Gerrard Art Space, 1475 Gerrard St. E. at Rhodes, presents its annual Christmas/Holiday Show, on now until Dec. 21 in the gallery’s new storefront space.
The group exhibit includes work from Kristin Lau, Grant Stirton, Debbie Wong, Annie Churchill, Stella, Jacquie Gillespie, Carmen Priolo, Jubilation Miam, Lucie Robson, Laura Hains, Rea Kelly, Adrian Pocobelli, Natasza Orozco- Feick, Marzena Kotapska, Carmen McCabe, Michelle Cross, Bev Quinn, Jennifer Nikitin, Judith Meeks, Colin Savage, Cyril Williams, Simone Muise, Heather Huff, John Alexander, Aina Tilups, Mitzi Chamberlain, Jyne Greenley, Noreen Mallory, Dana Green, Melanie Isis Tinken, Robin Woods, Dan Springer, Nicola Woods, Ian Alter, Shari Lee Hollis, Grady Hollis, Steve Spencer, Javier Mauricio Alancastre, Anna Lefsrud, Mauricio Garces, Max MacDonald, and Matt Wood.
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East End Arts wants to know the places in your neighbourhood that inspire you – but managing director Cindy Rozeboom isn’t satisfied just to have the answer.
An ambitious new project, titled Inspired By… aims not only to ask East End residents about the places that stand out, but also to map those places, with words, photographs, video, and audio.
So why the focus on local geography?
“I was thinking about locality and what defines us as a neighbourhood. What’s the common element? It’s the place,” said Rozeboom.
While people and businesses come and go over the years, the actual place stays relatively the same, said Rozeboom. A grant from the Ontario Culture and Development Fund offered a chance for East End Arts, which covers municipal wards 29, 30, 31, and 32, to make a visual representation of what that place means to the people living in it.
Rozeboom notes that when two people stand in the same spot, they are likely to see their immediate surroundings very differently.
“Everyone would have a different idea of what that implied,” she said.
Rozeboom likens the idea to an unorganized choir – if everyone just started singing, sooner or later some sort of unified voice would eventually result.
“I don’t know what that sound is yet that we’re creating, but it’s really exciting to hear it emerge.”
Inspired By… was launched in late November, and currently has about 30 entries, though Rozeboom said she hopes submissions continue to come in.
“The hope is that we can keep on building this map. It’s so much fun, and I think it’s beautiful,” she said. “I didn’t expect it to be so heartwarming … it really does bring people together.”
Anyone who lives, works, or plays in the East End Arts coverage area – from the Don River to Victoria Park Avenue, and from O’Connor Drive to the lake – is invited to submit a story in the form of words, pictures, video, or audio. Suggestions include secret spots, shortcuts, a place that used to be something else, or somewhere that reminds you of someone special.
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