Common Threads: Aurora Public Art Festival

Aurora Cultural Centre

Yifu Ding & Zishuo Li, Wind Blessing in Red (render view), 2026. Image courtesy of the artists.

Common Threads: Aurora Public Art Festival

September 16 – 27, 2026
Mirkopoulos Plateia, Aurora Town Square
Curated by Ashlyn Gregory

Featured Artists:
Khadija Aziz | Yifu Ding & Zishuo Li | Roda Medhat

Common Threads: Aurora Public Art Festival presents three large-scale outdoor installations by Khadija Aziz, Yifu Ding & Zishuo Li, and Roda Medhat that transform the Mirkopoulos Plateia at Aurora Town Square. Working across a diverse range of fibre-based practices, the artists in this exhibition use textiles as a lens to explore identity, visibility, and cultural heritage.

By bringing textile art—traditionally associated with domestic craft—into the outdoors, Common Threads challenges the perceived divide between the public and private spheres. In doing so, the exhibition highlights the diversity of cultural experiences that shape our community and invites us to consider our relationship to textiles as symbols of belonging and place. Together, the works draw out the common threads between us, celebrating the rich stories woven into the spaces we share.

Khadija Aziz, Mirroring the Land Mirroring Us, glass mirrors, cotton fabric, cotton thread, cotton batting, 2025. Installation at Harbourside Park, St. John’s, NL, for HOLD FAST Contemporary Art Festival by Eastern Edge Artist-Run-Centre. Photograph by Shireen Merchant.

Related Programming

Art Activation: Wish Collection with Yifu Ding & Zishuo Li (all ages)
Saturday, September 12, 4 – 8pm | Free
Yonge Street between Mosley Street and Wellington Street, Aurora

Presented as part of Saturday Night Fever, drop in to the Aurora Cultural Centre’s booth to participate in a collaborative community art project with artists Yifu Ding and Zishuo Li.

Identity & Place: Public Art Panel Discussion
Sunday, September 20, 2 – 3pm | Free
Homeroom Galleries (Level 1), Aurora Town Square
View Broadcast

Join us in-person or virtually for a panel discussion on public art with Khadija Aziz, Zishuo Li, and Roda Medhat moderated by Aurora Cultural Centre Gallery Manager Ashlyn Gregory. RSVP encouraged.

Introduction to Small Loom-Based Weaving with Roda Medhat (6+)
Saturday, September 19, 1 – 4pm | Free
Mirkopoulos Plateia, Aurora Town Square

A drop-in, hands-on workshop where artist Roda Medhat will teach participants the basics of weaving using small wooden looms.

Contemporary South Asian Mirror Embroidery with Khadija Aziz (16+)
Saturday, September 26, 1 – 3:30pm | Free
Art Activity Room (Level B1), Aurora Town Square

In this beginner-friendly workshop, artist Khadija Aziz introduces contemporary South Asian mirror embroidery techniques and teaches participants how to adorn textiles with glass mirrors! RSVP required.

Roda Medhat, FARSH, wood frame, carpet, 2022. Installation at Assembly Hall, Etobicoke, ON, for Nuit Blanche Toronto. Image courtesy of the artist.

Aurora Cultural Centre
auroraculturalcentre.ca
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Aurora Town Square
50 Victoria Street
Aurora, ON L4G 1R3
This is an accessible venue.

Aurora Town Square Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30am – 10pm
Saturday: 8:30am – 6pm
Sunday: 8:30am – 4pm

Admission is free. All are welcome.

Contact Us
905-750-1745
info@auroraculturalcentre.ca