Intimate Encounters ~ Animate Histories Exhibition Launch

Part of the Community Arts Space: What we long for
Transformative Justice Project
Co-presented with The 519, Salon Noir, and YYZ Artists Outlet

In partnership with The 519, Salon Noir, and YYZ Artists Outlet, visitors can experience new works by artist Abdi Osman and others inspired by local cruising histories, as well as public resources pertaining to Black, Trans, and Queer communities in Toronto. The exhibition’s public reception will feature a live set by DJ Relentless and a special drag performance by Michelle Ross.

About Intimate Encounters ~ Animate Histories

Inspired by the ‘cruising’ histories of nearby Queen’s Park, Intimate Encounters ~ Animate Histories considers the diverse ways in which culturally-specific experiences of desire, physical expression, and social connection take up space across Toronto, and how this is complicated by an increasingly gentrified urban landscape. Led by artist Abdi Osman and curator Ellyn Walker, this project makes visible the dignity, love, and generative practices embedded in local Black, Trans, and Queer histories through community art-making workshops, programs, and a cumulative exhibition. Learn more

About Community Arts Space: What we long for

Grounded in the ability of clay to transform, the Community Arts Space is a platform for experimentation and socially-engaged art. Established in 2016, the project connects artists, makers, organizers, and residents through the creation of public projects that inspire social action. This year, the Gardiner is showcasing four public projects inspired by the theme “What we long for.” Learn more

The 519 is committed to the health, happiness, and full participation of the LGBTQ2S community. A City of Toronto agency and a registered charity with an innovative model of Service, Space and Leadership, The 519 strives to make a real difference in people’s lives while working to promote inclusion, understanding, and respect.