Sometimes a photographer’s story is just as interesting as the pictures he or she takes. That’s definitely the case with Our City, Our Stories powered by Canon, a youth photo contest initiated by Toronto’s Economic Development and Culture division and Canon Canada, produced in association with Arts Etobicoke, Lakeshore Arts, the Scarborough Arts Council and the UrbanArts Community Arts Council.
This community arts project has tapped into the wealth of young talent across the city. Entrants were encouraged to tell a story that reflects who they are and where they come from. The work of the 10 finalists, including Dance with the Shadows, above, by Kevin Graham) is being shown in Toronto City Hall’s Rotunda from February 16 to 21; the exhibit then moves on to the Etobicoke Civic Centre from March 11 to 25 and to the Scarborough Civic Centre from April 12 to 21.
Our City, Our Stories is part of Toronto Cultural Services’s continuing efforts to work in priority neighbourhoods by offering skill-building workshops in the arts. Twenty-year-old Thorncliffe Park resident Jawad Mashuque (left) won a berth in the finals with his photo series, City in Perpetual Motion (see the header banner above), a vibrant visualization of the energy of the city. Says Mashuque: “Our city is alive with movement and the exchange of energy. With my photos I hope to convey but a small sense of that. I always strive to capture something more than just colours and sights with my photos, because I think there’s always something more beneath the surface. And in Toronto there’s always something more.”
Fifteen-year-old Etobicoke resident Veronica Brown’s photo series No Man is Yet an Isle (above) is clever in its framing and its use of the classic black and white format. Veronica is currently enrolled in the Film Program at the Etobicoke School of the Arts.
“The inspiration for the photo story that I created was transportation,” Veronica explains in her artist statement, “something we all use every day in many different forms, whether it be a car, a bike, the TTC or even just our own two feet. With transportation we can connect one part of the city to the other through paths, whether literal or metaphorical. As we travel through our city, we are witness to neighbourhoods that gradually integrate into one another, bringing people and cultures together like no other city can.”
Secret, a photo series created by 16-year old North York resident Zheng Wu, creatively explores a delicate topic: “My photo story focuses on same-sex relationships,” Wu explains. “To be honest, I had no interest in telling this story until we had a workshop about the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) community at my school. The workshop speakers made me realize how badly LGBTQ people can be treated. This gave me the idea for my photo story. I captured the relationship between two female figures who were “more than just friends”. Toronto is known for its multiculturalism and openness to accept everyone, despite their differences. I hope my photo story conveys Toronto like a huge and understanding family, where everyone belongs.”
Finalist’s photo series’ can be viewed on Flickr; winners will be announced Thursday, February 18 in the City Hall Rotunda at 6:15 pm, Mayor Miller will be in attendance.
Shane Gerard is a Senior Communications Coordinator with the City of Toronto. For more than 15 years he has worked as an arts publicist, event promoter and producer with organizations like Harbourfront Centre, the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival, the Smirnoff Experience and with Toronto’s Revival event venue.
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