East End Spotlight is a monthly news piece where we highlight a series of east end artists, arts organizations, creative spaces & professionals that we want to shine a spotlight onđź’™!
For February 2021, we got in touch with some new artists and arts organizations who live or work in east Toronto. Scroll down to read more about the following people and organizations this month:
*Banner image of Mafa Makhubalo, by Bruce Zinger*
1. Artist Spotlight: Anastarzia Anaquway
Name: Anastarzia Anaquway aka Starzy (if ya nasty)
Discipline: Entertainment – Drag Artist
Artist Website:
Artist on Social:
Instagram @Anaquway
Twitter @Anaquway
Snapchat @Anaquway
TikTok @Anaquway
Facebook @Anastarzia Anaquway
Cameo Cameo.com/anaquway
Artist Pronouns: Male (out of Drag) & Female (in drag)
Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your art:
I am a 39-year-old native of The Bahamas and it was there that I started my drag career almost 20 years ago. I fell in love with drag out of a need to continue touching audiences, as I spent so much of my childhood in performing arts. I never thought that this art form would change my life the way it has, nor did I expect to see the world because of drag. Drag, for me, is no longer a form of self expression, a hobby or even a career, it is a way of life. I sometimes wonder what my life would be like without drag, and that’s a life I’m not ready to live lol.
What are you excited about for the future of your arts practice?
I absolutely love that the world is starving and craving drag. We have been away from the general public for almost a year, so I am truly excited to be embraced once we are back on stages around the world. I am also super excited to be working on a few projects in Fashion, Television and Music, but I’ll keep the specifics a secret until the time is right.
How can audiences support the work you’re doing right now?
The best way to support me at this present time would be via all social media platforms and through my merchandise website, which is shop.anastarziaanaquway.com. I am sure once the world starts to open up there will be tons events to support, not only me, but all of our local queens. For now, its just social media.
What are some upcoming Toronto arts events, programs or initiatives you’re interested in?
Honestly, I am just patiently awaiting the day the world returns to its axis. There are so many events and festivals we, as queens, usually part take in that we haven’t celebrated in this past year. Two events I am wholeheartedly looking forward to are Pride, so that I can gyrate my gay body, and Caribbanna so that I can gyrate my island body.
A fun fact about you for our readers:
As silly as it sounds, hearing someone say Happy Belated Birthday drives me totally insane. The saying, “Better late, than never” definitely doesn’t apply to this one for me.
2. Artist Spotlight: Harpreet Singh
Name: Harpreet Singh
Discipline: Screen-Printer/Illustrator/Digital Art
Artist Website:
www.etsy.com/ca/shop/BACKTOPUNJAB
Artist on Social:
Instagram @backtopunjab
Artist Pronouns: He/Him
Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your art:
When I first started this endeavor as an independent screen printer, I wanted the artwork to reflect the Punjabi diaspora. I wanted to blend this idea of new beginnings with our histories that relate back to Punjab. As a first generation born Canadian, my experience like many other Punjabi-Canadians isn’t one of pure assimilation. And there’s a reason for that. Through our parents, grandparents, friends and families the connections we have to Punjab are rich with history. As an avid hip hop enthusiast, I try and blend ideas of street/graffiti culture and themes into the process of creating images. From subway riding Dhol Players to old bibi’s (grandmother) drinking from Wu Tang cups yelling “Cha Rules Everything Around Me”, the artwork transcends my love for music and the cultural influences I grew up with.
What are you excited about for the future of your arts practice?
I’m excited to focus my practice on the idea of cultural space preservation in the future. As someone living in the East End and close to Little India, I want to be able to engage the community around changing urban spaces. During this pandemic we’ve seen the regressive effects of the city’s cultural fabric. What I’m hoping to do in my approach is to engage neighbourhoods like Little India to integrate heritage pieces in public spaces as a way to keep a sense of community and history.
How can audiences support the work you’re doing right now?
Audiences can support and visit both my Website and Instagram feed. The Instagram feed also promotes awareness around environmental and social issues that affect Punjab.
What are some upcoming Toronto arts events, programs or initiatives you’re interested in?
I’m interested in joining the Gerrard Street BIA and continuing the conversation around cultural heritage. I’m also hoping to do a 2-day Art Gallery Showing post pandemic in both Brampton and Toronto (Little India) as a way to embrace two communities that have deep connections to Punjab.
