As a part of the much anticipated ArtworxTO 2022 and East Hubs programming at the Scarborough Town Centre, The SCARBOROUGH SIGN is here again! You can now find the SCARBOROUGH SIGN stationed for the summer at Scarborough Town Centre from July to September 2022.

Each of the murals on the letters were created and designed by ten local Indigenous artists through a 5-week mural and large-scale painting program called The Indigenous Youth Mural Making Program, led by local artist Mo Thunder. With generous support from local food security initiative, Feed Scarborough, as well as 7th Generation Image Makers, youth were supported in the development of their works and provided art kits, one-on-one mentorship, transportation, and artist payment for their work.

Learn more about 7th Generation Image makers, Mo Thunder, and the sign development below. Follow Scarborough Arts and keep up to date on all developments of this programming, including the official launch, by visiting www.scarborougharts.com, @scarborougharts on Instagram/Facebook, and @scararts on Twitter. 

FEATURED ARTISTS

Mo Thunder (Lead Artist)

Adrian Auger

Trey Auger-Robinson

Ayden Hobson

Bella McWatch 

Drew Rickard  

Jones Howard

Nishina Loft 

Jasmine Michel

Fracine Peltier

CURATORIAL STATEMENT

We each had the natural world in our hearts, so we painted our first family in separate parts.

Each letter is designed separately, brought together through flowing lines.

We painted stories of roots and rivers, thinking about all of the living beings that sustain us.

We remember the earth breathes for all of us - the fish, bees, trees, butterflies and birds.

It’s all written on the earth, transcribed in the waters and camouflaged among the plants.

Skyworld reflects the changing tides here on earth, holding the fire in our bellies close to our hearts.

- Mo Thunder, Artist Facilitator, Scarborough Sign, 2022 

ABOUT 7TH GENERATION IMAGE MAKERS 

7th Generation Image Makers is the signature interdisciplinary arts and media program at Native Child and Family Services of Toronto (NCFST). Since 1996, 7th Generation Image Makers has provided urban Indigenous youth with access to high quality arts programming and professional arts training in a culturally supportive and safe environment. Website and more information: https://nativechild.org/youth/7th-generation-image-makers 

ABOUT MO THUNDER 

Mo (they/them/she/her) is Onyota’a:ka with family ties to Oneida Nation of the Thames / Aamjiwnaang First Nation and French-Canadian. They’re a neurodivergent multidisciplinary artist and visual storyteller from a small town along the St. Clair River and are currently based in T’karonto (Toronto).

Mo holds a BFA in studio art with a focus on drawing, silkscreen printing, photography and video from Fanshawe College and the University of Lethbridge, however, much of their current art practice is self and community-taught. They have over 15 years of experience in community arts facilitation, organization, education, collaboration and consultation. They have been working in community arts since high school creating solo and collaborative murals and providing group and individual art facilitation. Mo has also been drawing since they were a child - they created cartoons, comic strips / books and designed clothing and places to escape to.

Through their multidisciplinary art practice (painting, murals, mixed media, beading, journaling, poetry and textiles), they create visual stories about their lived experiences in connection to their personal healing. Mo is also inspired by intergenerational connections and healing, family and community, memories, personal and collective empowerment, and all of creation, especially skyworld.

For the last 5 years, Mo has co-created and co-facilitated a community art / creative expression program for young Indigenous folks aged 18-30 in T’karonto called Our Stories Our Truths (OSOT). They are currently completing their major project at the Toronto Art Therapy Institute and co-creating Earth Sky Collective, a mural collective of 2SLGBTQQIAP+ and gender diverse creatives.

They have a deep love and passion for learning the Oneida language, zines, journals, art supplies, music, neurodiversity, organization, sewing, fashion and tattoos!

THANK YOU TO OUR FUNDERS AND PARTNERS!

The project was made possible by the generous support of community partners including, 7th Generation Image Makers, Feed Scarborough / Scarborough Food Initiative, Scarborough Town Centre / Oxford Properties, and is funded by City of Toronto, Cultural Hotspot, Ontario Arts Council and the Department of Arts, Culture and Media at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC). Special thanks to Rashmi Aimiuwu and Vianna Ko at Scarborough Town Centre / Oxford Properties for their support and guidance in making this installation a success.

Artist feature page coming soon! Find out more about the Scarborough Sign program by clicking here.