Documentary Review: Waste Land
blog.meaghanbent » Culture - March 13th, 2012
@TheBloorCinema - The documentary film, WASTE LAND, about those working as garbage pickers on the largest landfill on the planet, Jardim Gramacho, in Brazil paints a picture of pride, hope, achievement and the strength of community. The film begins with the Brazillian-born, Brooklyn-based artist Vik Muniz‘s concept that he will go to Jardim Gramacho take some pictures, paint some landscapes and go home. What he encounters upon arrival is a deeper attachment to the pickers, and sees a way to use his art to help improve the conditions of life for the people who live there.
Despite the IMDB listing which cites Vik Muniz as the sole entry under the ‘Stars’ category, the film rides on the character of each of the people that the documentary introduces us to. Muniz, who claims he is the best-selling Brazillian artist in the world, invites the people of the film into his art by having them create larger than life compositions from the landfill material. The series is called ‘Pictures of Garbage‘, but you will hear the experts correct that title many times as they mention that the goods are mostly recyclable materials and that is money to them.
There is a meta-moment in the film where Muniz argues with his wife as she challenges the good he is doing. She poses the question that he is creating unrealistic hopes for the people he will leave working on the landfill, claiming that bringing them to the studio will make it hard to go back to trash. The story is complex and filled with charming people who are creating a better life for themselves. As Muniz brings these beautiful subjects into light they see themselves as beautiful and we are privileged to watch positive change unfold.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1268204/
http://www.wastelandmovie.com/
Endometriosis Symposium 2012
blog.meaghanbent » Culture - February 25th, 2012
A good friend of mine is involved with The Endometriosis Network, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about an illness called endometriosis. An estimated one in ten women suffer from endometriosis. She is one of them.
On March 10th, The Endometriosis Network will host a symposium on endo in an effort to reach out to women with endo and provide them with much needed resources and information. Please see below and attached for all the details.
Endometriosis Symposium 2012
Presented by The Endometriosis Network (T.E.N.) and The Endo Sisterhood
Saturday, March 10th, 2012
11:00am-4:00pm
MaRS Discovery District, Main Floor
101 College Street, Toronto, M5G 1L7
Calling All Women with Endometriosis!
Join us on March 10th, 2012 for the inaugural Endometriosis Symposium presented by The Endometriosis Network and The Endo Sisterhood.
As you know, currently, the majority of resources that exist for women with Endometriosis lie outside of our nation’s boundaries. This can lead to feelings of isolation, and often to incorrect information on the disease. We hope to begin to bridge this gap by providing annual symposiums providing our target audience, women with endometriosis, with information and awareness.
This, our inaugural symposium, seeks to provide women with the variety of treatment options available, as well as provide a forum for much needed networking across the province and country. We are reaching out to experts in Physiology; Health Psychology (emotional impact of disease); Nutrition; and Innovative Therapies. We will also be presenting a number of short video vignettes by endometriosis sufferers describing their experience with the disease.
A Little Bit About Us:
The Endometriosis Network
The Endo SisterhoodThe Endometriosis Network (T.E.N.) was formed to provide support services, education and publication of information for people suffering from endometriosis. T.E.N. is committed to raising public awareness of endometriosis and the mystery surrounding the disease. T.E.N. promotes and encourages early diagnosis as well as the use of existing advanced technology in the treatment of endometriosis. T.E.N. encourages and supports medical and scientific research and study into the causes of endometriosis, with a view to developing means of prevention and treatment.
The focus of Endosisterhood is Canada-wide support, encouraging women to share information and their concerns. It will also be a place to get up to date information about products and services for women with endo. Go to www.endosisterhood.ca for Private Forums or to find a Support Group in your area!
Unfamiliar Territories: Photography opening at Lonsdale Gallery
blog.meaghanbent » Culture - February 9th, 2012
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Polyhaus: new multi-use space on Toronto’s east side
blog.meaghanbent » Culture - February 8th, 2012
Polyhaus is a new multi-use, swiss army knife of a space on Toronto’s east side.
Whatever you want to do, you can do it here; our haus is your house. Private parties, gallery space, film screenings, musical events, photo shoots, yoga classes, short/long term storage, office space…. whatever you can think of really.
Our beautiful 2000sq ft space includes a fully functional kitchen and bathroom (w shower), storage and work areas, furnished open concept office space, a recording/rehearsal studio, as well as the main space with elevated loft A/V / DJ both and lounge area.
We’re having a grand openning / open house event on Saturday February 11 so folks can come check us out.
NO COVER!!
Open house starts at 3pm, live bands at 9. Refreshments and sustenance will be available. Get there before the show if you want to check out the studio, kitchen and storage facilities (won’t be accessible during the show).
The evening’s entertainment, co-presented with BurnDownTheCapitol, includes live music by:
The Guest Bedroom
Childs (formerly known as Orang Pendek)
John Milner You’re So Boss
JFM
Polyhaus is located at 388 Carlaw Ave. (Northernmost door closest to Gerrard – the glass one with “388″ on it; we’ll have a door person there to guide you the rest of the way)
The 72 South bus (from Pape Station or Queen E and Carlaw) or the 506 car (from Queens Park, College or Main stations) get you here. Pay parking on street, free after 9.