A fun fact about you for our readers:
I was motivated to become a screen-printer after buying one too many overpriced concert t-shirts, so I enlisted my dad to draw up some blueprints to build me a 4 colour screen-printer. Thanks dad. (I still buy t-shirts from concerts from time to time…I really do appreciate a well-designed t-shirt!)
3. Artist Spotlight: Mafa Makhubalo
Name: Mafa Makhubalo
Discipline: Performing Artist (Dancer, Choreographer and Arts Educator)
Artist Website: www.mafadancevillage.ca (under construction, will be published end of February beginning of March)
Artist on Social:
Instagram @mafadancevillage
Facebook @mafadancevillage
Artist Pronouns: He/Him
Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your art:
I am a movement poet trained in folk forms from the Regions of African tradition, African contemporary, and Western-Contemporary. I have been influenced by my understanding of dance as an accumulation of memory and the history of my culture. I have been actively involved in community engagement camps and arts education programs. Between 2019-2020, I completed a mentorship placement with Younge People Theatre as part of the Arts Management program at Centennial College. During the 2020-2021 period, I have been a mentor for the Vibes Arts Cohort 2, a resident choreographer with Ballet Jorgen Canada and Theatre Passe Muraille 11:11 production and TDT Pilot Episode 2021. I was a participant of the Ontario-Quebec cohort program 2019-2021 presented by (La DSR) La danse sur les routes du Québec and Ontario Presents. I have served on the juries for the Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, Toronto Arts Foundation, and TAC Open Door Grant.
What are you excited about for the future of your arts practice?
I am excited to continue to develop a unique and innovative foundation that fosters the African-Canadian Contemporary aesthetic and provides a safe space for non-western trained contemporary dancers and dancers of colour to voice their concerns, share their opinions and acquire knowledge about different ways of approaching, curating and presenting African Contemporary in diverse dance forms (Afro-House dance, Urban street dance, Caribbean folk dance, African contemporary, African tradition and African contemporary music).
My practice strives to break the culture of silence surrounding African Contemporary, Urban Street dance, dancers of colour and African music, all which are involved in making Toronto a diverse, accessible and inclusive dance landmark that is often neglected and diminished in the domain of the culture of contemporary in Toronto and Canada.
Through my practice l present a visual perspective on the evolution of multi- identity of diverse dance practices across Toronto, demonstrating how African-Canadian artists and non-western trained contemporary dancers in Toronto have examined and represented historical and contemporary post-colonial themes of African traditional through their professional development.
My practice aesthetics serve as a platform for African-Canadian artists and non-western contemporary dancers to develop a technical skill, find intersections of technique, refine movement vocabulary, vary ways of approaching African-Contemporary aesthetics, and strengthen networking and professional development opportunities in Toronto and abroad.
How can audiences support the work you’re doing right now?
By following us on social media! We are also open to collaborations and partnerships that align with our mission.
What are some upcoming Toronto arts events, programs or initiatives you’re interested in?
Guest choreographer at Ballet Jorgen Canada 2020-2021, Theatre Pass Muraille 11:11 production 2020-2021, Toronto Dance Theatre Pilot Episode 2021.
A fun fact about you for our readers:
I believe you must dance what your soul wants to express.
4. Artist Spotlight: Sapphira
Name: Sapphira
Discipline: (Transdisciplinary Artist), Visual Artist, Burlesque Performer/Artist and Architect
Website: Sapphira.ca
Artist on Social:
Instagram @the_sapphira and @thearchitecturerevolutioninc
Artist Pronouns: She/Her
Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your art:
Sapphira is a Toronto, Beach resident who is an Architect, Artist, Performer & Activist with over 15 years of experience in the Architecture industry and has her own Architectural Practice. She studied at an Art High School and specialized in Visual Arts along with a background in classical Dance and Piano. Every act of her life is captivated by creativity, whimsicality, and rebelliousness with a hint of activism. For Her, Art Exploration, Words and Design is a daily journey of self-expression and way of creating a soulful, truthful and embodied Life.
Her Performance Artworks explore various themes through dance, burlesque, and site specificity and/or installation. Her Visual Art ranges from public installation art and digital art to traditional drawing and water colour painting. She strives to bend and break boundaries creatively through unapologetic self-expression and Art by/through reclaiming body image and body liberation. Her Revolution is the seed, source, inspiration, and fuel for every idea, it runs skin deep to birth dreams to reality. She is also the founder of the movement and group “#Beachers for Black Lives” for Black allies and Black People to discuss, share resources and experiences to keep the important conversation going about combatting racism, as well as hosting ongoing events and creative initiatives in the Beaches.
