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Grace Helen

@gwacehelen

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Part 3: How the style is southern ( ontario ) gothic is manifesting in 2026

As previously mentioned, in my little Gen - Z - ass brain, the first time I heard the term Southern Ontario Gothic was through the Toronto icon and artist Brat Star. However, after some short research, this term has actually existed since the 1970s. Authors like Marian Engel, Timothy Findley, Barbara Gowd, Ann-Marie MacDonald and Robertson Davies were using the hyper realism of plain Jane Ontario as the ideal backdrop for a character's mental mental collapse. Although this is not a new term, these themes are being used heavily amongst those in gen Z who grew up in the lower part of Ontario. Photographers ( both instagram and not) I feel do a fine job visually capturing the Southern Ontario gothic genre including @danielvonsteun, @000.lucy, @geoffrey_jamesphoto, @gwacehelen, @theresbloodonyou, @t0mmykeith,@theworstgirlsgram,@oliver.isaac.green.
. Through these photos I see the Ontario I know. One who is poorly planned, so much so that the blankness and sharp lines let the imagination roam wild. We play dress up in a space that vaguely represents a city or farm. This term is extremely vague, but can apply to Ontario in so many ways. I believe finding a fitting name for a more general movement is half the game in taking us out of hyper niche artistic groups within southern Ontario.

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Open Secret Toronto (𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐎𝐔𝐓)
March 20th 6-8PM
@ the Centre for Culture and Technology
39A Queen’s Park Cres E, Toronto

@dansdansrev
@angie.cabz
@gwacehelen
@redactedcut
@dallemimi
@zarinaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Curated by Grace
Poster by Grace Open Secret Toronto
Tickets in bio

March 20th from 6-8PM at the Centre for Culture and Technology
39A Queen’s Park Cres E, Toronto, ON M5S 2C3, Canada

Dana Dawud @dansdansrev
Angie Cabz :D @angie.cabz
Grace Helen @gwacehelen
Redacted Cut @redactedcut
Mimi Bowman @dallemimi
Zarina Nares @zarinaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Curated by Grace Helen
Poster by Grace Helen

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Space Voyage entry: 312

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Polaroid of Grace, at her grandparents in Michigan

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@gwacehelen wearing @av3rymacnab bunny helmet

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How about even more pics from BE Fest 2?

📸 @truest.desires

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Grace, Michigan

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