About Face Collective & The Everything Roof
blog.meaghanbent » Culture - February 7th, 2012
The About Face Collective briefly dubs themselves as “a group of artists and environmentalists making beauty necessary and necessity beautiful”. The statement seriously under-emphasizes the great work they are doing in real spacing in Toronto.
Their current primary project is the creation of a community rooftop garden and learning space on top of the new Centre for Social Innovation, Annex; The Everything Roof. The creative structural elements of the garden will be designed and built by local artists using recycled and reclaimed materials.
In collaboration with the Centre for Social Innovation, Sketch Working Arts for Street Involved and Homeless Youth and Skate4Cancer, The About Face Collective intends to create a unique, inspiring, visually exciting platform to promote urban farming, green lifestyles and integrated community engagement. They were recently granted $75,000 from Live Green Toronto toward the capital costs and are actively raising the remaining funds for a 2012 launch. To help out, visit their site: http://www.aboutfacecollective.com
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More on The Everything Roof
http://www.indiegogo.com/The-About-Face-Collectives-Rooftop-Recycle-Art-Garden
Our Story
The About Face Collective is working to create a community rooftop garden and learning space with a twist: the creative structural elements of the garden will be designed and built by local artists and youth using recycled and reclaimed materials. Together with Skate4Cancer’s “You Are What You Eat” program, Sketch Working Arts for Street Involved and Homeless Youth, and the Centre for Social Innovation, The About Face Collective will create a unique, inspiring, visually exciting space to promote urban farming, green lifestyles and integrated community engagement.
We are seeking to create a 2200 square foot deck on the roof of the Centre for Social Innovation, Annex location at 720 Bathurst St, Toronto. The deck will hold raised beds, vertical gardening structures, community lounge and education area, all surrounded by green roof space. Our layout considers plotting for food production while also providing adequate amount of space for community use, events and educational programming.
The Impact
This rooftop will have long lasting environmental and social impacts. Here’s a quick look at what we can achieve with this project:
Environmental Impact: Converting black tar rooftop space into green space helps reduce storm water runoff and also the “heat island” effect which contributes to smog and poor air quality in urban spaces. Not to mention, more plants in any situation equals more absorption of CO2, also leading to more breathable air. We’ll also be putting rain barrels on the roof which will help conserve water. And, last but not least, we’ll be growing food, selling it in the building below and using it on-site in educational programming, effectively ELIMINATING the emissions it normally takes to transport produce into urban areas!
By showcasing the creative and functional possibilities of materials often thought of as disposable, we hope to inspire waste reduction. Not only will we reduce landfill waste ourselves, but also to inspire others to see the amazing aesthetic and practical potential that exists for recycling and reusing.
Social Impact: We’ll be giving youth, artists and other community members unique educational and employment opportunities throughout this project. Educational programming will be offered in the initial development process in the form of workshops, so that interested community members learn about different stages of creating a rooftop garden.
We’re teaming with local artists including the crew at Sketch Working Arts for Street Involved and Homeless Youth. We’ll be offering paid residencies to youth who are passionate and artistic but are encountering barriers to employment. These opportunities give them unique and exciting job experience which can help launch them into future careers in creative or environmental sectors.
Our regular scheduled programming, in partnership with Skate4Cancer, will take the form of half-day educational sessions for school and community groups. Programs will focus on agriculture and urban gardening education, sustainable art and design, nutritional information and simple, healthy food preparation. The programming will seek to show the food process in its full cycle, from seed to meal. We will take a creative approach to food education, integrating art, nutrition and sustainable possibilities. Fun!
The space will also be open to the general public and available for rental for special events, workshops and gatherings. It will serve as a unique and artistically inspired space that will appeal to a wide variety of communities in the GTA.
What We Need
We’ve already hosted a successful fundraiser, gained the support of Live Green Toronto, The Big Carrot, and lots of support from our own community members. We’re applying for grants and sponsorships like it’s our job, but we still need support from you! We’ve got some dough to go to reach our full fundraising goals to cover our budget of $240,000.
Where does that number come from? Well, not only are we creating the rooftop deck, but we also need to build all the necessary drainage equipment and underlying infrastructure to make sure the deck can support the weight of the garden and green roof elements. This requires not only quality equipment, but also services from sustainability specialists, including architects, engineers and contractors. We’ll also need to construct appropriate access to the roof (right now there’s only a ladder; eek!).
As mentioned, we also want to employ youth and local artists (with decent wages!) to help design, build and bring artistic sensibilities to the space. We believe in the value of creative work and in the potential for artists to bring important social and environmental issues to light, to make them exciting and attractive to the community.
We’ll also need to buy tools, create educational resources, and of course seeds, plants, lightweight soil alternatives and other garden-related items. It all adds up fast!
Other Ways You Can Help
Please help us spread the word! Share our campaign with your friends who care about the environment, art, youth, culture, food, health, the Earth, and, well, EVERYTHING!
If you’re in the Toronto area and would like to volunteer your skills to this project, holler! Add your passion to our growing group of diverse and passionate community members.
Perks will be sent at the close of the campaign.
Relevant perk links:
freshcityfarms.com
laurenpirie.com
