R E D + D R E S S + P R O D U C T I O N S

Custom Ceramics for the Bleecker Coop Memorial Project

2012-01-19T11:02:00.002-06:00

The Bleecker Coop Memorial Project features several custom fabrication processes including handmade tiles produced in Bleecker Coop's own ceramics studio: Studio 85 founded by ceramic artist Henry Campos. On January 17, Henry led the first of two ceramics workshops with more than 10 coop members. It seems appropriate that contributors are producing two special elements of the artwork --

Bleecker Coop Memorial Project: The Design is Unveiled

2012-01-14T08:44:00.026-06:00

untitled, Anna Camilleri, 2012, 10" x 32", paper on birch bark We had a great meeting on Thursday January 12, 2012. More than 30 community members came out to view and offer feedback to the design. It's an exciting moment in the life of a project. In a community engaged art context, design "unveiling" is the culmination of conceptual development and arts-based research with community members

Introducing Youth Apprentice Domanique Grant and Youth Leaders Dorian Johnson and Emily Jones!

2011-12-27T08:38:00.005-06:00

We're pleased to introduce you to Domanique Grant, who will be apprenticing with Red Dress Productions on the Bleecker Coop Memorial Project. While emerging as a singer-songwriter, Domanique Grant's additional work as an actress, dancer and advocate, combined with her studies as a double major in Theatre and International Development at York University, has set her apart as a young

Creating Legacy: Designing for Past, Present, and Future

2011-12-20T23:50:00.004-06:00

We've now had several community meetings with Bleecker Coop members, directors, and staff, and many ideas have been generated through creative explorations of motif, movement, positive and negative space, colour, texture, and abstract and representational elements. What had been initially been conceived as a two-dimensional mosaic mural, has grown into an environmental site-specific

Line and Colour

2011-12-14T10:04:00.004-06:00

At our fourth Bleecker Coop Memorial Project community meeting last night, we focused on line and colour; movement and pattern. Here's some of what emerged from our inquiry. Photography by Katie Yealland.

WRTN/SPKN: a creative writing and zine project with Triangle Program

2011-12-03T12:15:00.006-06:00

WRTN/SPKN is a short video (5 min 13 sec) that features creative work that emerged from a story writing and story telling project that took place at the Triangle Program—Canada's only high school for LGBTQ youth. For several weeks, we explored creative writing (particularly memoir) through practices including free association, “cut-up,” word strings, found poetry, and collaborative writing. We

Bleecker Coop Memorial Project

2011-11-25T15:20:00.018-06:00

Welcome to our gallery of images from the Bleecker Coop Memorial Project. We've begun meeting to tell stories, brainstorm, and explore visual representations of our ideas using oil pastel, mixed media, foam plate printing on fabric and paper, and collage. As you scroll down, you'll find a series of solo and multiple pieces produced by project contributors. This arts-based participatory research

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY for CHFT Youth

2011-11-17T15:20:00.003-06:00

Community Art Apprentice Position Project runs: December 2011 to March 2012 Flexible/variable hours: afternoons, evenings, weekends Remuneration: up to a maximum of $1350.00 (based upon $15/hour for 90 hours) Red Dress Productions is proud to lead the “Bleecker Co-op Memorial Project,” a new community engaged mosaic project. One equity-seeking youth will be hired as Community Art Apprentice

Introducing Andrew Henderson

2011-11-15T13:58:00.001-06:00

We're pleased to welcome Andrew Henderson to Red Dress Productions. Andrew found us by way of the Community Arts Practice Certificate Program, Faculty of Fine Arts at York University, where he is currently enrolled. Andrew Henderson is a multidisciplinary and multilingual artist living in the Church and Wellesley community of Toronto, Ontario. Being born and raised in a tiny rural prairie

Announcing the Bleecker Street Cooperative Memorial Project

2011-11-08T12:34:00.010-06:00

Bleecker Coop Memorial Project is the creation of a large-scale mosaic artwork, created for and with community members who will act as contributing artists between November 2011 and March 2012. WHY THIS PROJECT? WHY NOW? Bleecker Coop is approaching its 20th Anniversary in spring 2012, and its impossible to celebrate Bleecker Coop and its accomplishments without recognizing Diane Frankling.

