This year’s edition goes big on immersion, with a faux rave, a new work from a Canadian performing artist known for using his body as a canvas, and the Toronto premiere of that one play where they build a house on stage in real-time.

Running June 5 – 16, with several installations subsequently staying in place through the summer, Luminato 2024 is a performing arts festival with the goal of turning Toronto into a “playground of art, creativity and conversation.” Featuring both international and Canadian artists, Luminato combines site-specific works, performance art, theatre, dance, music, and so much more. Centred around the downtown core, this year’s edition also features the “SPACED” satellite events at certain subway stations further afield, with Kennedy Station, Spadina, Finch, and York University Station all hosting artists and exhibitions throughout the festival.

Highlights this year include the many events and concerts at David Pecaut Square (next to Roy Thomson Hall), which run the duration of the festival under the branding Luminato in the Square. Among those is Evanescent, a sculptural installation which looks like a bunch of oversized soap bubbles – not unlike The Prisoner’s Rover – which takes over both David Pecaut Square and Arnell Plaza, Bay Adelaide Centre.

HOME, by Geoff Sobelle, is a highly popular stage show – it’s already been lauded in New York, Boston, and elsewhere – in which the cast of characters slowly constructs a house on stage, over the course of the play.

Similarly, Sonia Hughes’s I Am From Reykjavik is a performance art piece which involves a constructed space, built by Hughes herself during her one-woman performance. Age is a Feeling, Haley McGee’s one-woman show about ageing and the passage of time, is an import from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, here co-produced with Soulpepper Theatre.

There’s plenty more. Day-long outdoor events, dance performances including the aforementioned R.A.V.E. out at Downsview Park, and various musical performances at stages across the city. While there is, sadly, no David Suzuki this year, there’s still more than enough to see, do, and dance to for curious audiences.

***
For more on Luminato 2024, including info on free and ticketed events, click here.

The post Luminato 2024: From HOME to R.A.V.E. appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

This will be Lisa Levy, aka Dr. Lisa’s first-ever series of sessions in Canada. Acting as an unlicensed therapist gives Dr. Lisa the opportunity to use her humour to help people themselves — and the “sessions” are free to all Artist Project Toronto guests during the fair, April 13th – 16th.

Lisa Levy is a conceptual artist, painter, performer, comedian, and (self-proclaimed) psychotherapist. Before devoting herself fulltime to her art, she had a career as an art director in advertising. Her visual art has been widely exhibited at many venues including White Columns, Artists Space, Printed Matter, the New Museum, the Bronx Museum, Schroeder and Romero, the Pulse Art Fair, and Auxiliary Projects. Recently,

She completed a psychological investigation of extraordinary people for a six-month audio/visual project at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, titled, “What Makes You So Special?”

Levy also performs live; her most popular character is Dr. Lisa, S.P. (self-proclaimed), who psychoanalyzes people on stage and on the street. Levy has performed at the Brooklyn Museum, BAM, Joe’s Pub, Woolly Mammoth Theater, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She is currently hosting a weekly radio show, “Dr. Lisa Gives a Sh*t,” on Radio Free Brooklyn.

We had a chance to chat with Dr. Lisa to learn more ahead of her curious performance arts piece at Artist Project Toronto…

This is a different form of art therapy. What can people expect in this performance experience?

Dr. Lisa: I think of my performance sort of as fun “speed therapy”. People can come alone, with a partner, friend, or even a group with an issue to discuss or simply free associate with me to tease out what’s on their mind. Together we define their feelings further while I’m tuning into the way what I say or ask resonates with them. I’m forthright with my thinking to not waste time — then we play with different perspectives on their lives to see what feels right to them. I finish the session by writing a “prescription” on my personalized prescription pad of actionable advice, so they leave with a small artwork made just for them. People wonder if they’re actual prescription pads but if you look closely it says “State of Insanity” where the actual issuing US state would be. Also, I was brought up in a chaotic household where I became hypervigilant to keeps tabs on everyone and their motivations, so I’m certain that helps me tune into people quickly.

How did you first come up with this incredible performance idea?

Dr. Lisa: I’m neurotic to begin with and I’ve been in all sorts of therapy since I was 18 years old. I started group therapy in 2001. In that situation, I felt like I was watching a play. Everyone expressed their intimate feelings to a room of observer/participants, which seemed surreal since we were all strangers really. In group therapy, you can’t have contact with people outside the room—you can’t even know their last names. I wanted to see what would happen if you had this sort of intimate exchange with strangers, but in public. I have a hunger and an affinity for meaningful connections, so it was fun and satisfying to see how deep and revealing we could get in a short amount of time, partly because we don’t have the baggage of an ongoing relationship. And you don’t have to pay every week.

Can you share the first time you performed this work and what was it like for you?

