This year in the midst of a pandemic and a global uprising for justice, Peace Camp has been explored the question, What does it mean to Ignite Constellations of Resistance and Care? The theme is inspired by Black and Indigenous knowledge systems, and the radical love and care for community that springs from their wisdom teachings.
We are living in a time of great suffering. Yet this moment is charged with the potential for transformation. What knowledge, wisdom and actions will guide us to create a world that is more equitable, more loving, and more livable? How as artists can we guide the next generation to tell their stories?
Theatre Director Sedina Fiati
Music Director Ruben ‘Beny’ Esguerra
Visual Arts Director Kaya Joan
Dance Director Shameka Blake
Documentary Director Taymah Armatrading
Guest Artists Mahlikah Aweri and Silvia Plain shared teachings on Indigenous ancestral knowledge, and ways of knowing that point to how constellations are flight paths out of darkness, fear, and colonialism; and into collective constellations of care, resistance and community.
Camp was filled with beautiful moments that honoured, and engage with these concepts, and called us to reflect on our relationships with ourselves, our communities and our responsibilities to each other, the land, and the
Constellations around us.
If you missed our live watch party of the documentary and show you can still find it on our FB live feed.
The documentary made by film maker Taymah Armatrading beautifully captured the gorgeous moments of transformation,
and the inner world of children during the pandemic. It will be up on our site soon.
We are living in a time of great suffering. Yet this moment is charged with the potential for transformation. What knowledge, wisdom and actions will guide us to create a world that is more equitable, more loving, and more livable? How as artists can we guide the next generation to tell their stories?
Theatre Director Sedina Fiati
Music Director Ruben ‘Beny’ Esguerra
Visual Arts Director Kaya Joan
Dance Director Shameka Blake
Documentary Director Taymah Armatrading
Guest Artists Mahlikah Aweri and Silvia Plain shared teachings on Indigenous ancestral knowledge, and ways of knowing that point to how constellations are flight paths out of darkness, fear, and colonialism; and into collective constellations of care, resistance and community.
Camp was filled with beautiful moments that honoured, and engage with these concepts, and called us to reflect on our relationships with ourselves, our communities and our responsibilities to each other, the land, and the
Constellations around us.
If you missed our live watch party of the documentary and show you can still find it on our FB live feed.
The documentary made by film maker Taymah Armatrading beautifully captured the gorgeous moments of transformation,
and the inner world of children during the pandemic. It will be up on our site soon.
Meet the Directors of Supernovas and Galaxies!
Sedina Fiati is returning as our Theatre Director!
Sedina Fiati is a Toronto based performer, producer, director, creator and activist for stage and screen. Proudly Black and queer, Sedina is deeply invested in artistic work that explores the intersection between art and activism, either in form or structure or ideally both. This will be her second year as Theatre Director of Peace Camp. She is excited to return this year and adapt Peace Camp for an online platform, but she misses the campers and looks forward to meeting in person when we are able.
Favourite and recent artistic projects: Every Day She Rose (Nightwood Theatre, co- director), Switch: The Village (collective member, QTBIPOC street performance, Buddies in Bad Times 2018 & 2019), Feminist Fuck It Festival (multidisciplinary festival, co-creator and co-producer), Tokens (performer, web series). Upcoming projects: Switching Queen(s) (devised street performance), Last Dance (a web series).
Favourite and recent artistic projects: Every Day She Rose (Nightwood Theatre, co- director), Switch: The Village (collective member, QTBIPOC street performance, Buddies in Bad Times 2018 & 2019), Feminist Fuck It Festival (multidisciplinary festival, co-creator and co-producer), Tokens (performer, web series). Upcoming projects: Switching Queen(s) (devised street performance), Last Dance (a web series).
Ruben 'Beny' Esguerra is returning as our Music Director!
Ruben, 'Beny', is returning for the fourth year as our Music Director! Born in Colombia - JUNO Awards Nominee - Ruben 'Beny' Esguerra is a multi-instrumentalist, lyricist, arts educator, community worker and Ryerson Prof. who has composed original scores for the CBC, City Life Film, Amnesty International and the National Film Board of Canada; presented his pieces in festivals held in Canada, US, Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, Chile and is currently the music director of several program based in Jane-Finch, Toronto. Ruben is a PhD (ABD) candidate in Musicology/Ethnomusicology specializing in traditional and urban music.
Kay Joan is returning as our Visual Arts Director!
