Way Past Kennedy Road presents: HABIBIZ, a group exhibit

Following the Shisha Ban which came into effect on April 1st, 2016 and has since forced nearly 70 predominantly Black and Brown migrant-owned businesses to close and/or restructure their livelihoods, the owner of Kennedy Road’s Very Own Habibiz Shisha Lounge asks, “Where else is there for us in this city?”

HABIBIZ is a group exhibit by Way Past Kennedy Road taking up Toronto’s Shisha Ban to consider what it means to illegalize already hypersurveilled spaces, extending a conversation on radical traditions of placemaking across the GTA.

Curated by Jessica Kirk and Mitra Fakhrashrafi
https://www.waypastkennedyroad.net

Amani Bin Shikhan with Sisterhood Media https://abinshikhan.contently.com / https://www.sisterhoodmedia.net
Mahdi Chowdhury http://www.mahdi-chowdhury.com
Idil Djafer https://www.idildjafer.com
N. Fatima
Noor Khan https://www.noorkhan.co
Maymuna Mohamed https://www.instagram.com/waamaymuna

OPENING RECEPTION
Thursday February 7th, 7pm - 10pm

CURATOR’S TALK + FREE BUTTON MAKING
Thursday February 14th, 4pm - 7pm

“THE FEELING OF BEING WATCHED” SCREENING
Friday, February 15th, 6pm - 9pm

DIGITAL JUSTICE LAB WORKSHOP
Saturday February 23rd, 2pm - 5pm

EXHIBITION DATES & GALLERY HOURS
February 8th - 23rd (Wed-Fri from 12-7pm, Sat from 12-5pm)

All events take place at Margin of Eras Gallery (1684 Queen St W.)

WAY PAST KENNEDY ROAD is a collective of multidisciplinary emerging artists based in Scarborough and other rejected but resilient corners of the GTA. We build spaces for ourselves both online and offline, and use art as a means of resisting the borders, boundaries, and (un)belongings that define each of our lives and our work in distinct ways.

HABIBIZ is made possible through the support of the Ontario Arts Council’s Third Space Projects, the Digital Justice Lab, Ontario Trillium Fund, Toronto Foundation, the UofT Centre for Community Partnerships, Platform A, and the UofT Graduate Students’ Union.

A note on accessibility: there is a ramp at the door, but only one washroom which is down a flight of stairs. On behalf of the architects of the past who, by these design oversights, have left out many people, we apologize. Accessible washrooms are available down the street in 24 hour McDonalds at Queen & Roncesvalles. Gender neutral bathrooms on site.

To guests with scent sensitivities or asthmatic symptoms: there will be tobacco smoke in Margin of Eras Gallery for the later part of Habibiz opening reception, on February 7th between 8pm - 10pm.

We intend for the MOEG to be a safe space for people of all races, genders, abilities, ages, cultures, and sexualities. Any form of discrimination including, but not limited to racist, homophobic, transphobic, sexist language or behaviour will not be tolerated. If at any time you are made to feel uncomfortable or unsafe, please let one of our team members know, or email marginoferasgallery@gmail.com

CUE is a radical arts initiative dedicated to providing funding and support for new-generation artists who live and work on the margins in Toronto. Since 2008, the initiative has provided almost $300,000 in high-access grants to support the creation of more than 290 art projects.

FOLLOW CUE on....
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CUE-154581214682665/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CUEToronto
For more, please visit www.cueartprojects.ca

The MOEG is a project of CUE: a multidisciplinary arts space dedicated to showcasing the work of new generation artists aged 15-29 who live and work on the margins. Some of the most important artwork is being created by artists who experience social, cultural, and economic marginalization, and systemic barriers can preclude many relevant artists from contributing to our cultural narrative. The MOEG is a space to engage with these artists and their work--an environment where communities that have been excluded within the arts can be recognized and represented.

FOLLOW THE MOEG on...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theMOEG/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themoeg/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/theMOEG
E-mail: marginoferasgallery@gmail.com
Website: https://www.marginoferasgallery.ca/