EAST Zines
EAST is a collaborative program for Scarborough youth who work under the guidance of professional artists, project managers, local social service providers, youth outreach workers, and peer mentors.
EAST Zines was facilitated by emerging queer Haitian-American Toronto-based painter Jega Delisca, alongside musician and poet Sky Ravinn Ffrench, and queer sexual health educator Kyana Graham.
This program was for 2SLGBTQ+ visual artists (all levels of experience) aged 15 - 27 who reside in Scarborough. Participants received art supplies and workshops from professional artists in various mediums. Participants also received 2SLGBTQ+ specific sexual health + wellness workshops.
Scarborough Arts’ EAST H.E.A.R.T (Health, Education, Art, Resilience, Together) Programs are made possible thanks to the support of the City of Toronto, Toronto Urban Health Fund, Ontario Art Council, and Delta Bingo Gaming.
“Supportive Void,” Group Zine by EAST Zines
"Supportive Void" is a collaborative zine by youth 2SLGBTQIA+ artists and creators across Scarborough, as part of Scarborough Arts' EAST Zines program. The zine includes original artworks from the duration of our 5-month program and features a unique tri-colour risograph print technique.
Special thanks to the participants of the EAST Zines program, Clara Lynes, and Quentin Mitchell at VidePress for their support in the creation of "Supportive Void."
Meet the Authors
Jega Delisca | Youth Coordinator
Born in West Palm Beach Florida, Jega Delisca is an emerging queer Haitian-American Toronto–based painter.
His work explores the intimate relationships between him and his community, with close friends, family and past partners as his primary subjects.
Sky-Ravinn Ffrench | Peer Mentor
Sky-Ravinn Ffrench is an up and coming queer Jamican-Canadian musician, and the lead singer and bass player in Pigeon the Band. Building on their roots in slam poetry, photography, and zine making their art is motivated by uplifting the queer voice and journey.
They have been working with youth for 4+ years with Bravo Academy’s Musical Summer Camps and various musical productions, Centauri Arts Summer Camp, and currently a peer mentor with Toby’s place a drop-in centre for 2SLGBTQ+ youth and young adults. Being a self taught musician from a low income household Sky hopes to build a space for youth in the future, to help make a passion in the arts more accessible. To hear some of Sky’s work check out Pigeon the band on all major streaming platforms, and listen to their new single 287.
Kyana Graham | Peer Mentor
Kyana Graham is a Black gay nonbinary person working in the social service industry for 4 years. They specialize in HIV education/prevention, 2SLGBTQ+ education, and intersectionality.
Kyana’s passion is to create programming for QTBIPOC to ensure that they get the support they need.
Sam Hill
Author of Fungal Bodies, Sam Hill is a queer Toronto-based studio artist/educator, focusing on creating paintings and illustrations drawing upon concepts linked within a queer, feminist framework, exploring the correlations found within mental health, physical health and femininity.
These ideas often contrast to the cartoonish nature of her craftwork which she has developed in response to her experiences working with children in art education.
Although her speciality lies in painting and drawing, she has experience producing art through multiple mediums including but not limited to print media, digital and film photography, video editing, graphic design, pottery, jewelry making, costume design, bookbinding, sculpture and is always exploring new creative ways of producing artwork.
Sam Hill holds a Honours BA in Art and Art History from the University of Toronto and Sheridan College with a certificate in curatorial studies, winning awards for Excellence in Art Education in the School and Community and Faculty Painting Awards for Excellence in Painting in her 1st & 4th year.
Aniqah Rahman
Aniqah Rahman, creator of "the Horror! the Opulence!", is a Bengali artist, textile enthusiast, and big 'ol lesbian. Currently, they use art to explore the ways in which religion, personhood, and the grotesque interact with and come to define one another. Mostly, they just like drawing monsters.
Mahjabeen Kabir (Mahja)
Author of Flashback: Living Lies, Mahja is a Bengali-Canadian multidisciplinary artist living and working in Toronto, ON. She is inspired by her experiences and the environments around her which influence her illustrative style. She is currently pursuing a career as a Tattoo Artist.
Kyle Jarencio
Kyle Jarencio is a multimedia creative that uses storytelling and visual design to elevate digital communities. With a degree in Media Production from Ryerson University, he is an avid image-maker and podcaster propelled by the power of inclusive and intersectional narratives.
He has worked with the Ryerson Leadership Lab, RU Student Life, and Inside Out Queer Film Festival. He also co-hosts the podcast Influx, a conversational deep dive into representations of Asian and queer life. Find him online @fragilekyle or IRL in a park sipping on something iced.
Clover
Authour of Cowboys and the Moon, Clover is a nonbinary creative that makes art to digest being in the world. They use digital art, songwriting, dance, and other mediums to explore their identity and experience being a young queer second-generation Canadian person.
Erica
Author of Yesterday Again, Erica is an avid doodler based in Toronto’s east end, whose work is informed by the Scarborough Bluffs. Erica’s work can only be described as “vibes and making shit.”
Celeste Chiguichon
Author of how do you unlearn colonization and cultural assimilation when it has shaped the foundation to our understanding of this reality
Rida
Author of Heavy
Guest Facilitators
Clara Lynas
Kero Saleib
Curtia Wright
Vivian Rosas
Jonathan Vallely
Raoul Olou
Alkarim
June Kim
Demetri Stefan
