RoyalOntarioMuseum (ROM) by Scotiabank Caribana Festival, presents From the Soul: Caribana Art Exhibit from July 22 to August 3, 2010.3 of my latest paintings have been selected by the jury to be displayed at the exhibition. On display during and after the Scotiabank Caribana Festival, the exhibition represents the largest single juried display of works of art by African Canadian artists. Curated by renowned African-Canadian artist and activist, Joan Butterfield, the exhibition is produced by the Association of African Canadian Artists, in conjunction with Scotiabank Caribana and the ROM. From the Soul will be on display in the Museum’s Bronfman Hall, Level 2 during the 12-day citywide festival. More than 100 works on canvas, several Caribana parade costumes, three dimensional bronze sculptures and award-winning ceramic pieces are on display.
My displayed works include: My soulful memories of Living in East AfricaThe Sound from the Soul From the Soul of Africa
My soulful memories of Living in East Africa
From the foothills of Mount Kenya, the ‘Kikuyu’ women, primarily an agricultural tribe, cultivate vegetables for the family’s needs, while the young boys herd goats that signify the wealth of the family
The Sound from the Soul
In this musical medley painting, I have incorporated images of musical instruments The piano represents the strings and musical notes. Surrounding dancers bind the components of family and the community. Essentially, this is the soul of African culture, resulting in a visual bridge from the ancient to modern culture
From the Soul of Africa
Optimistic outcry from the soul of Africa: The circle they had made; now made a space so desolate that for one moment I saw the dead planet come alive again!
From the Soul: Caribana Art Exhibit from July 22 to August 3, 2010.
- I wasasked to participate in the Diwali dinner organized by the Dr Helena Jaczek, Member of Ontario Legislature, in October 2009. For further details click - Diwali Ontario Celebrates multiculturalism
- I am a instructor on the Ryerson’s Knitwear Design course at The Chang School of Continuing Education. The unique course allows students learn to analyze a range of market sectors, enabling them to relate and implement their learning of knitwear design work to suit the current fashion industry needs and demand appropriately. For further details click - Ryerson’s Knitwear Design course
- as an Artist, my contributions to the VirtualMuseum can be viewed at : VMACCH
- AshAditi’s latest 12 x 12 ft outdoor Rangoli tool place at ‘Just For Laughs Festival’ TorontoDundas Square, on July 17 & 18, 2009. For the Rangoli Art, she used a combination of authentic traditional; other reused and recycled materials, with an added enhancing luminous ambience as a welcome prayer for the event. To view the Rangoli art, click Just for Laughs
Each year, a set of paintings are specifically created for the new theme of the year:
AshAditi is in the process of creating a new set of paintings collection for the 2010 theme "From the Soul" - A collection of works that will arouse the conscious, still the mind and soothe the soul....
AshAditi created a new set of artwork for the "Beyond The Rhythm" exhibition at The Royal Ontario Museum (23 July - 3 August 2009)
Scotiabank Caribana Art Exhibit "Beyond The Rhythm" which took place at the Royal Ontario Museum - Thursday July 23, 2009
To view the video that captures the essence of the launch night of the above exhibition, click Video Pt.1 & Video Pt. 2
AshAditi's new set of artwork includes Three paintings:
African Dance Diaspora
African Dance Diaspora
- the dance styles of hundreds of African ethnic groups in America gradually merged with European dances and, new forms of expression emerged that represent the continuation of the African aesthetic beyond the rhythm in the Americas
Hopeful Beginning Hopeful Beginning - as if it was just yesterday the moment when the ‘Underground Railroad’, in its abiding mystery, hope and terror took possession of our imagination, to the reality of that long road leading to the ‘Dawn of Presidency’ today
Bridging Generation Gap
Bridging Generation Gap -the 21st Century tools of communications have unleashed the forces of Globalization on a previously unimagined scale, bridging the generation gap to ensure the full and free exchange of ideas, culture, heritage and politics beyond the rhythm in life’- the backdrop of words used repeatedly in the Obama inauguration speech.
2008 - the theme ‘Roots to Rhythm’; AshAditi’s paintings were installed at The RoyalOntario Museum, Toronto, based on the poem by Joan Butterfield, the curator.
. The Rhythm of the Beat Goes On Triumphs – The Storm The Rhythm of the Beat Goes - On Rhythm of the beat goes on in the colourful AfricanVillage Triumphs – The Storm - In fury and terror, the tempest broke. It tore up the pine, and shattered the oak. Yet, the humming bird hovered within the hour, sipping clear rain from flowers inspiring the rhythms in life.
The African RhythmAmbitions
The African Rhythm - The drum has started beating, the chanting, first high, then low and high again. The drumsticks are just a blur upon the painted buffalo skin, the chanting, like haunting warriors’ cry that stirs dead hearts and moves deep passions, Ambitions – Fame is a bee. It has a rhythmic song; it has a sting. Ah, too, it has a wing! - Emily Dickson abandoned down in the dark recesses of the soul. I close my eyes and the darkness has disappeared; colour now is everywhere, leaping and bounding, laughing and swirling, rising and falling, spinning and curling, rhythmically and symmetrically they chant and they drum with joy.
The Rhythm of the Dancing Sun on My Land
The Rhythm of the Dancing Sun on My Land - There were times in the Inuit land, when the Sun would dance for us; All the Inuit stopped their daily routines at work; and sat to watch the Sun dance in the Inuit way. ‘Come dance with me!’ All the Inuit would then join and dance in joy; with the rhythm of dancing Sun who danced in the Inuit way, in the Inuit land - Alootook Ipellie
2007 - The theme of the 2007 exhibition ‘Mask' at the ‘Blue Dot Gallery, The Historic Distillery District, Toronto, inspired AshAditi to participate specifically working in variety of unique mix mediums to interpret my perception of the theme, contrary to the traditional use of the masks throughout the World for their expressive power as a feature of masked performance as they are familiar and vivid element in many folk and traditional pageants, ceremonies, rituals and festivals.
‘Beyond boundaries’ ‘Happiness‘
Beyond boundaries, the ‘freedom’ felt by a woman has no heritage. Preservation of freedom Happiness is an attitude of mind; born of the simple determination to be happy under all outward circumstances'. is a fresh challenge and a fresh conquest for each generation.
‘Security'‘The Law of Attraction’
Security' is the priceless universal product of parenthood. The innocence of childhood is ‘Colourblind'. Creation is only the projection into form of that already exists. The great secret of life is the law of attraction; your thoughts become things.’
‘Unmasked Friendship' ‘A Queen Forever'
‘Misery is when your very best friend calls you a name she really didn't mean to call you at all; 'Freeing oneself form words is liberation - a woman in her own rights, is Queen for ever'. Misery is when you call your very best friend a name you didn't mean to call her either".
‘Enlightenment'
‘Enlightenment is not imaging figure of light, but making the darkness conscious; it is to gaze with undimmed eyes on all darkness.'
2006 - the theme of the art exhibition by the Association of the African Canadian Artists was ‘COLOURblind? ‘Breaking Down The Barriers of Discrimination', at the ‘Spin Gallery, Toronto, AshAditi's paintings depicted her feelings and experiences in response to the theme statement.
Unity is Divinity Celebrations of Spiritual Unity Smiling Sun on my Land-Africa
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