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Mariana 🧜‍♀️

@weforgotlilacs

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We’re so happy we had Mariana Hernandez @weforgotlilacs as a regular at Jamii for our Belonging workshops ❤️

In January, Mariana led three Belonging visual arts sessions with our older adults, inviting participants to paint landscapes connected to meaningful memories — a coffee near the Distillery District, a quiet walk through a winter forest, moments from everyday life that stay with us.

Mariana is a Toronto-based artist and educator who teaches with many nonprofit organizations across the city. Originally from Chile, she has lived in Toronto since 1977 and studied Fine Arts at OCAD University, continuing to expand her practice as a self-taught learner. Vibrant colours, strong line work, and her love of water and urban settings are hallmarks of work that often reflects life along Toronto’s waterfront. Her work is remarkable.

🎨 Join us Tuesdays from 11:30am–1pm at the Jamii Hub to explore visual arts, discover new artists, and try new practices.

📸 Photos by Claudi Bonilla and Ghader Bsmar.

Thank you to our Belonging funders: @canada.council @torontoartscouncil @ongov @rama.gaminghouse @td_canada Ready Commitment

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Bubbling laughter in the square,
Silver drops dance in the air,
Children’s hands and pigeons play,
Sunlight sparkles, runs away.

Whispers rise, a liquid song,
Calling neighbours, pulling strong,
Step by step, we circle round,
Hearts awake to water’s sound.

Fountain singing, never still,
Joy flows easy, joy will spill,
In our streets your rhythm stays,
Fountain love, our carefree days.

Inspired by a beloved neighborhood fountain and the drawing by local artis @weforgotlilacs

#doggyfountain #berczypark #communityheart

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Where’s the Flatiron Building?✨
Right now it’s hiding under layers of construction wrap … but luckily, it’s still alive in art, postcards, and murals.
For now, we’ll have to visit it in paintings and memories until it peeks out again.

Art from @weforgotlilacs @usktoronto @luisfernandocampo

@oldtowntoronto

#FlatironBuilding #TorontoIcon #HiddenInPlainSight #CityUnderConstruction #ArtKeepsItAlive

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Calling all artists! Want to have your artwork displayed on the walls of the @BBishopAirport pedestrian tunnel for all to see? Apply by May 1 to be part of Perspectives.

Launched by @PortsToronto, Perspectives is a public art program that showcases local talent and captures unique visions of Toronto. The program invites local artists to share their interpretations of the city, providing a platform for diverse perspectives that reflect Toronto’s vibrancy, diversity and spirit.

The inaugural exhibit features 12 perspectives by three Toronto artists, as well as an open call for artists to submit up to four works to be displayed on static panels. The art is framed and will be regularly updated and changed to ensure a diversity of perspectives.

Deadline for submissions: May 1, 2025.

Link in bio.

#PerspectivesYTZ #TorontoArt #CallForArtists #PublicArt #BillyBishopAirport #TorontoCreative

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Want a space to showcase your work for all to see? Apply by May 1 for Perspectives, a public art program at @BBishopAirport.

The program invites local artists to share their interpretations of the city, providing a platform for diverse perspectives that reflect the vibrancy and spirit of Toronto.

The program is designed to be constantly evolving, with different artists rotating on the walls of the tunnel to showcase a diverse range of work. The first series of artists includes Que Rock, Jonathan Gazze and Mariana Hernandez, whose unique interpretations highlight the city’s diversity.

Do you want to be the next to represent what our city has to offer? Apply now and show us your Toronto.

Deadline: May 1, 2025.

Link in bio.

#PerspectivesYTZ #TorontoArt #CallForArtists #PublicArt #BillyBishopAirport #TorontoCreative

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BELONGING – VISUAL ARTS WORKSHOPS | In February, we had the joy of welcoming Mariana Hernandez as the facilitator for Jamii’s Visual Arts Workshop for Older Adults!

Mariana is a talented Chilean-born artist and art educator who calls Toronto’s East Bayside Waterfront home. Her vibrant, expressive paintings have been acquired by TRIDEL, Daniels Home, and the Distillery District—and even rented by Facebook! A fine arts graduate from OCAD and a self-taught artist, she beautifully captures the essence of water and urban landscapes in her work.

Over four sessions, participants took on a unique creative challenge: sketching the Toronto Waterfront and a bouquet of flowers using continuous lines—never lifting their pencil off the page. It was an inspiring, hands-on way to explore new ways of seeing and creating!

A heartfelt thank you to Mariana for her kindness and dedication—it was a truly enriching experience.

Know an older adult who loves art or wants to give it a try? Jamii offers free visual arts workshops every Tuesday from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM. All levels are welcome! Spread the word and let’s create together. Link in bio for registration.

Thank you to our funders @ongov and Government of Canada - New Horizons for Seniors Program.

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Meet Mariana Hernandez, one of three artists whose work is currently on display in the pedestrian tunnel at @BBishopAirport as part of our new Perspectives public art program.

Mariana Hernandez is an artist and art educator based in the new east Bayside Waterfront Community in Toronto, living among 80 live/work artists. She teaches classes to various non-profit agencies across Toronto including the Gardiner Museum.

Her paintings and drawings reflect all that is Toronto along the waterfront and in urban areas. Vibrant colors, strong line work, and a love and admiration for bodies of water and urban settings are her trademarks.
Find more of her work on X at @Mariana_ArtsTO

#PerspectivesYTZ #Toronto #BillyBishop #Arts #TorontoArts #Artists #TorontoEvents #Airport

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Have you ever dreamed of having your art on display for thousands to view?

Look no further than Perspectives, a new public art program at @BBishopAirport celebrating local talent and creating a vibrant welcome within the airport's pedestrian tunnel. Celebrating Toronto’s identity, Perspectives provides an opportunity for artists to represent what makes the city special to them, from its landmarks and neighbourhoods to its people and culture.

Meet the incredible local artists currently on display: Jonathan Gazze, Mariana Hernandez, and Que Rock.

🎨 Want your art to be featured next? The deadline for submissions is May 1, 2025, with new works set to be unveiled in summer 2025.

Learn more about Perspectives and how to submit your artwork at the link in our bio.

#toronto #arts #torontoarts #artists #torontoevents #events #torontotodo #PerspectivesYTZ #BillyBishop #YTZ

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Avez-vous déjà rêvé d'exposer votre art devant des milliers de personnes?

Ne cherchez pas plus loin que Perspectives, un nouveau programme d'art public à l'@AeroportBBishop célébrant les talents locaux et créant un accueil dynamique dans le tunnel piétonnier de l'aéroport. Célébrant l’identité de Toronto, Perspectives donne aux artistes l’occasion de montrer ce qui rend la ville spéciale à leurs yeux, qu’il s’agisse de ses lieux d’intérêt, de ses quartiers, de ses habitants ou de sa culture.

Rencontrez les incroyables artistes locaux actuellement exposés : Jonathan Gazze, Mariana Hernandez et Que Rock.

🎨 Vous souhaitez que votre art soit présenté ensuite? La date limite pour les soumissions est le 1er mai 2025, et de nouvelles œuvres seront dévoilées à l'été 2025.

Découvrez-en plus sur Perspectives et comment soumettre votre œuvre, rendez-vous au lien dans notre bio.

#toronto #arts #torontoarts #artistes #evenementstoronto #evenements #PerspectivesYTZ #YTZ

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PIKANGIKUM | This past June, we were thrilled to host the talented Amberlee King, a gifted painter from the Pikangikum First Nation in Northern Ontario, for a week-long residency in Toronto, made possible by the @rbc Emerging Artist program.

Amberlee’s visit was a journey of creativity, mentorship, and powerful cultural exchange. Guided by local artists like Mariana Hernandez @weforgotlilacs , Tugce Alemdar @melusinelapetite , Kseniya Tsoy @ktsoy.art , Ana Higuera @ana_figo ,and Sabrine S. Hakam @sabrineshakam , she explored new art techniques, shared stories, and fostered deep connections.

“Amberlee and I explored gel plate printing and image transfer techniques together. Amberlee’s talent, humility, and tenderness shone through her art and presence,” shared mentor Ana Higuera.

“I appreciated connecting with Amberlee as an artist and a mother. Hearing her thoughts on her artistic journey and learning about her community was inspiring,” said Kseniya Tsoy.

Tugce Alemdar added, “Meeting Amberlee was transformative. We found common ground through discussions on loss, grief, generational trauma, and the healing power of art. By the end of our session, we were more than collaborators—we were friends.”

Amberlee was part of Jamii’s National Indigenous Day and Canada Multiculturalism Day celebrations, where she showcased and sold her paintings, creating lasting memories with attendees, including Chris Glover and Krystin Wong-Tam.

This residency was an incredible experience not just for Amberlee but for everyone she met. We’re excited to continue this artistic journey and strengthen our ties with Amberlee and the Pikangikum community.

Join us on Tuesday, December 3rd, at 7:00 pm at The Jamii Hub for a special event featuring video portraits from our ongoing project with the Pikangikum community. The evening will include discussions with project artists and a ceremony led by Elder Jim Adams, with insights from special guest Asmita Pal. All ticket sales will support Jamii’s continued engagement with Pikangikum, funding our next visit in 2025.

Link in bio!

We hope to see you there!

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i love this sketch of me by the incredible @weforgotlilacs from an urban sketching workshop hosted by the brilliant @liamvuart go check them out!!!

also it's my birthday (21)

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BELONGING | Every Tuesday in the month of August the talented Mariana Hernandez led the older adults in a series of drawings and watercolour paintings.

After teaching the older adults the basics, Mariana guided them in painting their own watercolour painting of mermaids. Teaching them colouring techniques creating vibrant mermaid pictures.

Visual Arts for older adults happens every Tuesday at 11:30 am. To register check the link in bio.

Mariana Hernandez is an artist and art educator based in Toronto. Mariana teaches art classes at different non-profit organizations and her paintings have sold to TRIDEL Incorporated, Daniels Home Incorporated and Distillery District and rented to Facebook. She is native to Chile and has been living in Toronto since 1977. She studied Fine Arts at OCAD and expanded her skills as a self- taught learner. Vibrant colours, strong line work in drawings and a love and admiration for bodies of water and urban settings are her trademarks. Her paintings and drawings reflect all that is Toronto in the waterfront.

Belonging programs are supported by Government of Canada - New Horizons for Seniors Program, Canada Council for the Arts, Government of Ontario, Caroline Co-operative Homes, Windmill Line Co-Operative Homes Inc, Performing Arts Lodges Toronto, New Hibret Co-operative Homes Inc.

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In the context of Indigenous People’s Day Celebration, we’re delighted to spend the week with emerging artists Leah King (photographer) and Amberlee King (painter), both hailing from Pikangikum First Nation. Not only were they part of our event on June 21st, but Amberlee has also brought paintings for sale (come check them out at The Jamii Hub – 100% of sales go to the artist), and Leah King unveiled a photo exhibition in David Crombie Park, at the corner of Esplanade and Princess St.

During the week with us at Jamii, Leah and Amberlee had daily one-on-one sessions with our local artists, enriching their artistic practices, exchanging ideas and techniques, and learning a few new things along the way!

Photos by Jae Yang and Isorine Marc.
Supported by the Ontario Arts Council @ontarioartscouncil and @rbc Foundation’s Emerging Artists Program.

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