Art
Rendezvous with Madness uses art to examine mental health
An interdisciplinary Toronto arts festival is using film and performance to start timely conversations on mental health.
Rendezvous with Madness is the largest arts and mental health festival in the world. This year marks the 31st iteration of the festival, facilitated by Workman Arts, a Toronto-based organization that promotes mental health and addiction advocacy. Since 2020, Workman Arts has been housed in the McCain Complex Care and Recovery Building at CAMH.
Rendezvous with Madness is an opportunity for Workman Arts to promote its work – as well as the creative pursuits of dozens of artists each year – to the general public, through screenings, live performances and talks.
“We have this brilliant opportunity to make change year-over-year,” Scott Miller Berry, managing director of Workman Arts and film programming committee lead for Rendezvous with Madness, told CP24 in an interview. “We get to try new things, take risks. We don’t bring back things that didn’t go so well the first time, using feedback from audiences and artists.”
One change festival-goers might have noticed this year is the festival’s hybrid model, carefully programmed so that streaming materials don’t overlap with in-person presentations.
“We’re trying not to exhaust our audiences,” Berry said. “We’re a mental health and arts organization, and we’re continually learning from past mistakes. We want to prioritize the mental health of our staff, and our audiences – we’re trying to be holistic about how we approach this. So that means slowing things down a bit, reading things out, and not doing 11 days in a row with programming every day.
“That’s a great traditional festival format,” he continued. “But it’s also a recipe for burnout. We’re avoiding burnout in our own team, but we’re also actively trying not to overwhelm audiences at the same time.”
Berry says that at the end of the day, the main goal of the festival is to bring people together – “where in a room or online” – to share in the importance of arts and then have a conversation about it.
“We want to create an offer of time and space for everyone to reflect on our own biases, our own assumptions, our own triggers. My experience of depression is going to be different from almost anyone else’s experiences of depression. It’s really magical when you’re willing to engage with yourself and each other – Rendezvous doesn’t shy away from that. We’re willing to make time to celebrate difficult topics, and to let people have their own response to those topics.”
Rendezvous with Madness runs until Nov. 5 in Toronto, with a blend of virtual and in-person events. The full list of remaining programming is available on the Workman Arts website.
[unable to retrieve full-text content]
Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone BBC.com
Source link
The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”
On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”
The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.
Blaze in the West Wing
The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.
About Somerset House
Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.
Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.
Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.
Sudbury’s annual art and music festival is marking a significant milestone this year, celebrating its long-standing impact on the local cultural scene. The festival, which has grown from a small community event to a major celebration of creativity, brings together artists, musicians, and visitors from across the region for a weekend of vibrant performances and exhibitions.
The event features a diverse range of activities, from live music performances to art installations, workshops, and interactive exhibits that highlight both emerging and established talent. This year’s milestone celebration will also honor the festival’s history by showcasing some of the artists and performers who have contributed to its success over the years.
Organizers are excited to see how the festival has evolved, becoming a cornerstone of Sudbury’s cultural landscape. “This festival is a celebration of creativity, community, and the incredible talent we have here in Sudbury,” said one of the event’s coordinators. “It’s amazing to see how it has grown and the impact it continues to have on the arts community.”
With this year’s milestone celebration, the festival promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a full lineup of exciting events, workshops, and performances that will inspire and engage attendees of all ages.
The festival’s milestone is not just a reflection of its past success but a celebration of the continued vibrancy of Sudbury’s arts scene.
Ticats host Redblacks in important East Division contest for both teams
Longtime AD and 2-time national champion baseball coach Tanner to switch roles at South Carolina
Driver charged with killing NHL’s Johnny Gaudreau and his brother had .087 blood-alcohol level
12 Bizarre Things People Did Just To Make Social Media Content
AP source: Bears acquiring quarterback Nick Foles from Jaguars – Sportsnet.ca
dynaCERT Inc. Invites You to Join Us at the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference | INN – Investing News Network
-
Sports17 hours agoLawyer says Chinese doping case handled ‘reasonably’ but calls WADA’s lack of action “curious”
-
News17 hours agoRCMP say 3 dead, suspects at large in targeted attack at home in Lloydminster, Sask.
-
News16 hours agoB.C. to scrap consumer carbon tax if federal government drops legal requirement: Eby
-
Sports23 hours agoCanada’s Michael Woods rethinks retirement, targets Montreal win after Vuelta triumph
-
News15 hours agoA linebacker at West Virginia State is fatally shot on the eve of a game against his old school
-
News17 hours agoCeiling high for Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Ahmed: Canada coach
-
Sports11 hours agoDavid Lipsky shoots 65 to take 1st-round lead at Silverado in FedEx Cup Fall opener
-
News17 hours agoOttawa loses bid to quash Israel advocates’ lawsuit calling for halt to UNRWA funding
