InSightOut
My City My Story
October 6–10, 2010

  • Photo by Gaby Cueto

    Photo by Gaby Cueto

InSightOut is a photography project that brings young community minded photographers together, providing access to the equipment, resources and mentorship to complete a body of work rooted in their artistic, personal and political insights. By presenting their collective perspective to the public narrative, participants use the program as a professional platform to bridge community arts with the established arts sphere, and mobilize an insider perspective to inform how we view identity, community and social justice in Toronto.

This exhibit features samples of each photographers portfolio, selected as a reflection of the common thread that connects their collective creative and community mandates.

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Featured Artists

  • Kate Fraser
  • Che Kothari
  • Alpha Abebe
  • Saada Awaleh-God
  • Yannick Anton
  • John Black
  • Gabriela Cueto
  • Anora Graham
  • Edwina Fernandes
  • Oswaldo Montano
  • Nabil Shash
  • Elaisha Stokes

Curators

Kate Fraser

Kate Fraser is the “My Story” Arts Based Program Coordinator at Schools Without Borders (SWB). Kate was educated by the world through travels in South America, Southern & West Africa, and the Caribbean. She was institutionally educated at Concordia University in Anthropology and History, and the University of Ghana in International Development.

As a result of these experiences, Kate’s search for a better model for education and community change led her back to Toronto where she began to explore Film and Photography.

Through the My City My Story Photography Program, the Blitz Grassroots Film Camps and the SWB Equipment Resource Centre, Kate is committed to creating – and supporting others to create – accessible and professional arts programs, first here in Toronto and then internationally. The wealth of artistic and community expression inspires Kate to use the arts and the process of arts programming as a tool for deeper understanding of self, relationships, culture, history, peace and conflict – from the personal to the global.

Che Kothari

Culture. Opportunity. Change. These are the words that sum up what Che Kothari stands for. At the young age of 25 he has become an established photographer and leader within his community, dedicated to fostering other young artists in Toronto. Raised in Guelph, Ontario, he moved to Toronto at the age of 17 to pursue an education at Ryerson University for image Arts while immersing himself in the cultural arts that the city had to offer.

Not long after studying the art, beauty and technicalities of photography in the Image Arts Program, did he find himself shooting professionally for events around the city.With business partner Ryan Paterson he started up Hightop Studio, a company dedicated to photography, web design, event production and management. Through his work with Hightop, opportunities came in from many different companies including Red Bull Canada, Sony/BMG, FIDO and many more.

The next major step for Che was starting a non-profit organization, Manifesto Community Projects, of which he is currently the Executive Director. Manifesto is a grassroots organization working to unite, energize, support and celebrate Toronto’s vibrant and diverse music and arts communities. Finding innovative ways of working together towards common goals, Manifesto aims to provide a platform and the resources needed to advance the growth of the arts as a tool for positive change at the individual, community, and city level. Manifesto’s main initiative is an annual four-day festival, the Manifesto Festival of Music, Art & Culture. In two short years, the festival has grown to be the largest of its kind in the Greater Toronto Area. The festival brings together communities, artists, performers, and audience members to showcase the city’s vibrant arts scene, strengthening those foundations by building a collective sense of pride and possibility. Featuring a variety of events, from art exhibitions, dance showcases, workshops, free outdoor concerts, film screenings and more, the festival combines a grassroots, community-focused essence with a production quality often associated only with commercial-scale productions. A culmination of all of the work Manifesto does, the festival provides an annual burst of energy and inspiration in the city, and is a vehicle for furthering all of our objectives simultaneously.