Press-Release: The 2009 Junction Arts Festival Blows out Attendance and Remains an Arts Destination Central

Screenshot: The 2009 Junction Arts Festival Web-site: Sun Sets on the 2009 Festival
Credit: junctionartsfest.com

MEDIA INFORMATION - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The 2009 Junction Arts Festival
Blows out Attendance and
Remains an Arts Destination Central

Toronto, ON, September 23, 2009 - The Junction Arts Festival presents an annual cultural arts extravaganza like no other and the producing organization (Junction Forum for Art and Culture) announces a record attendance of 250,000 at the 2009 five-day celebration; an increase of 25 percent over 2008 numbers and the largest to date.

JFAC Chair Councillor Bill Saundercook states, "The Junction itself is a uniquely creative area and the festival allows visitors to discover the innovation and artistry that exists right here. It is the Junction Forum for Art and Culture's honour to have presented a very successful 2009 Junction Arts Festival, and on behalf of the JFAC Board of Directors we thank our outstanding staff, the dedicated volunteers, participants, artists and supporters and we look forward to 2010."

The 2009 Junction Arts Festival (September 9 to 13 in Toronto's west-end Junction area) broke out in grand style under the stars with entertainment from the Starlight Orchestra on September 9 at the opening outdoor ceremony in the Junction City Square (Dundas West at Pacific).

The night was attended by many honoured guest speakers including Mayor David Miller, JFAC Chair and City of Toronto Councillor Bill Saundercook (Ward 13), MPP Parkdale-High Park Cheri DiNovo, Toronto Police Inspector Dave Saunders (11 Division) and festival creative producer Michael Menegon, and the four 2009 Juried Art winners were declared.

The 2009 Juried Art Exhibition first prize winner of a one-year scholarship to the Academy of Realist Art ($7,500.00 in value) goes to Kathleen Coyle, whose stained glass horse mosaic piece called "Painted Pony" was also pre-selected as the 2009 Junction Arts Festival logo.

2009 Highlights:

• Three nights of main stage (Junction City train platform) concerts topped off by the Saturday, September 12 headlining show, which was packed to capacity featuring The Beauties, Jason Collett and proud Junction ambassador Justin Rutledge.
• Unusual performance discoveries all weekend long featuring floating fairies (Jay9 Dance Project), the masked mimer (Aaron Water), musical masters (Maneli Jamal, Mr. Something Something) and graffiti gurus (Art Fuzion).
• An adventureland of fun in the KidZone featuring the mega slide (The Cliff Hanger), bouncy things and sports games.
• The Academy of Realist Art hosting 72 visual artists for the festival's 2009 Juried Art Exhibition.
• Finding recitals by authors and poets in unexpected places, like Jay MillAr and the youthful Amorphus BookThug Readers in the back patio of the Troubadour bar.
• Red Hot Art Spots featuring enthusiastic Junction businesses, shops, restaurants hosting artists of all sorts.
• The creative atmosphere that came from everywhere and everyone including the public, artists (so many artists, we can't mention them all here) and the great volunteers.
• The better than yummy food and awesome artisans in the street vendor booths.
• The festival's third annual Green Village, where it's easy being green.

The Junction Arts Festival takes place annually in September along Dundas Street West between Keele Street and Quebec Avenue. For more information please visit, www.junctionartsfest.com.

The 2009 Junction Arts Festival was generously supported by title sponsor the Junction Business Improvement Area, the Toronto Arts Council, the Department of Canadian Heritage and many more proud sponsors.

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 JFAC Board of Directors, chaired by Ward 13, City of Toronto Councillor Bill Saundercook, 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, please contact:
Laurie Lockhart, Publicist
GET THE MESSAGE Publicity
Tel: 416-988-2530 / E-mail: gtmessage@sympatico.ca
Web: www.myspace.com/getthemessagepr

For general information, please contact:
Michael Menegon, Creative Producer; 2009 Junction Arts Festival
Junction Forum for Art and Culture
Tel: 416-767-5036 / E-mail: junctionartsfest@bellnet.ca
Web: www.junctionartsfest.com
Web: www.jfac.org

Press-Release: The Junction Arts Festival - Street Performance Artists are everywhere and they're sizzling hot! - September 12 and 13

Screenshot: Junction Arts Festival - Weaving Mosaics - September 9 to 13, 2009
Dundas West Street Closure - Saturday, September 12 & Sunday, September 13, 2009
Credit: junctionartsfest.com

MEDIA INFORMATION - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Please retain for events / music listings

THE JUNCTION ARTS FESTIVAL:

Street Performance Artists are everywhere and they're sizzling hot! -
September 12 and 13

Toronto, ON, August 18, 2009 - The 17th annual Junction Arts Festival (September 9 - 13, 2009) presents a mosaic of unique visual, dance, literary and musical arts, and performance artists are everywhere, winding and weaving their way in and out of 'Red Hot Art Spots' (shops, galleries and restaurants) and on the street; Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13.

Performance artists will be found all along Dundas Street West, from Keele Street to Quebec Avenue, and are featured in three categories (exact places and/or times, to be discovered):

• Street Performance Artists: Dance, Performance Art and Comedy;
• Travelling Minstrels
• Community Stage

Junction Arts Festival creative producer Michael Menegon states, "People of all ages experience and discover performances, which, in these unique settings, they might not otherwise see anywhere else. This may be the one element that no other festival in Toronto has to offer."

Street Performance Artists - Dance:

• Hercinia Arts Collective - "Urban Growth" is a guerrilla aerial based performance, where roaming acrobatic performers (dressed as plant life) execute parkour-infused dance on found objects/structures.
• Gadfly - Head choreographers Apolonia Velasquez and Ofilio Portillo discover the true essence of passion using hip-hop, contemporary, vogue, jazz, B-boyin', locking, house and acrobatics.
• r.a.d. - Festival favourites Random Acts of Dance, return for the third year roaming Dundas West and exposing the crowd to their colourful improvised pieces.
• Aaron Water - Performing from New York City to Montreal, Water is an expert in mime, robot and hip hop popping dance and will draw on ballet, martial arts and African dance.
• Jay9 Dance Projects - Created by Jannine Saarinen, Jay9 Dance will present "Faerie-Go-Round"; a dance theatre piece involving two performers (whose look is inspired by the artwork of Brian Froud) portraying fun and flighty faeries.
• Angola Murdoch - A veteran in movement including capoeira and aerial dance, Murdoch presents "Look Up Theatre", where the Energy Triplets (using a low-rider bike and each other) are circus acrobats searching to balance the earth.

Note: The dancers will also be scheduled in to perform on the community stage (times, TBA).

Street Performance Artists - Performance Art:

• Art Fuzion - While the audience watches, a group of five artists, "Fuzionists", use the free-style drawing approach and collaborate to create a single, free flowing and improvised piece.
• Annie Si-Wing Tung - York University BFA honours graduate Tung paints, while a jazz combo (keyboardist, vocalist, percussionist, bassist) plays and the improvised collaboration demonstrates how artists can influence each other.

Street Performance Artists - Comedy:

Bain and Bernard - Toronto's vaudeville comedy duo present "Bain & Bernard & Son's, You've Never Seen Anything Like It Show!"

Travelling Minstrels:
Seven travelling minstrels (groups and soloists) perform throughout the weekend along Dundas West in various indoor and outdoor locations;

• Doin' Time (duo, Ramblin' Reg and Five Fingers Pete)
• Courtney Farquhar
• Samantha Martin
• ZimZum (jazz quartet, Colin Flint, Ian Lazarus, Louise Le Coche, Mark Teixeira)
• Heather Chappell and Vincent Peets
• Maneli Jamal
• Adam Wilson and Ayron Mortley

Community Stage:
Located on the Junction City Square train platform (2960 Dundas St. West at Pacific Ave.), community groups perform daily from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. - exact group times, TBA;

• Fit2Dance
• High Park Martial Arts
• Hip Kik Belly Dance
• Rhythm and Motion (ballroom, tango)
• Vivace Studios (Joanne Camilleri belly dance)

Please Note: Further festival details and more artist announcements are coming soon.
For schedule updates please visit regularly at www.junctionartsfest.com.

Attracting 200,000 visitors in 2008, the Junction Arts Festival (produced by the Junction Forum for Art and Culture) takes place along Dundas Street West between Keele Street and Quebec Avenue, and features five free days of artistry and innovation; Visual Art Exhibits (Sept. 9 to 13), Live Music Concerts (Sept. 11 and 12), and during the weekend - Street Performance Artists, Literary Artists, KidZone, Green Village and Artisan/Vendor Market (Sept. 12 and 13).

The 2009 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, chaired by Councillor Bill Saundercook, 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, interviews and photos please contact:
Laurie Lockhart,
Publicist; 2009 Junction Arts Festival
GET THE MESSAGE Publicity
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: www.junctionartsfest.com
Councillor Bill Saundercook (Ward 13, City of Toronto), JFAC Chair

links:
Toronto Tourism News: 18/08: JUNCTION ARTS FESTIVAL
Junction Arts Festival Blog: Information on the festival as it is created WEAVING MOSAICS
The Arts Junction: Press-Release: The 2009 Junction Arts Festival Sends out Call to Artists
The Arts Junction: Press-Release: 2009 Junction Arts Festival: Weaving Mosaics! - Toronto’s one-of-a-kind arts fest takes over Dundas West, September 9 to 13
The Arts Junction: Press-Release: Junction Arts Festival - Weaving Mosaics: A Creative Adventure of Vast Proportions; September 9 to 13, 2009
The Arts Junction: Press-Release: The Junction Arts Festival - Justin Rutledge concert, with Jason Collett & The Beauties, September 12, 2009
The Arts Junction: Press-Release: The Junction Arts Festival - Street Performance Artists are everywhere and they're sizzling hot! - September 12 and 13

Press-Release: The Junction Arts Festival - Justin Rutledge concert, with Jason Collett & The Beauties, September 12, 2009

Press-Release: The Junction Arts Festival - Justin Rutledge concert,
with Jason Collett & The Beauties, September 12, 2009
Credit: junctionartsfest.com

MEDIA INFORMATION - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Please retain for events / music listings

THE JUNCTION ARTS FESTIVAL:

Justin Rutledge concert, with Jason Collett & The Beauties, September 12, 2009

Toronto, ON, August 13, 2009 - The 17th annual Junction Arts Festival (September 9 - 13, 2009) presents a mosaic of unique visual, dance, literary and musical arts, where internationally renowned singer-songwriter Justin Rutledge plays headliner and host to a special night of rockin' country music, friends and live collaboration on Saturday, September 12 at 7:00 p.m.

The concert will feature specially invited guests Arts & Crafts recording artist Jason Collett and The Beauties, and will take place on the outdoor festival main stage in the Junction City Square (2960 Dundas Street West at Pacific Avenue).

Proud Junction native Justin Rutledge states, "I've witnessed the Junction grow over the years into a community teeming with creative businesses and a vibrant cultural core. The Junction Arts Festival is, in my opinion, Toronto's best street fest. The great spirit of the festival represents the optimism and renewed energy of one of Toronto's oldest and greatest neighbourhoods. Please come celebrate it with us."

Juno nominated Rutledge, who has crafted three albums to critical acclaim; No Never Alone (2005), The Devil On A Bench In Stanley Park (2006) and Man Descending (2008), is equally famous for his mesmerizing live performances and will be supported by his band; Bazil Donovan (bass), David Baxter (guitar), Blake Manning (drums) and Burke Carroll (steel).

Jason Collett, whose sentimentality for songwriting and ability to capture daily life with his own classic poetic style, is an artist that Rutledge looks forward to performing with for the first time.

A key figure in Toronto's indie scene and a member of Broken Social Scene, Jason Collett recently released his newest solo album Here's To Being Here (2008), as the anticipated follow-up to 2005's critically acclaimed Idols of Exile.

Collett explains, "I feel this is a Rock 'n Roll music record. Rock 'n Roll music encompasses all sorts of influences - country, blues, gospel... all those things, and I'm just part of that tradition."

The Beauties are a group of prolific musicians made up of Darin McConnell, Jud Ruhl, Shawn Creamer, Paul Pfisterer, Derek Downham and The Bogoo, who, every Sunday night are the house band at Toronto's Dakota Tavern (a favourite hangout of Justin Rutledge) for a night of tar-kickin', twang-rockin', spirits and barn-dancin'.

Please Note: Further festival details and more artist announcements are coming soon.
For schedule updates please visit regularly at www.junctionartsfest.com.

Attracting 200,000 visitors in 2008, the Junction Arts Festival, produced by the Junction Forum for Art and Culture, takes place along one kilometre of Dundas Street West between Keele Street and Quebec Avenue, and features five free days of artistry and innovation; 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 Artisan/Vendor Market (during weekend street closure, September 12 and 13).
The 2009 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, chaired by Councillor Bill Saundercook, 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, interviews and photos please contact:
Laurie Lockhart,
Publicist; 2009 Junction Arts Festival
GET THE MESSAGE Publicity
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: www.junctionartsfest.com
Councillor Bill Saundercook (Ward 13, City of Toronto), JFAC Chair

Press-Release: 2009 Junction Arts Festival: Weaving Mosaics!

Screenshot: Press-Release "The 2009 Junction Arts Festival: Weaving Mosaics!"
Credit: junctionartsfest.com

MEDIA INFORMATION – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Please retain for events listings

THE 2009 JUNCTION ARTS FESTIVAL:

WEAVING MOSAICS!