NEA Creative Placemaking Webcast

2011-11-03T17:56:00.001-05:00

A really interesting discussion about creative places and who and what makes them: http://www.torontoartscape.on.ca/videos/nea-creative-placemaking-webcast

Goings On

2011-10-26T15:12:00.009-05:00

Dear Readers, Creative People, and Change-makers, We haven't posted here in a while but things haven't been quiet at Red Dress Productions. We've been working with partners on imagining the framework for three new interdisciplinary projects -- one of which is beginning this fall -- we're entering a mentorship with a York University Community Arts student, and we've been grant writing to

Th Sherbourne Health Centre Mosaic

2011-07-31T15:10:00.019-05:00

This is where we began. And this is where we are now. Thanks to Rafaela Vidinha Dominici for still photography of the completed work, pictured in this series. MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK June 2011 18’ long x 8’ high Many Hands Make Light Work: a partnership between Sherbourne Health Centre and Red Dress Productions. 300+ community members contributed to the conceptual development and

Photos from our Unveiling and Reception on June 21, 2011

2011-07-31T14:11:00.011-05:00

200+ contributors and community members celebrated the unveiling of the Sherbourne Health Centre Mosaic. Thanks for making it such a joyous occasion. A plaque recognizing the artwork’s title, and all project contributors and supporters will be installed in September, 2011. Thanks to Heidi Cho and Boyd Kodak for unveiling and reception still photography (pictured in this post); gracious event

Installation Photos from SHC Mosaic Project

2011-06-22T08:35:00.003-05:00

Our unveiling and reception last night was a joyous event with many contributors and comunuity members present. We'll have more to say about that soon.

Queeries Magazine features SHC Mosaic Project

2011-06-20T19:49:00.003-05:00

Thanks to Suzy Malik and Melissa Benner at Queeries for this article: http://queeriesmag.com/index.php/2011/06/17/building-community-one-peice-at-a-time/

Neighbourhood Arts Network features Sherbourne Health Centre Mosaic

2011-06-10T18:11:00.002-05:00

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

2011-06-10T08:14:00.002-05:00

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

Final Week of Open Studio at the Sherbourne Health Centre

2011-06-08T10:25:00.002-05:00

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.

Unveiling and Reception Party on Tuesday June 21, 2011 @ 7pm

2011-05-31T07:13:00.005-05:00

More than 300 community members joined together over several months to create the Sherbourne Health Centre Mosaic. Please join us in celebrating this new public artwork led by artists Anna Camilleri and Tristan R. Whiston of Red Dress Productions, with apprentices Heidi Cho, Rafaela Dominici Vidinha, Daniel Ellis, and Jay Stewart. Unveiling & Reception 7pm, Tuesday June 21, 2011 The

Week 8 of Open Studio at the Sherbourne Health Centre

2011-05-30T21:23:00.015-05:00

Details from the "access 4 all" panel. To give you sense of how many contributors are involved, the following built elements of the "dignity" photo detail to the left (a 24"X 8" area): Katie Yealland Tristan R. Whiston Rafaela Dominici Vidinha Chantelle Gobeil Jay Stewart Richard Burns Jade Reid Anna Campbell Heidi Cho Anna Camilleri Details from the "welcome" panel.