Kaya Joan is a multi-disciplinary Afro Caribbean (Jamaican/ Vincentian)-Indigenous (Kanien’kehá:ka) artist living in
T’karonto (Dish with One Spoon treaty territory). Kaya’s work focuses on healing, transcending linear notions of time,
blood memory and decolonial aesthetics rooted in imagery from the lands of their ancestors (Turtle Island and the
Caribbean). Afro and Indigenous futurity and pedagogy are also centred in Kaya’s practice-working through buried
truths to explore how creation can heal 7 generations into the past and future. Kaya has been working in community arts for 5 years as a facilitator and artist. They are a core member of Weave and Mend, an Indigenous femme/non binary collective. Kaya is in the process of completing a BFA through the Indigenous Visual Culture program at OCAD.
To view more of Kaya’s work:
kayajoan.com
@kayajoan on instagram
T’karonto (Dish with One Spoon treaty territory). Kaya’s work focuses on healing, transcending linear notions of time,
blood memory and decolonial aesthetics rooted in imagery from the lands of their ancestors (Turtle Island and the
Caribbean). Afro and Indigenous futurity and pedagogy are also centred in Kaya’s practice-working through buried
truths to explore how creation can heal 7 generations into the past and future. Kaya has been working in community arts for 5 years as a facilitator and artist. They are a core member of Weave and Mend, an Indigenous femme/non binary collective. Kaya is in the process of completing a BFA through the Indigenous Visual Culture program at OCAD.
To view more of Kaya’s work:
kayajoan.com
@kayajoan on instagram
Shameka Blake is joining us this Summer as our Dance Director!
Shameka Blake is an Artistic Director, Choreographer, Instructor and Dancer!
“As an artist I am committed to shedding light on currents events and issues of social justice. I am dedicated to the exponential growth of dance and the arts in Canada.”
In 2007, Shameka Blake decided to pursue her passion for dance professionally at George Brown College. While attending George Brown Ms. Blake received technical training in various dance genres including jazz, ballet, and contemporary and developed her avid skill as a choreographer. In 2008 Ms. Blake founded Artists in Motion (AIM), a multidisciplinary dance company based in Toronto, Ontario. Artists in Motion consists of a myriad of gifted professional dancers/choreographers who are dedicated to elevating the art of urban dance to new heights. AIM’s repertoire includes Hip Hop, African, Dancehall, Jazz, and Contemporary.
Ms. Blake is also the 2015 Black Canadian Award recipient for Best Urban Dance Act. Her work has been featured at the Association for the Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) Convention in New York City, as well as Toronto's Fringe, Pride and TIFF Festivals. In addition, Ms. Blake was co-choreographer for The Victory Celebration of the 2015 Pan Am Games held in Toronto. Furthermore, “1234 Dance Arts"; is an annual performing arts festival curated by Ms. Blake to encourage collaboration among fellow artists and explore different avenues of artistic expressionism; a platform for artistic unification across the GTA.
“As an artist I am committed to shedding light on currents events and issues of social justice. I am dedicated to the exponential growth of dance and the arts in Canada.”
In 2007, Shameka Blake decided to pursue her passion for dance professionally at George Brown College. While attending George Brown Ms. Blake received technical training in various dance genres including jazz, ballet, and contemporary and developed her avid skill as a choreographer. In 2008 Ms. Blake founded Artists in Motion (AIM), a multidisciplinary dance company based in Toronto, Ontario. Artists in Motion consists of a myriad of gifted professional dancers/choreographers who are dedicated to elevating the art of urban dance to new heights. AIM’s repertoire includes Hip Hop, African, Dancehall, Jazz, and Contemporary.
Ms. Blake is also the 2015 Black Canadian Award recipient for Best Urban Dance Act. Her work has been featured at the Association for the Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) Convention in New York City, as well as Toronto's Fringe, Pride and TIFF Festivals. In addition, Ms. Blake was co-choreographer for The Victory Celebration of the 2015 Pan Am Games held in Toronto. Furthermore, “1234 Dance Arts"; is an annual performing arts festival curated by Ms. Blake to encourage collaboration among fellow artists and explore different avenues of artistic expressionism; a platform for artistic unification across the GTA.
Taymah Armatrading will be joining us this Summer as our Documentarian!
Taymah Armatrading is a Black, Caribbean and trans artist holding a BFA from OCAD University. They are dedicated to reinstating power to silenced politically and socially marginalized bodies. Their practice is heavily focused on creating a tangible record of Blackness that usurps the systemic forms of its erasure. This focus is explored through the form of documentaries, installations, and community engagements.
Taymah will be making a documentary film of Peace Camp 2020, which will be presented at our Gala on August 7th and 8th!
Taymah will be making a documentary film of Peace Camp 2020, which will be presented at our Gala on August 7th and 8th!
