July 20, 2023

10:00-10:15 am

David Han

Friend Generator/York University

Joel Ong

Sensorium/York University

In the spring of 2023, the exhibition ‘Firgrove Forever’ was presented at York University’s Gales Gallery. A combination of curated works from artists and activists in the community, as well as new works co-created with youth in the community, it was a celebration of the artistry and creative energies of the Firgrove neighbourhood, a community undergoing much change as a result of the City of Toronto’s “revitalization” process to vacate and rebuild aging community housing in the area.

‘Firgrove Re-imagined’ is an ongoing VR art project that was included as part of the ‘Firgrove Forever’ exhibit. It currently features six virtual environments created in collaboration with community artists and leaders from the Jane-Finch community.

This talk will present a tour of the various virtual environments of ‘Firgrove Re-imagined’, covering the diverse range of themes and ideas present in the work. We will explore how the struggles and achievements of this vibrant community are transformed into immersive environments in a variety of innovative and creative ways.