suit a variety of tastes and budgets.  Last year was great.  This year is bigger (with lots more arts vendors) and better (with yummy food on site so you can spend more time lingering).

But, we need a little bit of help to make it a success.  We need your help getting the word out and putting up posters. It’s a little thing, but it’s a BIG thing.  If you can help with a hour or so of your time, we would really really (really!) appreciate it.  Contact Mary at mary.vallis@gmail.com because she has printed versions that she can deliver to your door or she’s got a PDF that she can send you if you just want to print off a few and post them, say at your office or your school or your favourite cafe or your dog groomer or your in-laws’ house or your videotron or wherever you think two eyes might see it.

Also, why not put a link to the website on your facebook page or send your friends around the city an e-mail and let them know about this terrific arts fair that’s happening in your ‘hood?

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Art Of The Danforth – Past Tense

Way back when Cindy Rozeboom was trying to secure some grant funding for this pie-in-the-sky idea called Art of the Danforth, the good people at the Toronto Arts Council turned her down because they weren’t convinced this neighbourhood would support it.  (An appeal and letters of support from DECA members and others would persuade the Toronto Arts Council to change it’s mind.)

Almost a year later, after a fabulous week of activities, art, community engagement and, yes, fun, it seems unthinkable that the community wouldn’t get behind this amazing initiative.

There is a long list of people who made this happen – from volunteers and artists to organizers and business owners.  And of course there are the people who participated – whether it was as part of community projects throughout the winter or by walking into shops and checking out the art or taking part in the events that happened over the past week.  Thank you to all for helping make this event such a success.

So, what did you think about this project?  Let’s start a little e-discussion about right here.  Post your impressions on the blog or send them to me and I’ll post them for you.

And for goodness sake, check out the photos that local photogs are sharing on the flickr site.

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This Weekend – May 1st & 2nd 2010

There is a lot happening this weekend so take notes and make a plan.

1. DECA Bikes 2nd tune-up workshop is happening this Saturday, May 1st from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Danforth Mennonite Church at 2174 Danforth.  (north side, 1 block east of Woodbine).  Bring your  bike and pay what you can. (Note – there will also be tune-ups at this year’s farmers’ market).

2. Jane’s Walks are walking tours of neighbourhoods and this year there are plenty to choose from.  Look here for a map of walks. Stephen Wickens, a DECA member, is leading a few of the walks around here.  Stephen also provided a lot of the historical background for Real and Barbara Eguchi, the artists behind the Pigeon Paradigm Project for the Art of the Danforth.  This is the series of corrugated plastic cut outs from the ‘Roxy’ Theatre at Greeenwood to the ‘Glue’ and ‘Garden’ at Coxwell and the ‘Power’ at Woodbine – along with all the pigeons you see throughout the art walk.

3. Art of the Danforth wraps up with weekend with a ton of activities, performances and studio tours:

Saturday, May 1st.

All day:  Free Comics Day at Comics & More, 1325 Danforth

10 am – 6 pm @ East Lynn Park
The longest free-standing sculpture in the world, with Jerry Silverberg (family-friendly interactive activity) & Mark Sepic’s Junkestra

12 noon @ Coxwell Public Library – Ghosts of the Danforth (Charlotte Mundy & Patrick Power)

1 & 3 pm @ Coxwell Public Library – The Box Company (David Carbert & Simon Madore)

12 noon – 5 pm @ 1275 Danforth: Graffiti art demonstration by Yannick Bihan – 1275 Danforth

12 – 6 pm: Studio Tours:    Anthony Jim @ 177 Wolverleigh Blvd (Historical Buildings in Pencil), Mark Sepic @ 159 Chisholm Avenue (Backyard Junkestra)

1 – 4 pm: IFA by Gomo George (roaming)

2 pm – Dance demonstrations by the SPACE , 1324 Danforth

3 pm @ 10 Feet Tall, 1381 Danforth – Feeling Good by SOL EXPRESS L’Arche Toronto (dance)

3:30 pm @ Cafe Tangiers, 1385 Danforth – Tales from 1001 Arabian Nights – Family storytelling
in traditional dress by Youssef Bouiahadj and Ismail Fatty

Sunday, May 2nd

12 noon – 6 pm: The Junkestra at East Lynn Park

12 noon – 5pm @ Coxwell Public Library (alternating):  The Box Company (David Carbert & Simon Madore) &  Ghosts of the Danforth (Charlotte Mundy & Patrick Power)

12 noon & 2 pm: Live painting performance by Annie Si-Wing Tung @ 1275 Danforth

12 – 5pm: Studio Tours: Heather Bell Denison @ 48 Woodington Ave (Silverworks);  Anthony Jim @ 177 Wolverleigh Blvd;  Mark Sepic @ 159 Chisholm Avenue

1-4 pm: IFA by Gomo George (roaming)

1 pm – Graffiti art demonstration by Yannick Bihan, 1275 Danforth

2 pm – Dance demonstrations by the SPACE, 1324 Danforth

6-9 pm: Closing night party for artists & friends, LucSculpture Studio 663 Greenwood

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Cool Pictures and Gelatto

I know I’m gushing a bit about the Art of the Danforth, but I really really love it.