Week 7 of Open Studio at the Sherbourne Health Centre

2011-05-26T00:07:00.012-05:00

With seven weeks of open studio behind us, and two more to go, I'd like to offer some reflections. Mosaic is a medium that requires time, careful attention to detail. In that regard, it's more closely related to embroidery or quilt work, than to painting. Some have described it as meditative. Unlike fabric arts, the materials we use are hard -- ceramic glazed wall tile, some porcelain, and a bit

Week 6 of Open Studio at the Sherbourne Health Centre

2011-05-17T09:20:00.006-05:00

As we approach the last three weeks of open studio, I want to take a moment to share some thoughts. Every aspect of the Sherbourne Health Centre Mosaic Project is and has been collaborative and community engaged. Not to be too flaky about it, but open studio is a magical space. People who may not encounter one another elsewhere, meet each other in the studio. Stories are shared. We are

Week 5 of Open Studio at the Sherbourne Health Centre

2011-05-10T23:14:00.007-05:00

More Photos from Week 4 of Open Studio at the Sherbourne Health Centre

2011-05-05T09:00:00.008-05:00

Two of the seven mosaic panels are complete, and three more are currently under construction!

Week 4 of Open Studio at the Sherbourne Health Centre

2011-05-03T20:40:00.003-05:00

More Photos from Week 3 of Open Studio at the Sherbourne Health Centre

2011-04-29T09:23:00.001-05:00

Week 3 of Open Studio at the Sherbourne Health Centre

2011-04-29T09:20:00.001-05:00

More Photos from Week 2 of Open Studio at the Sherbourne Health Centre!

2011-04-21T11:21:00.006-05:00

More than 20 new contributors have joined the project since we opened the studio two weeks ago, and one (of seven) panels is nearly completed, and two others are in progress. As the saying goes, many hands make light work. Every open studio session -- indeed, every hour -- is different. Some folks drop-in for half an hour on the way to or from an appointment in the Sherbourne Health Centre,

Photos from Week 2 of Open Studio at the Sherbourne Health Centre!

2011-04-21T10:12:00.000-05:00

Week 2 of Open Studio at the Sherbourne Health Centre!

2011-04-19T23:02:00.006-05:00

Week 2 of Open Studio at Sherbourne Health Centre

2011-04-19T08:05:00.006-05:00

Week 1 of Open Studio at Sherbourne Health Centre

2011-04-15T14:33:00.002-05:00

At the end of week 1 and three days of open studio, 15 new project contributors joined in. We're off to a great start!

Week 1 of Open Studio at Sherbourne Health Centre

2011-04-13T19:31:00.009-05:00

Studio Set-Up at the Sherbourne Health Centre

2011-04-13T18:29:00.003-05:00

Design Unveiled!! Sherbourne Health Centre Community Engaged Mosaic

2011-03-15T22:20:00.011-05:00

Welcome to our gallery of images from the Sherbourne Health Centre Mosaic Project. Over the past two months, we've met with more than 100 clients, program participants, staff, and board members of the Sherbourne Health Centre. Together, we've brainstormed, told stories, and made art with a range of materials including oil pastel, mixed media, and foam plate printing on fabric and vellum.

Design for Sherbourne Health Centre Community Mosaic --Panel 1

2011-03-15T22:12:00.004-05:00

Panel 1 of 7.

Design for Sherbourne Health Centre Community Mosaic

2011-03-15T22:09:00.005-05:00

Panel 1 of 7, details.

Design for Sherbourne Health Centre Community Mosaic

2011-03-15T22:07:00.002-05:00

Panel 1 of 7, detail.

Design for Sherbourne Health Centre Community Mosaic -- Panel 2 of 7

2011-03-15T22:03:00.005-05:00

Panel 2 of 7.

Design for Sherbourne Health Centre Community Mosaic -- Panel 3 of 7

2011-03-15T21:58:00.005-05:00

Panel 2 of 7, detail. Panel 3 of 7.

Design for Sherbourne Health Centre Community Mosaic -- Panel 5 of 7

2011-03-15T21:56:00.004-05:00

Panel 5 of 7.

Design for Sherbourne Health Centre Community Mosaic -- Panel 4 of 7

2011-03-15T19:19:00.009-05:00

Panel 4 of 7. Panel 4 of 7, detail.