Dr. Lisa: The very first time I did it, I rented a theater and invited friends. I had a real therapist office set for the stage where an audience volunteer could come up could lay down on the couch. I taped the performance and sent it to HERE Arts Center and got accepted into their summer festival. After my performance at the festival that night, Kristin Marting, HERE’s founder/director, who has been critical to me in birthing this project, offered me a monthly show at HERE. Within a year, I’d had a feature article in the New York Times and more offers to perform. It was a real surprise to me since I had no formal training in therapy and had never done any sort of performing. Since then, I’ve performed in so many places, on the street, on stage, on screen, in museums, galleries, art fairs, parties and the Edinburgh International Fringe Festival. I’ve had thousands of patients including many celebrities. I am VERY discreet!

How long does each session last?

Dr. Lisa: Each session is about 5-10 minutes long. I help the “client” get to their point of examination quickly, my instincts click in, and I start asking questions. I use my intuition and check in with the subject to see if the direction I’m going in feels right to them. I think people find me non-judgmental and can tell that I truly want to help them which allows them to feel safe. And I am good at getting a laugh with them when it’s helpful, so ultimately, we all have a blast.

It must be fun to explore all the feels with the guests, but does it feel heavy at times. How do you prepare yourself?

Dr. Lisa: It depends. I am careful not to push anyone further than they are comfortable going. I am only spending a short amount of time with folks in one session, so I can only do so much. It’s also why I can be direct with my thinking. A real therapist has long relationships with patients and works to help clients work through their defenses over time, which is a big difference from what I do. It’s amazing to see how an interested “fresh eye” can really help.

This kind of performance energizing mostly because I’m on a mission to help people. If I feel like someone is testing me to see how I react I will call them out. The exciting part is when a lightbulb goes off and someone changes their perception of their situation. I can’t tell you how many times, years later, I run into people that say they hung their prescription up and it really helped them.

Any memorable sessions that you can share with us?

Dr. Lisa: When I am performing therapy, I get really immersed in the activity, so I don’t tend to remember specific incidents. Though one time I got an email from a man who was in town, NYC, visiting from London. We discussed issues he had with his wife. I received this email from him about a week later:

Dear Lisa, I am back in London following last Saturday’s session. Maria and I are once again deeply in love. The session has been nothing less than transformational. You may have to cope with being a genius.  David R.

What do you wish people to know about this particular art experience?

Dr. Lisa: People often wonder if I am kidding or serious. It’s both. I love making people laugh and am serious about helping them and finding insights. There’s so much humor in truth!

Artist Project Toronto takes place at the Better Living Centre (Exhibition grounds) from April 13 to 16, 2023. There will be over 250 independent artists presenting their works. There will also be 10 large scale art installations, curator led art tours, and more. For more information on Dr. Lisa as well as Artist Project Toronto visit the official site here. 

The post Artist Project Toronto will host free therapy sessions with Dr. Lisa Levy appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences

For over 15 years the world-class musicians of Euterpe: Music Is The Key have conducted LIVE and VIRTUAL inspirational educational performance programs of Classical, Jazz, and related musical styles for children in Canada, particularly to underserved communities, free of charge.

What problem does it aim to solve?

Scientific studies have documented that most children today are not exposed to the Western musical genres of Classical, Jazz, and related musical styles, either recorded or live. The long-term educational, artistic and health benefits of this music are well-known. Despite this, vitally important vibrant music programs that were once an integral part of the school curriculum are no longer available to the vast majority of children in our country. Learning music and participating in music-making activities is known to provide inestimable benefits to the developing brain, aiding immensely with focus, discipline, academic learning, synchrony of movement, all areas of positive social development and interaction, including fostering self-esteem, confidence, empathy, sense of purpose, social bonding, cooperation, and more, as enhancing well as overall health and well-being throughout one’s life. Euterpe: Music Is The Key’s programs are known to have a  tremendously positive impact on children of diverse cultural backgrounds. Due to heightened mental and emotional stresses caused by the pandemic, Euterpe’s programs are more important now more than ever.

Euterpe: Music Is The Key’s life-enhancing, evidence-based music education/performance programs plant musical seeds, inspiring children of diverse cultural backgrounds to want to hear more of this music, to play a musical instrument and to become involved in music-making activities, such as singing in a choir or playing in a band or orchestra. When children are involved with this music early on, they become much better equipped for their entire life.

Here is a video with Ismael Paris, Youth Ambassador – describing his experience with Euterpe

When did you start/join it?

Euterpe: Music Is The Key received its registered not-for-profit status in 2006.

What made you want to get involved?

The opportunity to be involved in a vibrant music program in school, learning an instrument and making music with others, including playing in bands and orchestras, was key to ‘saving my life’.

