Workman Arts presents 22nd Annual Being Scene Exhibition Series

WHEN: April 4 – May 12, 2023

WHERE:
Un/Common Threads curated by Kat Singer at Workman Arts Offsite, 180 Shaw Street, Suite 302 and Tangled Art + Disability Vitrines, 401 Richmond Street West, Suite 124, Toronto, from April 4 – 27, 2023
workmanarts.com/being-scene-2023

Juried Exhibition in the First Floor Hallway Gallery of Artscape Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas Street East, Toronto, from April 20 – May 12, 2023

OPENING RECEPTIONS
Uncommon Threads, Thursday, April 6, 6-9 PM EDT – FREE @ Workman Arts Offsite, 180 Shaw Street, Suite 302, barrier-free venue

Juried Exhibition, Thursday April 27, 6-9 PM EDT – FREE @ Artscape Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas Street East, Ground Floor Hallway Galleries, barrier-free venue

Workman Arts is proud to present two exhibitions across three venues as part of the 22nd annual Being Scene Exhibition Series, which showcases a wide array of artworks, disciplines and conceptual concerns from over 40 artists with lived mental health and/or addiction experience.

This year’s Being Scene launches with an exhibition of textile art by guest curator Kat Singer. This year’s curated exhibition is titled Un/Common Threads. The exhibition presents a constellation of works by Mad and neurodivergent artists that troubles the dichotomy of mental health and mental wellness. These intimate textile artworks weave complex narratives of recovery, resilience, and restoration; illustrating how pain and joy, celebration and mourning, acceptance and change, are inextricably intertwined. Works in the exhibition are meant to be touched, providing audiences with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the tactility of the medium. In line with Singer’s previous curatorial projects, Un/Common Threads furthers a vision of a future where difference is no longer feared or pathologized, but welcomed and desired.

Un/Common Threads presents the work of artists Brandon Wullf, Khadija Aziz, Paulina Wiszowata, Kingi Carpenter (Peach Berserk), Catherine Heard, Apanaki Temitayo, Estée Klar and Adam Wolfond.

Un/Common Threads is viewable from April 4 – 27. Commissioned artworks can be found on display at Workman Arts’ new Offsite space at Artscape Youngplace and an accompanying arrangement of works from all the artists at the Tangled Art + Disability Gallery vitrines.

The annual juried exhibition at Artscape Daniels Spectrum features over 30 Workman Arts member artists. A special thank you goes out to our guest jurors, Max Ferguson (Curator in Residence at Tangled Art + Disability), Rob Colgate (Poet in Residence at Tangled Art + Disability) as well as Workman Arts Member Advisory Council Member and instructor, and Apanaki Temitayo.

ONLINE PUBLIC PROGRAMMING (Free to all)

Un/Common Threads Artists Gathering
Moderated by Curator Kat Singer
Date: Thursday, April 13th, 2023
Time: 7 – 8:30 PM EDT

OAC Visual Art and Accessibility Grants
Presented by Zhe Gu and Bushra Junaid, Ontario Arts Council
Date: Friday, April 28th, 2023
Time: 2 – 4 PM EDT

TAC Visual Art and Accessibility Grants
Presented by Peter Kingstone, Toronto Arts Council
Date: Friday, May 5th, 2023
Time: 1:30 – 3:30 PM EDT

Budgeting Your Studio Practice and Pricing Your Work
Presented by Sparkbox Studios (Chrissy Poitras and Kyle Topping)
Date: To Be Confirmed (please check our website for details)

For more information and a full list of all artists in the exhibition, visit workmanarts.com/being-scene/being-scene-2023/

HISTORY / ABOUT

Being Scene began over 20 years ago on the grounds of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Since, Being Scene has exhibited a juried survey of over 100 artworks by Workman Arts member artists as well as artists with lived experience who have received services from CAMH. Last year, Workman Arts introduced a smaller curated portion as part of the overall exhibit. Working closely with a guest curator, artists were supported to give shape to compelling ideas and narratives, covering a wide range of conceptual and material approaches from diverse experiences. Being Scene is an invaluable professionalization experience for our artists, consistently reaching audiences of over 5,000, allowing for a greater understanding of the diversity of our experiences.

For further information, interviews or images, please contact Tai Nguyen at tai_nguyen@workmanarts.com

To receive email updates about Being Scene’s annual exhibition launch sign up for the mailing list.

ACCESSIBILITY

Workman Arts is committed to values of inclusivity and accessibility for all guests, staff, volunteers and artists. We are listening and learning from our community to help us address barriers and open up opportunities for anyone interested to engage with the Being Scene exhibition and related events. All exhibition venues are wheelchair accessible with accessible washrooms. All online programming will have ASL and live transcription. Each IRL event will have an active listener on site.

We do our best to accommodate any interpretation, transportation assistance, navigation assistance, financial assistance or any other accessibility needs by request. If you require any accessibility support in order to attend any of these events, please get in touch with Raine Laurent-Eugene at raine_laurenteugene@workmanarts.com or 416-583-4339, ext 9.

Workman Arts
1025 Queen Street West, #2400
Toronto, Ontario M6J 1H4
416-583-4339
info@workmanarts.com
www.workmanarts.com
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Presented with the generous support of: