Vibe Arts is pleased to introduce the seventh cohort of our Desire Lines program.
Desire Lines began in 2019 as a two-year art-in-mentorship program awarding young, emerging artists the opportunity to exhibit their work in subway stations across Toronto after attending a wide offering of professional development workshops. The program is now wrapping up its seventh cohort. Each year, a cohort of equity-seeking youth artists receive employment and mentorship opportunities to lead and curate their own hands-on art experiences for children and youth.
You can view their original artwork in TTC stations across the city throughout the summer.
Get to know the Desire Lines VII Artists:
Betiel Ghirmay: Betiel is an artist exploring diaspora identity and cultural preservation, celebrating her heritage through diverse artistic practices. “I feel extremely grateful to be chosen for this opportunity and also proud of myself for putting my art and self out there.”
Paul-Daniel Torres: Paul-Daniel (Danny)’s work explores the immigrant dream, identity, and connection. Shaped by the eclecticism of Toronto and Latinidad, balancing social inquiry with a love for storytelling that resonates, entertains, and inspires. “Having this opportunity is incredibly exciting and nerve-wracking!”
Ehiko Odeh: Ehiko’s work engages family history, herbology, and the poetics of space. “I feel thankful for this opportunity, to be able to learn more about public art in the city and gain a great mentor who has deep experience within this field. I’m truly excited about the people that get to see the work an the exposure this opportunity brings!”
Jassira De Almeida: Jassira De Almeida is an Angolan Canadian emerging artist and animator interested in experimental forms inspired by the urban environment. Combining analog and digital techniques in her work, she’s inspired by nature, pop culture and music. “As someone who uses the bus and subway almost everyday as my main form of transportation I love seeing the art initiatives across the city. From poetry to photography, my journey from or to home has always been surrounded by art. I have shown my work at a large scale previously at the North York Centre but I never imagined my work being somewhere where countless people pass by. It is such a great opportunity to share my passion for nature and connect with others in the city.”
Mo Asaad: MO’s practice is rooted in decolonizing identity, They aim to have their art act as a telephone line to ancestors and parallel universes. “This opportunity feels like a dream come true, growing up in Toronto I’ve always hoped I could see myself in those artist panels. It means so much to have my art accessible and wide spread like this!”
Muna Muse: Muna is a multipotentialite letting art exist where life happens. “It is such an honour to have my work displayed in a transportation hub that I frequented when I was younger, it is a very surreal experience to see an image of not only myself, but my art as well, in a space that has up to a 10 of thousands of people passing on by, and to think of my work making someone stop for a quick second, looking at it in awe and moving on, or maybe inspiring them or even igniting something like hate in them, is something that excites/petrifies me beyond what I can put into language! Which is making me think about it as a form of exposure therapy around being perceived hehehe!!”
Prince Amoako: Prince is an Afro-Caribbean Spoken Word Artist. He uses art to tell meaningful stories that speak to his community, bringing voice to what often goes unspoken while inspiring the next generation to find their own. “Having taken the TTC for over 20 years as my main form of transportation and spending that time studying the posters in the stations, I never imagined I would one day have my own artwork displayed, let alone become an artist. It feels like a full circle moment to now inspire a young person riding the TTC to believe that one day their art could be showcased too.”
Ujwal: I am tired. Perhaps you are too. They say it is normal to be exhausted when living a good life. I want you to know that this isn’t true. “My experience with Vibe Arts has made me that much more certain of the effect of trust and community on our lives. I have made this particular piece with the TTC Subway in mind. The people on their daily commutes, going back and forth from work and home, with their little pleasures and anxieties are as much a part of this work as the paint itself. I’d like to think of the act of “releasing” these paintings into the world as a beginning rather than an end. The start of a larger movement of people reflecting on the systems that control and guide our lives. If there’s one thing I would like for people to take away from this experience, it is that another model is possible (and in some cases necessary). These paintings are invitations. I want people to reach out. I want to make new friends. I want to grow communities everywhere. I am grateful to Vibe for helping me get closer to a warmer and friendlier world.”
Want to look back at the previous Desire Lines cohorts? Visit the online gallery showcasing their work.