Check out some of the photographs that local photographers are taking of the Art Walk here.

Perhaps you’re walking along looking at the art and you think you could use a little nosh?  Why not stop in Quattro 4 Ragazze at 1792 Danforth for some homemade gelatto.  Yes – you can have homemade gelatto right here .  I’ve sampled my share of Quattro’s gelatto and I will say that lemon is my favourite.  It’s delish.

Finally – are you a graphic artist?  We need one to help us design a sign for the Danforth Carpet.  If you can help, let me know.

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Art Walk Opens This Weekend!

Art Walk April 23 – May 2, 2010

Along Danforth between Greenwood & Woodbine

Listings now available

Now online at www.artofthedanforth.com you’ll find the list of participating artists and where you can find their work, plus a downloadable brochure you can print at home.  Printed brochures will be available on the street Friday April 23 – you can pick them up at LucSculpture Studio & Schools (663 Greenwood), participating stores or at our information tent in the Coxwell Parkette, Sunday the 25, May 1 & 2, noon – 5.

WHAT CAN YOU DO WHEN

April 23 – May 2: Art in Stores & Street installations.  Community planter decorating – you can decorate one too!

Saturday April 24:

10am – 1 PM:  Community Clean Up: get outside and clean up the neighbourhood!

Noon – 5 pm @ Red Sable, 1765 Danforth – create a painting to contribute to the Home & Habitat display (activity)

1-2 pm @ Coxwell Parkette  – Volunteer BBQ  and unfurling of The Pillow Project by Laura Brown

1pm:  1783 Danforth – BOXZART by SOL EXPRESS L’Arche Toronto (dance)

Sunday April 25:

11 am @ East Lynn Park – DECA Make A Joyful Noise Parade

12     noon – 3 pm @ Coxwell Parkette – Portraits in the Park by Stephen Caissie

12  noon – 5 pm @ Red Sable, 1765 Danforth – create a painting to contribute to the Home & Habitat display (activity)

Saturday May 1:

10 am – 6 pm @ East Lynn Park – The longest free-standing sculpture in the world, with Jerry Silverberg

(family-friendly interactive activity)  & Mark Sepic’s Junkestra

12 noon, Coxwell Public Library   – Ghosts of the Danforth (Charlotte Mundy & Patrick Power)

1 & 3 pm, Coxwell Public Library  –   The Box Company (David Carbert & Simon Madore)

12 noon – 5 pm @ 1275 Danforth:  Graffiti art demonstration by Yannick Bihan – 1275 Danforth

12 – 6 pm:  Studio Tours:

Anthony Jim @ 177 Wolverleigh Blvd (Historical Buildings in Pencil)

Mark Sepic @ 159 Chisholm Avenue  (Backyard Junkestra)

1 – 4 pm:    IFA by Gomo George (roaming)

2 pm  – Dance demonstrations by the SPACE , 1324 Danforth

3 pm @ 10 Feet Tall, 1381 Danforth –  Feeling Good by SOL EXPRESS L’Arche Toronto (dance) 3:30 pm  @ Cafe Tangiers, 1385 Danforth – Tales from 1001 Arabian Nights – Family storytelling in traditional dress

by Youssef Bouiahadj and Ismail Fatty

Sunday May 2:

12 noon – 6 pm:  The Junkestra at East Lynn Park

12 noon – 5pm @ Coxwell Public Library   (alternating)

The Box Company (David Carbert & Simon Madore)

Ghosts of the Danforth (Charlotte Mundy & Patrick Power)

12 noon & 2 pm:  Live painting performance by Annie Si-Wing Tung @ 1275 Danforth

12 – 5pm:  Studio Tours

Heather Bell Denison @ 48 Woodington Ave (Silverworks)

Anthony Jim @ 177 Wolverleigh Blvd

Mark Sepic @ 159 Chisholm Avenue

1-4 pm:     IFA by Gomo George (roaming)

1 pm – Graffiti art demonstration by Yannick Bihan,  1275 Danforth

2 pm  – Dance demonstrations by the SPACE, 1324 Danforth

6-9 pm: closing night party for artists & friends, LucSculpture Studio 663 Greenwood

For the most up-to-date schedules and display list, please visit our website:  www.artofthedanforth.com

STILL NEED A FEW GOOD PEOPLE….

To volunteer with installation and providing on-site volunteer assistance during the 10 days.  If you have some spare time – especially in the next three days during the daytime, drop us a line and let us know.  We can put you to work lifting & hammering stuff or walking the street connecting with the people in the walk.

See you on the Danforth!