CURRENT EXHIBIT
WAVE 1
Opening Reception: January 31 | 6 – 10 PM
Emerging Scarborough Artists.
South Asian mental health.
Body positivity.
Black punk culture.
Tackling oppression.
WAVE 1 is the culmination of 6 months of work by emerging artists from Scarborough, representing the vital perspectives of youth in one of Canada’s most diverse communities. Featuring photography and music spanning topics of black punk culture, body positivity, South Asian mental health, and racial oppression, these works paint a picture of modern-day Scarborough. In doing so, they weave a story of identity conflict and self-empowerment in the context of sociocultural convention and misplaced history. If artists are the arbiters of a community’s values, these works are indicative of a Scarborough that is willing to toil in the discomfort of tradition to create a place of belonging.
PAST EXHIBITS
2019
December 5 – January 22
Of Moons, Birds, and Ruins is an exhibition by students in the Studio program at the University of Toronto Scarborough. Exploring themes of temporality, geometry, architecture, and utopia, the show encompasses unique interpretations of these motifs courtesy of the artists.
The pieces presented in this exhibition are deeply meaningful to each of the artists as they reveal an ongoing interior dialogue between them and their surroundings.
September 4 – October 31
August 1 – August 30
May 25 – July 31
Twenty Something features new works by nine emerging Scarborough artists: Christopher Dela Cruz, Kim Hoang, Rui Hu, Wei Luo, Iori Matsushima, Kachely Peters, Nivedita Sridharan, Caleb Y. Tao and Sabrina Yip. The artists in the exhibit grapple in their lives and in their art with the concerns, pressures, and anxieties confronting their generation.
With piercing clarity and honesty, they regard the flawed world they have inherited. Yet the care with which they construct their artwork, speaks to an elegance that envelops us with beauty and fills us with hope for the future.
May 4–18
The McCanny Annual Spring Show presents visual artworks created by students from McCanny Secondary School’s art program. It recognizes student artists, showcases artwork and celebrates students’ success in getting into their dream University Art programs. The works range from Photography, Acrylic paintings, Sculptures, and videos. This collection of the works depicts the various lives of high school students in Scarborough through colour, subject matter, creative formats and cultures.
December 5 – February 7
Beyond the Waters explored multiple narratives of place-making in Scarborough and the importance of acknowledging the personal impact of the space that one occupies. With a close ear to stories of immigration and environmental ecosystems, this show acted as a collective reflection of the land beneath our feet and the shores beyond the city’s geographical borders.
February 12 – April 30
The Awakening presents visual artworks created by up-and-coming Scarborough Artist Ashante Blackwood, depicting the various stages that women of colour have, and continue to experience as they learn to overcome and love themselves in a society that has historically prioritized ideals of white beauty. From being broken down to nearly nothing, to building themselves back up, to not only finding their true identity but also learning to love it, this insightful exhibit presents works that tell a story of rebirth – the true Awakening of a melanin goddess.
2018
October 1–November 30
Love Lives in Scarborough presented photographic artworks produced by LoveisLoveisLove (LLL) paired with personal narratives submitted by the subjects of the photos, highlighting the diverse experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals living in the Scarborough community.
LOVE LIVES IN SCARBOROUGH – PORTRAIT SERIES
October 1–November 30
Love Lives in Scarborough also featured two Portrait Series created by up-and-coming Scarborough photographers that looked to further explore the human experience within Scarborough: We Were All Made From Here by Shingruf Chughtai and the Self-Portrait Project by James Ip.
RECOVERY
August 15–September 14
Recovery was a solo exhibition that featured acrylic pour works by writer and visual artist, Christine Demore.
THE EVOLUTION OF SELF-IDENTITY
May 3–June 28
The Evolution of Self-Identity was a solo exhibition that featured works by Peruvian-born, Toronto-based artist Camila Wong, winner of Scarborough Arts 2017 Canvas Clash competition.
HEALTHY ARTS FOR SENIORS
April 5–27
Healthy Arts for Seniors was a multi-media exhibit that featured photography, poetry, prose, and audio recordings created by 18 Scarborough seniors.
TORONTO MURAL ARCHIVE EXHIBIT
March 1–30
The Toronto Mural Archive Exhibit was presented by Mural Routes in partnership with Scarborough Arts
2017
NO VACANCY
March 10–31
In partnership with Myseum of Toronto
An exhibition examining the vibrant history of Kingston Road’s once-bustling motel strip.
EAST ANIMATING DEMOCRACY
July 5–August 27
An exhibition of new photographic works by our EAST Animating Democracy youth participants.
2016
iAM GALLERY
September 29–October 9
Presented by JAYU in partnership with Scarborough Arts
An exhibition that explores the vital relationship between arts mentorship and the creation of safe spaces essential to sharing our personal stories.
SPRING FORWARD: 2016 MEMBERS’ EXHIBITION
July 5–August 27
A multi-media exhibit that reflects the Spring season’s images and poetic associations.
YEARBOOK
July 5–August 27
In partnership with Myseum of Toronto
A participatory art exhibition that recounts the popular history of Scarborough as seen through diverse intergenerational perspectives of past and present Scarborough residents.
2015
HOLIDAY DREAMS
December 7–January 5
An exhibition celebrating the winter holiday season with the community.
ACCESS/ABILITIES
October 19–November 23
A visual arts exhibit featuring work by six artists of varying abilities.
POETRY CAME IN SEARCH OF ME (CULTURE DAYS)
September 14–October 14
Curated by Anna Nieminen
An exhibit featuring a series of poetry-focused events.
12 x 12
July 15–August 28
An exhibition of visual and literary works that measure 12″ x 12″ or are 12 words and 12 lines.
BRIGHT FLIGHT
April 7–28
A series of events featuring a visual-arts exhibition in celebration of the Spring season.
UNSUNG SHEROES
March 9–30
A multi-media exhibit in celebration of International Women’s Day.
COMMEMORATE
February 6–March 4
A series of free and open-to-all events in commemoration of Black History Month.
WORD LENS
January 15–30
An exhibition that demonstrates the power of words through works that use text as either a supplement to the image or as the image itself.
