EMANCIPATION ON BLOOR STREET - AUGUST !st
Emancipation on Bloor
August 1st 1-3 pm
WHAT : Emancipation on Bloor is an animation of the Bloor Street Cultural Corridor from Yonge and Bloor to Christie and Bloor adding to the August 1st Emancipation Day activities. The animation takes place at key intersections on Bloor at Yonge, Bay, Avenue Rd, St. George, Spadina, Brunswick, Bathurst, Palmerston, and Christie Pits with a number of artistic expressions.
Emancipation on Bloor takes passersby through a series of “statements” through artistic expression including the liberation from chains, masquerade, spectrums of beauty, stereotypes, something of textiles, respect, resistance, and resilience.
WHERE: Pannists will be stationed at the intersections mentioned above as an anchor for the “statements”. The “stage” for performers is located on the sidewalks along Bloor from Yonge to Christie in areas are that spacious to ensure passersby and artists can adequately socially distance.
We are asking the Bloor Street Corridor Collaborators to make their own “Statement of Emancipation” on the pavement at their respective intersections which will weave the artistic expressions down the road.
WHEN : Emancipation on Bloor will take place on Sunday August 1st, 1pm to 3pm. This initiative is led by A Different Booklist Cultural Centre in collaboration with the Festival Management Committee (FMC), and the Carnival Arts Community.
Why? Emancipation on Bloor commemorates an important milestone for descendants of Enslaved Africans marking the abolition of slavery and honours the many contributions and resilience of African peoples throughout the Diaspora. With Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent declaration that August 1st will be recognized as Emancipation Day in Canada, it is important to mark this year’s Emancipation with a visual expression and statement.
WHO: ADBCC - THE PEOPLE’S RESIDENCE - CONTACT SHANNON ASHMAN - 647 880 3072
How: Through a heritage instrument, statements on the sidewalk and portraits of Canadians.
Pannists stationed at intersections
1. Yonge & BLOOR -
2. BAY & BLOOR
3. AVENUE ROAD
4. ST. GEORGE
5. SPADINA
6. BATHURST
7. Christie - Drums
THE STORY - Through groups and animation
They Came BEFORE COLUMBUS - THE SCHOLARS - Nigel Barriffe - Educators
Africa - Timbuktu is the seat of Knowledge - T-Shirts.
THE BEAUTY OF BLACKNESS - Nasa - 647 207 7395
THE ENSLAVEMENT PERIOD - Family - Yes - Nicole Osbourne - taking off chains at Christie Pits
THE RAPE OF AFRICA - Gold and Uranium - Akua 3-5
THE RESISTANCE - SPIRITUALITY - Martin
THE RESILIENCE - Carnival Masqueraders - Carnival public expression of emancipation
THE LIBERATION MOVEMENTS - GROUPING
Rebellions - shirt short / hoe
Garvey movement - General
Pan-Africanist movement
Independence movement
Harlem Renaissance
Civil Rights movement
Rastafari movement
Black Lives Matter
Contact : Shannon at shannonashman@gmail.com
Or
Wendy@casper.wj56@gmail.com
