Birds of a feather…A sit down with more of the creative minds behind Afrotropolis Wanderland

#AfrotropolisWanderland will be an experience where the worlds of fashion, film and visual arts are merged together for  “the one-night only, multi-sensory art exhibit“ as described by Paul Aguirre in this weeks Fashion and Style section of blogTO.

Tickets on sale now at http://afrotropolis.eventbrite.ca

Last week we sat down with the creative mind behind the show’s concept and fashion designs, Chinedu Ukabam of Chinedesign. He provided insight into the work that went into the show and what we could expect. This week we had a roundtable discussion with some other key contributors involved in the show; visual artists Kalkidan Assefa and Jimmy Chiale , as well as video and film producer Marcos Fantu. They shared with us why they jumped on board this project, creative process behind the collaboration and the source of their inspiration. 

A More In-depth Look into Afrotropolis Wanderland

Still shot from Afrotropolis Wanderland

2012 is here and moving quickly! It is already the second week of January, which means Afrotropolis Wanderland is right around the corner!

Taking place on February 4, 2012 and sponsored by TD as a part of their Then and Now festival in celebration of Black History Month,  Afrotropolis Wanderland will be a creative experience merging the worlds of visual arts, fashion and film to create a universe that commemorates different periods in Black history and celebrates the achievements of people of African origin. Advance tickets ($20) can be purchased at  http://afrotropolis.eventbrite.ca

We tapped into the mind of Chinedu of Chinedesign, the creative director behind the Afrotropolis Wanderland project to gain a better understanding of the show and the entire experience that is Afrotropolis Wanderland.

On Now: SELAM Visual Arts Festival at Gladstone Hotel

Last Thursday we took a short walk down to the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto’s West Queen West neighbourhood to check out the SELAM visual arts festival. Although this visual arts component is only in it’s second year, Sound the Horn has been putting on the SELAM festival to showcase and inspire youth of Ethiopian/Eritrean heritage since 2004 . With the hard work of theatre director Wayne Mengesha and multiple-hat-wearer-producer-action woman Addis Embiyalow amongst others, this initiative has grown progressively in it’s creativity and professionalism.

The quality and variety of the art – from painting to photography to video – in  the gallery installation which takes up the entire top floor of the Gladstone Hotel is a testament to how far the festival has come. Artists featured include Kal Assefa whose impressive work you might recall from the inaugraul SUPAFRIK pop-up in July as well as photographer Naz Tana who was responsible for the images in the Afrotropolis look-book. The works of new and emerging artists from SELAM’s youth arts program are also showcased here. We especially like the Aden Abebe’s photography (see picture of veiled woman below).

The SELAM visual arts festival runs till this Sunday October 23rd and concludes with an open mic featuring Kamau (whose album you NEED to hear), Ayo Leilani, Dey and Helen Yohannes. Special Shout out to Taiwo Bah for providing the beautiful photographs.

On the Radar: The Urban South African Art Scene…

Most Torontonians cringe at the suggestion that one day Toronto walls will be washed clean of its art. It’s the thought of a Kensington market without its paint dripped panels, doors, and two storey throw ups; a college or queen street without secret alley way spreads and door way tags. With urban artistry under threat we at SUPAFRIK thought it right to find inspiration in South African urban art scene happenings

Take a tour …

Dutch Ink and Green Graffiti in Durban: Continuing the Green Graffiti tradition art contingent Dutch Ink scrubs style into forgotten wall spaces and places around Cape Town.

They’re Shooting!

Afro-Vintage Time Machine at SUPAFRIK this Saturday!
7PM to 11PM at *Hotshot | 181 Augusta Avenue | Kensington Market, Toronto Contact: 416.979.7574 | info@supafrik.com

Thank you being a part of SUPAFRIK! The launch party was amazing but we’re not done yet! SUPAFRIK is as much about looking forward as it is about honoring the past. This Saturday, Hotshot will be transformed into a 1960s Bamako photo studio to honor the seminal works of Malian photographers Seydou Keita and Malick Sidibe. You might already be familiar with some of their iconic photographs or you may have come across the shoots they have inspired such as these: