Press-Release: Junction Arts Festival - Weaving Mosaics: A Creative Adventure of Vast Proportions

Press-Release: The Junction Arts Festival: Weaving Mosaics: A creative adventure of vast proportions; September 9 to 13, 2009
Credit: junctionartsfest.com

MEDIA INFORMATION - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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THE JUNCTION ARTS FESTIVAL

Weaving Mosaics: A creative adventure of vast proportions; September 9 to 13, 2009

Toronto, ON, July 21, 2009 - Like a mosaic, the 2009 Junction Arts Festival (produced by the Junction Forum for Art and Culture, JFAC) will weave a multitude of eclectic cultural and artistic elements together to create one big celebration; September 9 to 13 in Toronto's west-end Junction neighbourhood.

Now in its 17th year and attracting 200,000 visitors in 2008, the Junction Arts Festival takes place along one kilometre of Dundas Street West between Keele Street and Quebec Avenue, and features five days of unique artistry and innovation presented in many unusual ways; Visual Art Exhibits (September 9 to 13), Live Music Concerts (September 11 and 12), and the Street Performance Artists, Literary Artists, KidZone, Green Village and the Artisan/Vendor Market (happen during the weekend street closure on Saturday and Sunday, September 12 and 13).
The Junction City Square at 2960 Dundas Street West at Pacific Avenue is the epicentre to all activities. Its train platform (specially built for the 2008 Junction Centennial, based on the CPR train station that once stood at Annette and Dupont) acts as the main stage this year, where, as a festival highlight, Junction native, acclaimed singer-songwriter Justin Rutledge will present a special evening of music with invited guests (Saturday, September 12 at 9:00 p.m., guests TBA).
JFAC Chair Councillor Bill Saundercook (Ward 13, City of Toronto) states, "It is the Junction Forum for Art and Culture's honour to present the very successful annual Junction Arts Festival, on behalf of the entire Junction community. This year, while we integrate a variety of extraordinary artists from many sources, we also continue to showcase the incredible pool of talent and creative brilliance available to us in our own neighbourhood."

Escapade of discoveries:

• Visual Art Exhibits: The 2009 Juried Art Exhibit will showcase this year's 75 entrants at the Academy of Realist Art (2968 Dundas St. W.), plus established and impromptu galleries along Dundas West present additional artists for the full five days (Sept. 9 to 13).
  Visual highlights also include many extraordinary installation artists such as Robert Hilts and Reid English; placed in outdoor and indoor locations during the weekend street closure (Sept. 12 & 13).
• Live Music Concerts: The Junction City Square's train platform (the Main Stage) will host two nights of live music performances; Afrobeat band Mr. Something Something headlines the Friday evening concert (Sept. 11) and Americana troubadour Justin Rutledge and friends headlines the Saturday evening show (Sept. 12).
• Street Performance Artists: There will be dance, theatre, live painting, music and comedy performers winding there way in and out of Dundas West shops and buildings (Sept. 12 & 13).
  Highlights include festival faves Toronto comedy duo Bain & Bernard (second year), and dance troupe r.a.d. (random acts of dance) return for the third time.
  Additionally, many travelling minstrels (soloists or groups) will strum and hum in unanticipated settings along Dundas West.
• Literary Artists: Back for the second year with an increased presence and sponsored for the first time by Junction publishing company BookThug (http://www.bookthug.ca/), the literary component will feature over 20 writers and poets, who will present public readings in unusual and experimental ways; including using megaphones from rooftops and roaming paperboys (Sept. 12 & 13).
• The KidZone: Centrally located for 2009 on Pacific Avenue at Dundas West, the KidZone is a fun zone featuring family-friendly arts, painting and interactive design workshops, a giant slide, a jumping castle, a sports complex and more (Sept. 12 & 13).
• The Green Village: Leading the march of the third annual Green Village participants is the green conscious, bicycle powered Afrobeat band Mr. Something Something, who encourages audience cooperation to demonstrate their pedal powered sound system, the SoundCycle.
  The area also presents materials, talks and workshops on environmental initiatives (Sept. 12 & 13).
  The Junction Arts Festival practices reducing, reusing and recycling throughout the entire location.
• Artisan/Vendor Market: Creative types, artisans and yummy food and drink vendors make for interesting and fun weekend shopping (Sept. 12 & 13).
• The Junction City Square: It's the spot for the weekend beer tent, the Main Stage evening concerts and the weekend daily community group performances and more (2960 Dundas St. W.).

Please Note: Further details and more artist announcements are coming soon. For schedule updates and to access the new Junction Arts Festival Blog please visit regularly at
http://www.junctionartsfest.com/.

The 17th annual Junction Arts Festival is generously supported by title sponsor the Junction Business Improvement Area and the active involvement from Junction area businesses and residents.

The Junction Forum for Art and Culture (JFAC) is a non-profit arts presenting organization and its main project is the annual Junction Arts Festival. The hands-on JFAC Board of Directors consists of dedicated cultural producers, artists, residents, business owners and politicians, all of whom are based in the Junction.

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For media information and interviews, please contact:
Laurie Lockhart, Publicist
Tel: 416-988-2530 / E-mail: gtmessage@sympatico.ca
Website: www.junctionartsfest.com

For general and vendor information, please contact:
2009 Junction Arts Festival office
Tel: 416-767-5036 / E-mail: junctionartsfest@bellnet.ca
Website: http://www.junctionartsfest.com/
Councillor Bill Saundercook (Ward 13, City of Toronto), JFAC Chair

links:
Press-Release: 2009 Junction Arts Festival: Weaving Mosaics!
Press-Release: The 2009 Junction Arts Festival Sends out Call to Artists