East of Nuit Blanche. Queens and Kings of Scarborough.
The article was first published in the Toronto Art Newspaper, The Artist and The Viewer, Issue 6, on December 2019.
Written by Alejandro Reyes-Andreu under the pen name of Andrew King.
Little has been said about Nuit Blanche’s latest edition. The only reviews of the event so far were published in Art Toronto.ca and NOW magazine. Some viewers think that the event failed to meet expectations. But at 4 a.m., there was a massive lineup in Nathan Philip’s Square just to walk through the Lunar Garden by Daniel Arsham. In contrast, others gathered in celebration around Peace To The Past, Reach For The Future by Esta Mohamoud and Bryan Spirit. Other significant works were scattered throughout the city for 10 areas with over 90 projects.
Not only was little coverage of the event but what took place in one of the areas has yet to be mentioned. Given the quality, strength and discourses of the works in the Scarborough Civic Centre, I am pleased to review and comment on the solid art showcased there.
The Scarborough Civic Center fostered a strong sense of belonging and pride among Scarborough’s artists and inhabitants. Many selected works were part of Queens and Kings of Scarborough, an exhibition beautifully curated by Ashely McKenzie-Barnes. The theme also echoed the need for recognition that many of Toronto’s inhabitants and artists demand.
Although some artists were from somewhere other than the area, such as Kent Monkman, Jordan Bennett and Ebony G. Patterson, their discourse also belongs to the neighbourhood. Local spectators made them their own.
Great works in contemporary art usually respond to the genuine needs of the artists and/or their communities. In Scarborough’s case, artists and the community want to be heard, legitimize their speech, and gain a place in Toronto’s current artistic and social scene. The marginalization they feel subjected to fuels the fire that produces their works. Their arguments are grounded, cohesive and familiar to everyday citizens. They touch the souls and cultures of what constitutes half of Toronto’s population, immigrants.
Scarborough’s art could be at the forefront of GTA and Toronto. For the artists, curators, organizers and inhabitants of the community, it is a matter of continuing to fight for opportunities such as the one Nuit Blanche offered.
Other great artists and works present were Hate-copy with The Big Feminist Game Show, Kent Monkman with The Miss Chief Eagle testicle Picture Show, Marites Carino with Handshack, Mark “Kurupt” Stoddart with ReConnected, and Anandam Dancetheatre / Brandy Leary with Ephemeral Artifacts.
Virtually all participating artists and projects were great. Scarborough showed vast numbers of exceptional artists making their voices heard. Scarborough showed the tip of an iceberg, where underneath lays the whole GTA.
Local governments should find more effective ways to support their artists, and artists should continue looking for alternative ways to create and show art. Keep in mind that some of these artists’ works are not regularly found in commercial or public art galleries or art institutions. One finds them rather on the street.