Off the Page

This session highlights the work of Ryerson Artists-in-Residence, Taien Ng-Chan and Sarah Amato, and engages community members in a workshop to discuss the artfulness and social meaning of everyday objects. It involves a presentation of the artists’ work as well as a workshop to elaborate on the meaning of objects.

Ms. Ng-Chan’s participatory multimedia project, the Trajectories of Things, looks at the memory value and poetic worth of objects we carry with us from place to place. These objects often carry cultural and social significance even if they have no economic worth. Examples of things might be a grandmother’s lantern, a mother’s rice cooker, or an Elvis plate. The story of each contributed object became the basis of a “thing-poem,” a collection of which will be launched at this event.

Ms. Amato’s participatory project Is this Yours? documents objects that are lost and found, and the stories associated with these objects. The project asks us to imagine all the mittens, tools, keys, homes, friends, and other items we’ve left behind, forgotten and found along the way. What do these things tell us about the lives we have lived? 

Artist in residency is supported by the John C. Eaton Chair in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Jack Layton Chair. 

If you require any accessibility accommodations to ensure your inclusion in this event, please contact laytonchair@torontomu.ca