Film screenings & Exhibit with Warda Youssouf at Harbour Castle

Come to-gather on June 14th, 2024, for an evening at The Westin Harbour Castle, celebrating Warda Youssouf's "Ancestor Project: Goddesses" exhibit with a special thought provoking films on the topic "Power of Ancestors, Places and Names" from 6 PM to 9 PM.

Date and Time: June 14, 2024, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Location: Westin Harbour Castle Lobby, 1 Harbour Square, Toronto, ON M5J 1A6

Price: Free

Parking: Temporary free parking will be provided for attendees

What to Expect:

Exhibit Mingle (6 PM - 7 PM): Explore the "Ancestor Project: Goddesses" series, which reimagines historically maligned women as symbols of strength and empowerment.

Film Screenings (7 PM - 7:30 PM): Watch films that delve into the "Power of Ancestors/Names/Places," examining how names shape identity and perception.

• "unhome" by Ella Saini: A poignant exploration of gentrification in Scarborough through the memories of its residents.
• "In the Whiteness" by Niya Abdullahi: A poetic journey of identity and heritage from a Harari woman displaced by war.
• "Where Are You From" by Warda Youssouf: An experimental documentary on the fluidity of names, lives, and places.
• "Goddesses" by Warda Youssouf: A new poetic film making its debut.
• Surprise Screening by Hannah Yohannes & Mona Hersi.

Discussions and Reflections (7:30 PM - 9 PM): Engage in insightful conversations about the themes presented in the films and exhibit.

About the Exhibit:
The "Ancestor Project: Goddesses" series reimagines women historically depicted negatively—Arawelo, Dhilo, Dhegdheer, and Qomayo—as embodiments of strength and empowerment. These women, often labeled with derogatory terms, are reclaimed in Warda Youssouf's work as symbols of power, beauty, and freedom. The series seeks to rewrite history, transforming these figures from objects of scorn into icons of resilience and self-assuredness.

About the Artist:
Warda Youssouf is an artist and arts organizer based in Toronto. Born in Djibouti and raised in the UK, she is an alum of ArtworksTO and the recipient of the David Maltby Award in 2019 for her exhibition “Roots.” Warda's multidisciplinary practice spans visual art, theatre, poetry, painting, and puppetry, engaging with themes of home, sexuality, identity, and displacement. She has been an active community organizer, curating storytelling shows and art therapy events. During the pandemic, she founded House Of Arts, a space for emerging creatives. Currently, Warda works as an Engagement Coordinator for the Toronto Youth Equity and Strategy Initiative and is developing her solo exhibit at The Westin Harbour Castle.

• Website: wardayoussouf.com/thehouseofarts.ca
• Instagram & Facebook: @lifetastessour /@houseofartsto & HouseOfArtsTO
• Email: thehouse.of.arts@outlook.com

***Accessibility: The venue is accessible.