Friday, June 10, 2011

Neighbourhood Arts Network features Sherbourne Health Centre Mosaic

Thanks to the Skye Louis and Amy Goudge at Neighbourhood Arts Network for featuring the Sherbourne Health Centre Mosaic Project. We appreciate NAN's work on behalf of artists working in collaborative and community engaged practices!

Here's the link:
http://neighbourhoodarts.wordpress.com/2011/06/09/sherbourne-health-centre-mosaic/

Communities Activate to Make Change

Alvaro Orozco – a young artist who contributed to the Sherbourne Health Centre Mosaic Project – is released from immigration detention on humanitarian and compassionate grounds!

Alvaro is a talented, passionate and motivated visual artist and photographer, dedicated advocate for queer and newcomer youth and recipient of the 2010 Street-Level Advocate Award from the Toronto Youth Cabinet and City of Toronto. Alvaro was arrested on May 13th, as an undocumented resident, and faced deportation to Nicaragua.

“Thank you. To all the people that signed petitions, that came out to rallies, all the organizations that have supported me, Thank you from the bottom of my heart. The detention centre is still full, with kids and families. It’s not fair. It’s not fair that police are working with immigration to arrest people. We need change now. I hope that people in the community will continue to fight for justice for immigrants and refugees.” Alvaro Orozco, May 31, 2011

No One Is Illegal – Toronto joins Toronto’s queer and arts community in celebrating the upcoming release of Alvaro Orozco from immigration detention. Alvaro had been in detention since Friday, May 13th, after being racially profiled and arrested by Toronto Police outside Ossington station.

Community power, grassroots organizing from St. John’s to Victoria, and Alvaro’s inspiring resilience in the face of immigration-detention created this people’s victory.

For more info, and to continue to support Status for All, go to the facebook group www.facebook.com/nooneisillegaltoronto

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Final Week of Open Studio at the Sherbourne Health Centre

Tomorrow (Thursday, June 9th) is our last day of open studio at the Sherbourne Health Centre, and we're already lamenting packing up the studio. The project has been heaps of fun, and is worthy of a raucous celebration. We hope that each and every one of you (300+) contributors comes out to the unveiling and reception of this new public artwork on June 21st with your friends, family, and allies.

Many folks have asked what happens between now and June 21st . . . Are we done? As of Thursday June 9 we will be done building the mosaic, but there'll be a little more work to do. Later this week, a crew of us will be installing the panels on the exterior of the Sherbourne Health Centre. Once the panels are up, we'll spend a week doing some final tile work and grouting. The mosaic will be tarped, and ready for the big reveal on Tuesday, June 21st.

Comments? Feedback? Questions? Reflections?

The Sherbourne Health Centre Mosaic Project is Red Dress Productions' 5th large-scale community engaged public artwork project, but it's the first time that we've produced an online gallery with weekly (often daily) project updates with the intent to increase access to the project.

Please take a moment to email us about this project, our online gallery, and/or your experience as a contributor. Sharing your thoughts, comments, or feedback is one important way you can support Red Dress Productions to continue making art with/in communities: reddressproductions@gmail.com.

Thank you!