For a variety of unfortunate circumstances, my formative years from babyhood throughout childhood and adolescence were fraught with family strife, the degree of which was profound, thereby creating personal challenges and obstacles which were deemed insurmountable.  The musical opportunities I had in school literally changed the course of my life and were key in rescuing me from a very dark and debilitating home environment.  With the ongoing steep cutbacks in school music programs, to the point where many underserved schools have not had any music programs for many years, I felt compelled to find a way to bring the highest level music education performance programs to as many children throughout Canada as possible.  I felt that if these invaluable experiences were able to so profoundly affect and shape my life in so many positive ways, the same could be true for other children if they were given the chance.

What was the situation like when you started?

When I founded Euterpe: Music Is The Key the situation was grim as many schools did not have music programs, and most of those that did, unfortunately, were drastically watered-down programs due to lack of resources and funding. When we started bringing our programs to children in schools, it was clearly evident that children of diverse cultural backgrounds were starving for the music we introduced to them. Almost none of them had had exposure to Classical, Jazz, and related musical styles or had heard music performed at this level.  Our music education performance programs awaken in children something that was dormant, and once the seed is planted children want more and more. We are asked when we will be coming back, could we find the instruments and lessons and if we would help them to be able to do what they experienced us doing.

This has been the consistent reaction and response from children wherever Euterpe: Music Is The Key has delivered its programs.

How has it changed since?

Science continues to find more evidence as to the importance of exposing Classical, Jazz, and related musical styles and these musical opportunities to children at a very early age. The need for Euterpe: Music Is The Key’s programs are just as critically important and needed as when we began over 15 years ago.  Now with the influence of the pandemic, there is an added urgency to address the heightened mental and emotional stresses children are suffering. We at Euterpe: Music Is The Key believe that children fare much better and are better equipped in life when given the chance to have the opportunity to learn this music and to make music with others starting at an early age.  Our hands-on experience has shown that this has always been the case.

What more needs to be done?

There needs to be more widespread community awareness of the importance of providing these opportunities to children from an early age.

At present most children who have these opportunities are from more privileged backgrounds, and this leaves out most Canadian children. Reinstituting vibrant top-notch music programs in all Canadian schools should be a priority for politicians. Quality music education benefits all areas of academia, positive social development and all areas of health and well-being.  The ancient philosophers intuitively knew the importance of this, and modern-day science has corroborated the intuitive wisdom of the ancients, yet generations of children have been deprived of these opportunities.  At Euterpe: Music Is The Key we feel that all children deserve the right to be nurtured by music that is known to be beneficial.

How can our readers help?

Your readers can help by spreading awareness of Euterpe: Music Is The Key as much as possible.  They can additionally help by making Euterpe Corporation one of their charities of choice.  All donations of $20.00 or more receive a tax receipt. Fundraising is critically important for all charities and donating to Euterpe will serve to positively transform children’s lives.  Visit www.musicisthekey.org to find out more.

Do you have any events coming up?

The pandemic inspired us to create a hybrid presentation for school children.  This was funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation as part of a generous 3-year grant to Euterpe: Music Is The Key.

Our hybrid presentation, comprised of video and live, will be brought initially to 37 underserved schools in the GTA.  We are also creating a series of 6 music education performance videos which are funded by a grant from The Canada Council for The Arts. These will be delivered free of charge to schools throughout Canada starting in September 2022.

Euterpe flagship group Ensemble Vivant releases “iFugue” – Vivaldi with modern drums played by Adrian Bent (drummer for Drake and many others)

Where can we follow you?

Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?

Toronto Arts Council – supporting local music and arts initiatives

The post Charitable Choices: Dr. Catherine Wilson, founder of Euterpe: Music Is The Key appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Name:

Omega Mighty

Genre:

Rnb/ Reggae-Dancehall

Founded:

2018

# of Albums:

1

Latest Album:

Me & Youforia (EP)

Latest Single:

“Ayo (Color Your Love) “ featuring EverythingOShauN

Latest Video:

Favourite musician growing up:

Brandy

Favourite musician now:

Rihanna

Guilty pleasure song:

“Act up” City Girls

Live show ritual:

Stretch my body + vocal exercises

Favourite local musician:

Haviah Mighty

EP or LP?

LP (the more music the better)

Early bird or night owl?

Night Owl

Road or studio?

Love being on the road

Any shows or albums coming up?

Where can we follow you?

Instagram |TikTok | Twitter | YouTube

***

Rapid Fire Toronto Qs

Favourite local restaurant:

Planta – Queen

Favourite street in your city:

I love to walk and shop the shops on Queen Street

Favourite park in your city:

Woodbine Park, nice view, nostalgic & host of many local music festivals

Favourite music venue in your city:

El’ Mocambo. Historic intimate venue with bright acoustics. One of my first shows booked after the release of Me & Youforia

Favourite music store in your city:

Long & McQuade hands down. I can have a field day!

The post “Five Minutes With” RnB singer-songwriter, Omega Mighty appeared first on Toronto Guardian.