What are you excited about for the future of your arts practice?
I am excited about continuing to find new ways to integrate all my art practices as well as performing and architecture into a single body of works that are whimsical, otherworldly and fantastical. I love exploring sub/surreality as well as dream worlds. Integrating all Art/ Design forms into one is my ultimate goal.
How can audiences support the work you’re doing right now?
Audiences can support me by following my Instagram pages and attending my art shows and performances at various venues throughout the city in the future as well as any online events. You can stay up to date with future events and projects through my Instagram pages. Please also recommend my Architecture company – The Architecture Revolution Inc. to those in need of an Architecture and Interior Design Services. I have also worked on public art/installation initiatives and look forward to collaborating and creating Art for Urban spaces. For my Burlesque Performance Art social media and website, please send me a private message if interested in following and supporting.
What are some upcoming Toronto arts events, programs or initiatives you’re interested in?
I am currently working on a celebratory digital art portrait highlight series of Black Beach residents for Black history month to be showcased daily in the Beachers for Black Lives facebook group. I am currently a jury member in conjunction with City Lab and Friends of the Beach Park for upcoming BIPOC murals to be completed by two Female – Black and Indigenous Artists in June 2021 at the renowned Leuty Boathouse at Kew Beach. In the near future, I am looking forward to designing along with input from Beach residents, a Public Art monument that is representative of justice for BIPOC Children at Ivan Forrest Gardens.
A fun fact about you for our readers:
I have traveled to over 40 countries and lived in 4 different countries – Canada, United States, London, England and Japan. I admire and am inspired by many different cultures, however my favourite country that I lived in was Japan where I studied Architecture and Urban Design for a semester. Japanese culture is my biggest inspiration. I’m also a certified makeup artist and love doing makeup for myself and others :).
5. Artist Spotlight: Vanessa Dion Fletcher
Name: Vanessa Dion Fletcher
Discipline: Performance, video, textile
Website: DionFletcher.com
Artist on Social:
Instagram @vdionf
Artist Pronouns: She/Her
Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your art:
I am a Lenape and Potawatomi neurodiverse Artist. My family is from EelĹ«naapèewii Lahkèewiitt (displaced from Lenapehoking) and European settlers. I grew up in Newmarket; however, my favourite childhood memories are visiting my family in Toronto- parks, skating, and enjoying the excitement of the city. I’ve always loved art and am grateful to have it be such a big part of my life. I went to York University Bachelors of Fine Arts and then the Art Institute of Chicago to do a Masters of Fine Arts. I use porcupine quills, Wampum belts, and menstrual blood to reveal the complexities of what defines a body physically and culturally. I work across many mediums including, performance, textile and video.
What are you excited about for the future of your arts practice?
I have a couple of exciting exhibitions I’m working on for next fall. One is for the year of public art. It’s a group exhibition taking place in Toronto’s Parkettes. The other is a project initiated by Carmen Papalia, Tangled Art + Disability and The Robert McLaughlin Gallery; it focuses on “radically re-envisioning the museum around the demands and desires of the disabled body.” I’ve started to do some digital work using Spark AR Studio (Instagram/Facebook). I’m finding the software to be relatively easy to learn. The integrated publishing to Instagram/Facebook of the effects makes it very easy to share with my existing audiences and connect with new ones. It’s an exciting way to work in a public setting during a pandemic.
How can audiences support the work you’re doing right now?
You can follow me on social media. I’m also teaching a class through The School of Making Thinking in “Performance Art Intimacy and Taboo”. In that class we use a queer lens to breakdown outmoded ideas around sexuality and gender norms. The course combines real-time activities with online space to create links between both worlds investigating time, space, movement and gesture. If audiences wanted to learn a bit more about my practice and have a chance to develop their own work that class is a great opportunity.
What are some upcoming Toronto arts events, programs or initiatives you’re interested in?
SciXchange at Ryerson University just posted a virtual hide (Stoodis Science Virtual Hide Camp) camp, which is an amazing opportunity to learn about hide tanning.
A fun fact about you for our readers:
2020 was the year I started drinking coffee.