Toronto’s one-of-a-kind arts fest takes over Dundas West, September 9 to 13

Toronto, ON, June 18, 2009 – The Junction Arts Festival, produced by the Junction Forum for Art and Culture, remains true to its name presenting five free days of eclectic culture and a multitude of unique dance, visual, literary and musical arts in many different forms; September 9 – 13, 2009 along Dundas Street West between Keele Street and Quebec Avenue (weekend street closure, September 12 and 13).

Creative producer Michael Menegon states, "The festival and the Junction’s roots are based in artistry, innovation and that ‘certain something’, that can only be found by being there. This year, we will weave a mosaic of extraordinarily creative discoveries throughout the Junction and showcase our incomparable neighbourhood."

The adventure will feature an all Canadian artist line-up, and proud Junction native singer-songwriter Justin Rutledge is collaborating with the festival creative producer as host/programmer of a special evening of musical celebration (exact date and more details TBA).

GET DOWN TO IT:

• The Junction City Square: At Dundas Street West and Pacific Avenue, it is the centre to the five-day celebration, the spot for the weekend beer tent and the place to find the train platform (specially built for the 2008 Junction Centennial); the 2009 Main Stage.
• Visual Arts: A festival foundation, the Juried Art Exhibit and Junction and impromptu galleries along Dundas West go for the full five days. The new Artist Laneway, featuring visual, sculpture and installation artistry, will be there to discover (during weekend street closure only, Sept. 12 & 13).
• Musical Arts: The Junction City Square’s train platform will act as the Main Stage for live music and headlining performances (dates TBA). Musicians will also play in unexpected settings in local shops (Sept. 12 & 13).
• Literary Arts: Back for the second year with an increased presence, the literary component will feature writers and poets in unusual venues and experimental ways; sponsored by Junction publishing company BookThug, www.bookthug.ca (Sept. 12 & 13).
• Performance Arts: There’ll be dancing in the streets – dance, theatre and comedy performers wind there way in and out of Dundas West shops and buildings (Sept. 12 & 13).
• The Green Village: The third annual Green Village is a specific area during the weekend street closure presenting materials, speakers and workshops on environmental initiatives such as building green, painting green and rooftop gardens (Sept. 12 & 13).
• The KidZone: Is a FunZone with kid-friendly arts and crafts, face painting, games, rides and more (weekend only, Sept. 12 & 13).
• Artist Vendor Market: Creative types, artisans and yummy food and drink vendors make for interesting and fun weekend shopping (Sept. 12 & 13).

Note: More details are coming soon and for schedule updates please visit regularly at, www.junctionartsfest.com.

New to the festival website is the Junction Arts Festival Blog, which will be updated almost daily by Michael Menegon or the JFAC board with insights into the creative and planning process.

The 17th annual Junction Arts Festival is generously supported by title sponsor the Junction Business Improvement Area (BIA), and is also possible because of the active involvement from Junction 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 information, please contact:
Michael Menegon, Creative Producer
2009 Junction Arts Festival
Tel: 416-767-5036 / E-mail: junctionartsfest@bellnet.ca
Website: www.junctionartsfest.com

Councillor Bill Saundercook (Ward 13, City of Toronto), JFAC Chair

Public Spaces: Junction Public Square Initiative: Give It a Kick

Junction Square: Multipurpose Area

Junction Public Spaces – Junction Public Square Initiative

Here are some straightforward things that you can do. You may want to put up a Junction Public Space poster somewhere. We can send you one, soon we will have a local place where they can be picked up.

We need advice from you on every aspect of this initiative - feel free to give it. There are a lot of tasks to be accomplished that do not take up a lot of your time. And there are some efforts that will need a little time, you choose. We will not get this done unless a lot of people give it a kick. With that hand holding aside, please use the following resources and help us get going.

Join our low-traffic e-mail discussion list for people who care about public spaces in the Junction. Ask questions there, so everyone can help answer the questions. E-mail us at junctionps@gmail.com for us to add you to the list.

Contact us, and arrange a phone call, or to meet up - we even plan to have discussions where everyone tells everyone else about how the project should be run.

Robert Hilts, Artist
Marek Rozkowski, Architect

Junction Residents’ Association meeting webcasting:
January 15, 2009 @ artjunction.blogspot.com

Junction Public Square Project: Idea Discussion Drawings: For Your Comments

Junction Square: view from Dundas Street West and Pacific Avenue

Junction Public Space - needs and idea discussion drawings produced by High Park Architects based on the initial idea expanded to incorporate ideas from the last Junction Residents Association meeting.

Junction Square: front view from Dundas Street West looking north

Junction Square: Multipurpose Area

Junction Square: Amphitheatre

Junction Public Square: Idea Discussion Drawings: Floor Plan

Please find other drawings and specifications on the High Park Architects' wiki.
For your comments e-mail: junctionps@gmail.com
Thank you.