Etobicoke Stories of Significance

Arts Etobicoke and the Etobicoke Historical Society present Etobicoke Stories of Significance, a collaboration with local artists to curate an interactive exhibit of culturally and historically significant areas across Etobicoke. In 2022 Arts Etobicoke launched Sites of Significance as part of Toronto’s Year of Public Art. Six artists were commissioned to each identify and activate a site in Etobicoke using Augmented Reality technology. These artists included Indigenous artists Philip Cote, Susan Blight, and Nyle Johnston, as well as BIPOC newcomer artists Khadija Aziz, Khaula Mazhar, and Nicolas Sanchez. Etobicoke Stories of Significance builds on Sites of Significance to gather stories from the community with a focus on the intersection of what makes Etobicoke the place it is today, and the changing community of people who call this place home. This project combines in-person and digital experiences in Arts Etobicoke’s Storefront Gallery to create a compelling cultural experience for our community.

Philip Cote
Susan Blight
Nyle Johnston
Khadija Aziz
Khaula Mazhar
Nicholas Sanchez

Philip Cote, of Moose Deer Point First Nation, is a Young Spiritual Elder, Indigenous Artist, Activist, Educator, Historian and Ancestral Knowledge Keeper.
https://tecumsehcollective.wixsite.com/philipcote/about-me
IG: @Philipcote1

Susan Blight (Anishinaabe, Couchiching First Nation) is an interdisciplinary artist working with public art, site-specific intervention, photography, film and social practice.

https://www.susanblight.com/
IG: @themightyboozhoo

Nyle Johnston’s spirit name Wiishkoonseh Miigizi’enh means Whistling White Headed Eagle. He grew up in Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation and apprenticed with Storytellers since his youth. He will be collaborating with Quinn Hopkins who is a Digital, AR, VR artist, painter, and mural artist. He is a student at OCADU studying Drawing & Painting for his Bachelor of Fine Arts.

https://miigizi.com/pages/artist-introduction
IG: @miigizi

Khadija Aziz is a textile artist and educator investigating textile materiality in the digital sphere using a flatbed scanner, cloth, and thread.

https://www.khadijaaziz.com/
IG: @_khadija_a_

Khaula Mazhar is a self-taught, award-winning artist. Her intrigue with emotions evoked by situations and surroundings seeps its way into her multifaceted subject matter.

https://khaulamazhar.com/
IG: @khaulamazhar

Nicholas Sanchez is involved in a rising movement of amateur muralists in town, developing something very different than graffitti with a self-taught process of intervention in walls in public spaces. He moved to Canada by the end of 2019 and has lived and worked in Toronto since then.

IG: @a_l_f_a_l_f_a

Artist Talk – Part 1
Artist Talk – Part 2
Exhibit Reception

Etobicoke Stories of Significance is presented in partnership with Myseum of Toronto as part of Myseum Intersections 2022. This project is led by Arts Etobicoke with contributions from Philip Cote, Susan Blight, Nyle Johnston, Khadija Aziz, Khaula Mazhar, Nicholas Sanchez, Etobicoke Historical Society, Village of Islington BIA, and AIRSA.

Arts Etobicoke is a not-for-profit charitable organization that focuses on improving people’s lives through the arts. We have developed an inclusive and creative community hub that is open to all people in West Toronto. We believe in providing equitable access to the arts regardless of economic or social status. Arts Etobicoke is a place where everyone can freely express their art and culture through our programs, exhibitions, workshops, events, classes, and professional development.

www.artsetobicoke.com
IG: @artsetobicoke
Facebook: Arts Etobicoke
Twitter: @artsetobicoke

Etobicoke Historical Society
http://www.etobicokehistorical.com

Village of Islington BIA
www.villageofislington.com

AIRSA (Professional Development for New Canadians in the Arts)
http://airsa.org/

Myseum Intersections 2022 is funded by the Government of Canada.

Myseum of Toronto is made possible with the generous support of Diane Blake and Stephen Smith.