Design for Sherbourne Health Centre Community Mosaic -- Panels 6 and 7

2011-03-15T19:02:00.007-05:00

Panel 6 of 7. Panel 6 of 7, angle. Panel 7 of 7.

Sherbourne Health Centre Community Mosaic Project

2011-03-03T20:04:00.006-06:00

Welcome to our gallery of images from the Sherbourne Health Centre Mosaic Project. Over the past two months, we've met with more than one hundred clients and program participants of the Sherbourne Health Centre. Together, we've brainstormed, told stories, and made art with a range of materials including oil pastel, mixed media, and foam plate printing on fabric and vellum. As you scroll down the

2011-03-03T20:02:00.001-06:00

2011-03-03T19:59:00.001-06:00

2011-03-03T19:54:00.001-06:00

519 Community Centre Public Artwork video now online!

2010-12-21T09:18:00.001-06:00

Thanks to Rafaela Dominici Vidinha for posting the 519 Mosaic video!You can watch it here:http://vimeo.com/17684339

Jumblies Theatre: Arts for All Essentials

2010-12-21T09:00:00.003-06:00

Just spent six days working with Ruth Howard and associate artists at the Jumblies Theatre's Arts For All Essentials intensive. It was a rich experience with plenty of opportunities to reflect, experiment, and learn about many aspects of community engaged artistic practices including arts-based research, ethics and aesthetics, facilitation, and evaluation. I strongly recommend it to artists,

519 Church Street Community Centre Public Artwork

2010-09-15T10:25:00.003-05:00

Flux June 201027’ long x 5’ highFlux is a community-engaged public artwork, a project of the 519 Church Street Community Centrer, located in the heart of downtown Toronto. More than 300 community members participated in the vision, design, and build. At eleven community consultations, we brainstormed ideas. Seventy-five sketches and some common themes emerged: a desire to firmly anchor the work

Neighbourhood Arts Network

2010-06-15T16:50:00.001-05:00

Red Dress Productions is proud to be a member of the Neighbourhood Arts Network!http://www.neighbourhoodartsnetwork.org/members/red-dress-productions

519 Mosaic Unveiling & Reception: Monday June 28

2010-06-14T21:54:00.001-05:00

2010-06-14T21:49:00.002-05:00

Talk to the Wall!!!

2010-06-14T21:43:00.003-05:00

Working as a Community-Engaged Artist in an Anti-Oppression Framework

2010-06-07T18:38:00.002-05:00

by Heidi ChoArt has always scared me. Just the thought of picking up a paintbrush can induce a panic attack. Where does all this overwhelming pressure to create a unique million-dollar art masterpiece come from? Historically, art has been constructed as a privileged practice belonging to a select class of ‘chosen’ people born with innate artistic talent. Despite my apprehension, I remained drawn

