8 Untitled by Kaya Joan, North Etobicoke Mural Project, StreetArToronto, 680 Rexdale Boulevard, Etobicoke, Toronto, ON
Excerpt from webapp.driftscape.com/map/a525c79e-7511-11ec-8000-bc1c5a8...:
Untitled by Kaya Joan: The mural I painted in Rexdale explores themes of belonging, safety and relationship to land. It depicts two deep brown skinned folks with long wavy black hair sitting behind some green shrubs. They have gold necklaces on, flowers in their hair and butterflies around them. In the middle of them is a bright orange sun.
Co-creation with North Etobicoke residents was essential to this piece. During the summer of 2020, I was able to share space with community members over the course of four virtual workshops. Together, we explored what community means to us in the present, and what we envision for the future, as well as how relationships to place are both formed and deepened. Through various arts activities, workshop participants played with the elements of design to express their feelings and ideas, while creating brainstorms, zines and illustrations. At the end of each workshop, there was space to share what was created. Many of us shared our dreams of having access to safe outdoor space to gather, grow and share food, and strengthen interpersonal relationships. In a time of mass change and shifts in ways of coming together, sharing the hope we have for the future was deeply grounding.
We also explored how the land holds teachings around how to be in good relationship with one another, and how everyone carries responsibilities around taking care of the land they are on. The final design is a collective vision of a future where we can share abundant moments of rest and peace together. This future includes Land Back, honoring and upholding treaty relationships, and collectively dreaming into ways of being in relationships that are not exploitative. I hope community members feel joy when experiencing this mural, as I felt joy painting it alongside the folks who helped me in the process.
8 Untitled by Kaya Joan, North Etobicoke Mural Project, StreetArToronto, 680 Rexdale Boulevard, Etobicoke, Toronto, ON
Excerpt from webapp.driftscape.com/map/a525c79e-7511-11ec-8000-bc1c5a8...:
Untitled by Kaya Joan: The mural I painted in Rexdale explores themes of belonging, safety and relationship to land. It depicts two deep brown skinned folks with long wavy black hair sitting behind some green shrubs. They have gold necklaces on, flowers in their hair and butterflies around them. In the middle of them is a bright orange sun.
Co-creation with North Etobicoke residents was essential to this piece. During the summer of 2020, I was able to share space with community members over the course of four virtual workshops. Together, we explored what community means to us in the present, and what we envision for the future, as well as how relationships to place are both formed and deepened. Through various arts activities, workshop participants played with the elements of design to express their feelings and ideas, while creating brainstorms, zines and illustrations. At the end of each workshop, there was space to share what was created. Many of us shared our dreams of having access to safe outdoor space to gather, grow and share food, and strengthen interpersonal relationships. In a time of mass change and shifts in ways of coming together, sharing the hope we have for the future was deeply grounding.
We also explored how the land holds teachings around how to be in good relationship with one another, and how everyone carries responsibilities around taking care of the land they are on. The final design is a collective vision of a future where we can share abundant moments of rest and peace together. This future includes Land Back, honoring and upholding treaty relationships, and collectively dreaming into ways of being in relationships that are not exploitative. I hope community members feel joy when experiencing this mural, as I felt joy painting it alongside the folks who helped me in the process.