Enjoy hand-painted art by Toronto’s Youth on Subway Platforms throughout 2013
“Pattison Onestop in partnership with Arts for Children and Youth (AFCY) present Art Responsibly, a series of hand-painted subway posters created by children and youth from Toronto’s priority neighbourhoods, on select subway platforms across Toronto. Art Responsibly posters share these youths’ thoughts and feelings about “being responsible by being artful.”
The young participants reused expired subway posters provided by Pattison, completely painting over the old advertising to create original new artworks under the guidance of a professional artist and an emerging AFCY youth artist at AFCY’s free outreach community-based visual arts workshops. Art Responsibly is an innovative AFCY initiative that intersects the notions of community arts education, arts advocacy, media literacy, civic engagement and leadership.
“As creative public springboards, the posters will be used by youth to visually convey social messages and ideas that are important to them. Their hope is also to prompt public inquiry, reflection and action. This poster project represents more chances for youth to mobilize and to use their creativity, knowledge and art making to inspire and inform members of the public, and to take leadership aimed at affecting and advancing Toronto’s art scene,” explains Julie Frost, AFCY’s Artistic and Executive Director.
“We are pleased to be able to support the artistic and cultural growth of our city’s youth. Art Responsibly uses art as a catalyst and inspiration for change, and encourages a society in which imagination is valued,” said Sharon Switzer, Arts Programmer and Curator, Pattison Onestop.
The unique subway poster artworks were created at 6 locations around Toronto, and have been located on subway platforms in close proximity where they were made. Locations include: Art Gallery of Ontario’s Free After Three program (St. Patrick Station), Covenant House Toronto (College Station), Our Lady of Victory Catholic School (Eglinton West Station), St. Barnabas Catholic School (Kennedy Station), St. Dorothy Catholic School (Wilson Station) and Rockcliffe Middle School (Runnymede Station).
Pattison Onestop will continue to strategically add and place the Art Responsibly posters across the network of subway platforms until the end of 2013, insuring this important programme can be viewed by as many subway commuters as possible.
The public is invited to respond to the artful subway posters via Twitter @AFCYtoronto
Arts for Children and Youth (AFCY) is a registered charitable organization. We ally with high priority communities and empower marginalized children and youth by engaging them in hands on, community and school-based arts education programs that respect existing cultural and community activity, resulting in participatory action and social awareness. www.afcy.ca | @AFCYtoronto
Pattison Onestop
Pattison Outdoor Advertising is Canada’s largest Out-of-Home advertising company, serving over 100 markets coast-to-coast. Pattison Onestop, a division of Pattison Outdoor, is a world leader in the development and operation of Digital Out-of-Home Media (DOOH) for mass transit, mall, retail, hospitality, residential, office, and outdoor environments. Art in Transit represents Pattison Onestop’s ongoing arts and culture programme. www.artintransit.ca
-press release and photos posted with permission from Tharmila Rajasingam, AFCY
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