519 Mosaic studio photographs, April 2010

2010-05-10T14:21:00.002-05:00

519 Mosaic studio photographs, April 2010

2010-05-10T14:20:00.000-05:00

519 Mosaic studio photographs, April 2010

2010-05-10T14:18:00.000-05:00

519 Mosaic studio photographs, April 2010

2010-05-10T14:17:00.002-05:00

519 Mosaic studio photographs, April 2010

2010-05-10T14:14:00.001-05:00

519 Mosaic studio photographs, April 2010

2010-05-10T14:11:00.002-05:00

519 Mosaic studio photographs, April 2010

2010-05-10T14:10:00.002-05:00

519 Mosaic studio photographs, April 2010

2010-05-10T14:08:00.003-05:00

519 Mosaic studio photographs, April 2010

2010-05-10T14:08:00.001-05:00

519 Mosaic studio photographs, April 2010

2010-05-10T14:07:00.002-05:00

519 Mosaic studio photographs, April 2010

2010-05-10T14:06:00.001-05:00

519 Mosaic studio photographs, April 2010

2010-05-10T14:05:00.000-05:00

519 Mosaic studio photographs, April 2010

2010-05-10T14:03:00.000-05:00

519 Mosaic studio photographs, April 2010

2010-05-10T14:02:00.002-05:00

519 Mosaic studio photographs, April 2010

2010-05-10T14:01:00.002-05:00

519 Mosaic studio photographs, April 2010

2010-05-10T13:56:00.001-05:00

519 Mosaic Studio Hours

2010-04-17T11:54:00.008-05:00

All community members are welcome to join the mosaic the project, which means building with us. All materials provided ~ no experience necessary!Week 5Monday May 3 – 6 to 10 pm Tuesday May 4 – 10 am to 1pmWednesday May 5 – 2 to 6pmSunday May 9 – 1 to 5pmWeek 6Tuesday May 11 – 5 to 10pmWednesday May 12 – 11 am to 3pm Sunday May 16 – 1 to 5pmWeek 7Tuesday May 18 – 6 to 10pmWednesday May 19 – 1 to

519 Mosaic Design

2010-03-31T08:42:00.007-05:00

This is a technical line drawing of my design. The actual mosaic will be 27 feet long x 5 feet high. Please click on the image for a bigger view of the design. --Anna Camilleri

SweLL Toronto & Ottawa performance

2010-03-12T10:06:00.005-06:00

Red Dress Productions presentsSweLLthe (re)iteration of TASTE THIS, notorious Vancouver-based queer performance troupe that co-authored BOYS LIKE HER: TRANSFICTIONSTORONTO, ON performanceDoors 7:30, Show 8:00 pm | Tuesday April 27, 2010 Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander StreetTickets $12- $20 sliding scaleAdvance Tix: Toronto Women’s Bookstore 73 Harbord StreetTORONTO, ON workshops

519 Mosaic Public Consultation#2

2010-02-18T08:24:00.000-06:00

2010-02-18T08:22:00.001-06:00

Design produced by Tamara Perez Mucino and Rafaela Dominici Vidinha.

519 Mosaic Public Consultation#1

2010-02-08T08:21:00.001-06:00

This sketch was produced by Heidi Cho.

519 Mosaic Public Consultation#1

2010-02-08T08:20:00.000-06:00

519 Mosaic Public Consultation#1

2010-02-08T08:18:00.000-06:00

Notes from our brainstorming session.

519 Mosaic Public Consultation#1

2010-02-08T08:16:00.001-06:00

This sketch was produced by Rafaela Dominici Vidinha.

519 Mosaic Public Consultation#1

2010-02-08T08:10:00.002-06:00

This sketch was produced by Victor Doneluzzi.

519 Mosaic Apprentices

2010-02-07T22:31:00.004-06:00

We're happy to be joined by community art apprentices Heidi Cho, Tamara Perez Mucino, and Rafaela Dominici Vidinha!

519 Mosaic Begins!

2010-01-29T12:06:00.000-06:00

2010-01-04T10:54:00.002-06:00

Archival photo from Poetry Is Not a Luxury, a collaborative installation with Sandra Alland, Anna Camilleri, and Karen Augustine, pesented by Mayworks Festival. Poetry Is Not a Luxury is the title of an essay by Ms. Audrey Lourde.

HIRING COMMUNITY ART YOUTH APPRENTICES

2009-12-31T07:46:00.001-06:00

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY for LGBTTQ YOUTHCommunity Art Apprentice PositionsProject runs: January – June 2010Flexible/variable hours: afternoons, evenings, weekendsRemuneration: up to a maximum of $2000 (based upon $15/hour for 133 hours)Red Dress Productions is proud to lead the 519 Community Centre’s new community engaged mosaic project. The primary goal of the project is to conceive and create a

5 1 9 COMMUNITY CENTRE LAUNCHES MOSAIC IN JANUARY

2009-12-31T06:47:00.006-06:00

We'e very excited to bring in the new year with a community engaged project with the 519--Toronto's LGBTTQ community centre. The 519 Mosaic is a new community-engaged, hands-on, large-scale mosaic project that is for/with participants of all ages, and abilities drawn from the diverse community members and program participants that call the 519 Community Centre home. Our goal is to create an

The St. Lawrence Co-ops Community Mosaic | August 2009

2009-11-25T10:45:00.012-06:00

More than 50 children and elders between the ages of 3 and 80 joined together over several months to create this community-based public artwork. The St. Lawrence Co-ops Community Mosaic--a project of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto-- was led by artists Anna Camilleri and Tristan R. Whiston of Red Dress Productions, youth apprentices Kelsey Desmond and Angelica Batalla, and

Unveiling & Reception of St. Lawrence Co-ops Mosaic

2009-11-25T10:44:00.018-06:00

We talked, brainstormed, and told stories about diversity, environmentalism, urban development, the changing St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood, co-operative housing, community development, and how this might be reflected visually. We produced individual and group sketches. Anna Camilleri produced the design based upon a shared vision.Postcard design by Tariq Sami.

CHFT Community-Engaged Mosaic Launch

2009-11-25T10:23:00.016-06:00

Not sure how to get this link to go live, so here it is:http://pammcconnell.ca/2009/10/08/mural-art-project/

In the Workshop

2009-11-25T09:58:00.004-06:00

Contributors include Philip Conlon, Tina Conlon, Rosemary Copeland, Gianna Cordari, Edith Ginsburg, Maria Moreno, Delana Munroe, Lynda Stokes, Cassandra Padmore, Hussein Ahmed, Ahmed Ahmed, Kevoni Clarke, Timioni Langoya, Tajahn Gumbs, Daniel Hatton, Cyril Hoferica, Maleeka Black, Tahnee P. Duncan, Lemme Shafi, Tavaree Daniel-Simms, Sabry Shafi, Amal Absiy, Ayub Ismail, Wedad Shafi, Zyiad

Seriously Messy Business

2009-11-25T09:54:00.007-06:00

The St. Lawrence Co-ops Community Mosaic, a project of the Co-op Housing Federation of Toronto in partnership with Red Dress Productions, thanks the citizens of Toronto and Ontario for their support through the Toronto Arts Council and the Ontario Arts Council, St. Lawrence Community Recreation Centre, and the OWN Housing Co-operative. Special thanks to Tom Clement, Maria LaVida, Esther Forde,

2009-11-25T09:52:00.006-06:00

At times, the workshop buzzed with the energy of as many as twenty participants. While we worked, we talked about subjects ranging from soccer tryouts, Amharic, Palestinian Arabic, and racism, to Rihanna and Chris Brown. At other times, we turned up the radio, and practiced dance moves in between tile nipping.

Turtle Island

2009-11-25T09:47:00.005-06:00

The compass/Turtle Island motif is an element that is carried through all four 32" x 60" panels that constitute this public artwork.

Apprentice at Work

2009-11-25T09:43:00.003-06:00

After School

2009-11-25T09:37:00.004-06:00

Some participants--many of whom are students at Market Lane Public School--worked on the mosaic every single time the workshop was open during after school hours.

Week 1

2009-11-25T09:23:00.003-06:00

This is the first of four panels that we worked on, affectionately called the "learning board."

Technical Drawing: St. Lawrence Co-ops Mosaic

2009-11-25T09:17:00.005-06:00

Bleecker Street Co-operative: Scape, September 2007

2009-11-24T19:25:00.004-06:00

Artists Anna Camilleri and Tristan R. Whiston led Scape, the second Bleecker Street Co-operative community-engaged project. Individual and group sketches were produced during a series of creative brainstorms; with this, Camilleri produced Scape’s design. Volunteer participants collaborated over several months to create this large-scale public artwork. Scape participants

2009-11-24T19:20:00.004-06:00