Internationally renowned Trinidadian artist Marlon Griffith brings his Mas Movement to Lawrence Square Shopping Centre as part of Parapan Am Games cultural activities
The public is invited to join Marlon Griffith and Art Starts in free Mas Camp workshops this June
“Art Starts in partnership with the Art Gallery of York University (AGYU) invite the public to participate in free Mas Camp workshops at Lawrence Square Shopping Centre Monday June 15th to Saturday June 20th (exact times listed below). Participants will learn how to make mas costumes and masks for a MASsive Parapan Am street procession, Ring of Fire that will take place Sunday August 9th.
Mas Camps are collectively run productions studios used for the artistic production component of Caribbean Carnival. These public Mas Camps are part of a ground-breaking participatory art project commissioned by the AGYU in collaboration with arts and cultural organizations across the GTA that will culminate in the 300-person street procession for the Parapan Am Games.
For its part, Art Starts is working with Griffith and a crew of their talented youth fashion arts graduates to offer a free series of costume and mask-making mas workshops in their storefront space in the Lawrence Square Shopping Centre. The workshops are open to all-ages. Participants will be invited into an energetic space where they will be guided to work on costumes and masks big and small using an inspiring array of vibrant fabrics and materials. All participants will be invited to join the Sunday August 9th street procession to don their creations.
For the Art Starts youth fashion arts graduates working with Griffith, this project represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to mentor with an award-winning artist who’s work has been exhibited internationally.
“This mentorship experience will have a huge personal and professional impact on our youthfashion arts graduates” says Art Starts Program Director, Katherine Earl. “They will be learning valuable skills in costume construction, mask-making, and arts facilitation all the while playing an important role in animating the streets of Toronto as part of ground-breaking participatory arts project!”
All costumes and masks created in the Mas Camps will be worn by participants in the Ring of Fire street procession on Sunday August 9th. The procession is one of numerous cultural activities happening across the city as part of the Parapan Am Games cultural initiatives.
Art Starts is a charity that creates vibrant Toronto neighbourhoods through community-building arts initiatives.
The Art Gallery of York University (AGYU) is a public, university-affiliated, non-profit contemporary art gallery.
Ring of Fire, this 300-person strong street procession will be staged Sunday August 9th, 2015 along University Avenue from Queens Park to City Hall.
Ring of Fire is a new procession by Trinidadian artist Marlon Griffith in collaboration withPicasso PRO, Equal Grounds, Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation, Capoeira Angôla, and Spoken Word poets from Jane-Finch, Malvern, and Regent Park.
Ring of Fire is commissioned by the Art Gallery of York University (AGYU)and produced in partnership with Art Starts, Sketch, and the School of Arts, Media, Performance & Design, York University. The project is curated by Emelie Chhangur
Ring of Fire is generously supported by AGYU, Ontario Arts Council, Ontario Trillium Foundation, Ignite Ontario, Toronto Arts Council, The Co-operators, Lawrence Square Shopping Centre.
WHO: Art Starts, Marlon Griffith and the Art Gallery of York University
WHAT: Mas Camps for the Ring of Fire street procession
WHEN: Monday June 15th, 3:30-5:30pm | Tuesday June 16th 12-2pm | Wednesday June 17th, 4-7pm | Thursday June 18th 12-2pm & 4-7pm | Friday June 19th, 12-2pm & 4-7pm | Saturday June 20th 11am-4pm
WHERE: Lawrence Square Shopping Centre, across from the food court
For more information, please visit www.artstarts.net or contact Art Starts Program Director Katherine Earl at 647-785-8295 or Katherine@artstarts.net.”
-submitted by Art Starts
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