Augmented Representations: The North Etobicoke Mural Project

Mural Routes Member(s): Bareket Kezwer Rob Matejka

Artist(s): Bareket Kezwer, Mique Michelle, Moises Frank, and Rob Matejka

Producer: Mural Routes

Category: Augmented Reality, Contemporary, Heritage, Indigenous, Landscape

Completed: July 28, 2019

In the summer of 2019 Arts Etobicoke, Mural Routes, the STEPS Initiative, and Womxn Paint presented Augmented Representations: The North Etobicoke Mural Project. The project was a series of workshops and training with local community and artists, leading to a summer-long, collaborative mural project in North Etobicoke. This project was produced and created in partnership with the City of Toronto and StreetARToronto (StART) and is a Signature project of the Cultural Hotspot. Augmented Representations is grateful for the support from Project Sponsor Toronto Pearson International Airport and Paint Sponsor Dulux Canada.

The mural series blends together current and historic narratives to embody the voices of community members. Artists and participants weave together images inspired by Indigenous narratives, personal experiences of local residents, and the landscape of the Humber River into a collection of meaningful and vibrant visuals.

Artists Bareket Kezwer, Mique Michelle, Moises Frank, and Rob Matejka led youth, adults, and seniors through the design and painting of three separate but interlocking murals through a series of workshops called Mural School.

Located along the retaining walls of Finch Avenue between Islington and Kipling. The project ran from May to July 2019 and had its grand unveiling on July 28, 2019.

‘Community Collaborations’ Mural

Lead Project Partner: Mural Routes

Lead Artist Facilitators: Moises Frank and Rob Matejka

Production Assistants: Rysia Andrade and Sings to the Forest

Volunteers: Andre Kan, Catherine Cha, David Nuff, Dwight Sheppard, Ella Mazur, Giancarlo De Santis, Marcia Pereira, Margaret Wong, Nati Romero, Tiara Jade, Tusma Sulieman + North Etobicoke YMCA Youth Team, Victoria Charko, Wesley Blacklock

‘Womxn Paint’

Creative Director and Lead Artist Facilitator: Bareket Kezwer

Community Mural Collaborators: Aliya Umbreen Mahmood, Amita Shah, Daljit Kaur, Ilqua Mahmood, Maharani Khan, Sabooh Un Naz, Viola Rawana

Mural Artists: Aitak Sorahitalab, Anya Mielniczek, Ari De La Mora, Caitlin Taguibao, Curtia Wright, Darian Poisson, Désiré Betty [D.BETTY], Erin McCluskey, Frannie Potts, Ghazaleh Rastgar, Gosia Komorski, Hillustrations (aka Lindsay Hill), KARE, Kareen Weir, Kayla Buium, Kayla Whitney of Koe Design, Leone McComas, LIME (Tennille Dowers), Linh Thai, Melika Saeeda, Monica Wickeler, Murals By Marg, Natalie King, Natalie Very B., Natasha Dichpan, Pam Lostracco, Planta Muisca, Rachel Wilmshurst, The E.W.o.C. Project, Wenting Li

Public Art Assistants: Caerina Abrenica and Sings to the Forest (STEPS), Rysia Andrade, Jessica Bartella

Volunteers: Aleeza Wagner, Avleen Kaur, Bee Fawn, Emily Anderson, Hana Hozhabr, Jasmin Pannu, Lamis Haggag, Margaret Wong, Megan Macdonald, Nati Romero, Ozge Aytekin, Roshni Wijayasinha, Sienna Park, Tasnim Patel, Victoria Charko

‘Under/Current’ Mural

Lead Project Partner: The STEPS Initiative

Lead Artist Facilitator: Mique Michelle

Public Art Assistants: Caerina Abrenica, Sings to the Forest

Youth Arts Assistants: Abidat Wahab, Akosua Badu, Billy Parrel, Eden Sterling, Jiya Patel, Ricai Kelly

Workshop Participants: Achim Fontinelle, Carina Dowlatram, Dani Coghlan, Don Short, Donna Berry, Eileena Dowlatram, Ivan Persuad, Jordan Clyke, Kiele Poirier, Le Lin, Luna Nguyen, Margaret Wong, Maryam Patel, Michael King, Rebekah Jaberifard, Roshni Wijayasinha, Salima Andany, Tiara Jade, Tina Chu, Vasundhara Venkata Gandikota, Victoria Yakeemovich

The series of North Etobicoke murals has incorporated a digital augmentation component, providing a digital layer of storytelling and background information that users can interact with on their Android or iOS devices. Developed by Seneca 360, the augmented reality component will allow viewers to engage with the work to discover information about the project and the artists involved.