COSMOPOLIS TORONTO: Photographing the world, one Torontonian at a time
Location: Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas St E, Toronto M5A 2B7 | Phone: (416) 238 2453 x105
Opening Reception: May 15, 2015 | 5:30pm–9:30pm (Welcome all)
Dates: May 8 – June 28, 2015 ( Mon–Fri, 8am–9pm | Sat–Sun, 10am–6pm)
About: Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival 2015 exhibition featuring a selection of portraits by Colin Boyd Shafer from the Cosmopolis Toronto collection, curated by Vanessa Tamburro.
We all carry a part of our past with us. For the Torontonians in Colin Boyd Shafer’s portraits, these objects are intimate and tangible reminders of who they are and how far they’ve come. This exhibition reveals that while a family photo or a traditional food may connect a person to their individual past – together these items form the vibrant and complex fabric of our collective present, our home, and our city. What connects you to your past? #sacredpast #CosmopolisTO
Location: Moonbean Coffee, 30 St Andrew St Toronto ON M5T2K2
Dates: October 16 to November 10, 2014 (Open 7 days a week, 7 am to 9 pm)
About: Display featuring a selection of portraits by Colin Boyd Shafer from the Cosmopolis Toronto exhibition, curated by Vanessa Tamburro.
Location: Koerner Hall, Royal Conservatory of Music
Date: October 2, 2014
About: This year’s TEDxToronto programming centred around the theme Relentless Pursuits. For more info, visit tedxtoronto.com.
Location: Community Room, Brentwood Library, 36 Brentwood Road North, Toronto (ON). Limited Space. First Come, First Seated.
Date: September 27, 2014 – 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
About: In collaboration with Culture Days and the Neighbourhood Arts Network, Toronto Public Library hosts over 40 Toronto-based artists and arts organizations in a celebration of arts and culture at library branches throughout the city of Toronto. In “Cosmopolis Toronto Talks”, photographer Colin Boyd Shafer discussed the project’s conception and the process of photographing the world, one Torontonian at a time. Individual participants whose portraits make up the project shared their stories at the event.
Location: THEMUSEUM, 10 King Street West, Kitchener (ON)
Dates: July 1 to September 1, 2014
About: THEMUSEUM presents Cosmopolis Toronto, an exhibit by award-winning documentary photographer and Kitchener native Colin Boyd Shafer. This unique photography project, curated by Vanessa Tamburro, captures and celebrates cultural diversity by featuring the portraits of people from all over the world who now call Toronto home. Each participant is photographed at a location within the GTA where they feel ‘at home’ – a second portrait features them holding an object that connects them to their past.
Colin Boyd Shafer was the feature guest speaker at the Classical Pursuits Conference at the University of Toronto on July 18, 2014 – he spoke about individualizing and visualizing Toronto’s diversity in Cosmopolis Toronto.
Colin Boyd Shafer is the winner of the 2014 Toronto Urban Photography Festival’s Global Building Giants Award for his work in Cosmopolis Toronto.
An exhibit of his and other TUPF featured-works were on display at 918 Bathurst Centre for Culture, Arts, Media & Education from June 27, 2014 to July 12, 2014.
Colin Boyd Shafer presented at FoodShare Toronto‘s Annual General Meeting on June 21, 2014 and sat on a panel of amazing people involved in making Toronto better, specifically in regards to fresh, local and affordable food. Colin shared food stories from Cosmopolis Toronto.
Location: 452 Richmond Street West, Toronto (ON)
Dates: June 12 – 25, 2014, Tuesday-Sunday, 12-6 PM, closed Mondays
About: Moniker Gallery, in partnership with 1LoveTO, presents Torontonian - a new exhibition that explores Toronto as ‘home’ and features a selection of portraits by photographer Colin Boyd Shafer, curated by Vanessa Tamburro. The exhibition launch event took place on Thursday, June 12, 2014 from 8-11 PM (remarks at 8:30 PM) with over 300 guests in attendance.
Sponsors: 1LoveTO, Muslim Association of Canada (Silver Level Sponsor), New Horizons Media, MCIS Language Services
Location: R2 Cafe
Dates: April 1 – 30, 2014
About: Display featured a selection of portraits from the Cosmopolis Toronto exhibition at the Toronto Centre for the Arts.
Thank you to our exhibition sponsors: TCA (Venue), Balmoral Multicultural Marketing (Marketing), Marcellini (Design), Bellissimo Law Group (Bronze-Level Sponsor), MCIS (Bronze-Level Sponsor), Captured Moments (Film Production).
If your museum, community centre, school, gallery, or organization is interested in featuring a Cosmopolis Toronto exhibition, please contact Vanessa Tamburo, Project Manager and Curator, for more information.
I personally think this exhibit is not only fascinating and beautiful, but important/essential for all Torontonians. – Shan Fernando | Toronto City Gossip
It is the ultimate expression of our diversity and everyone should go to his show or his website. – Just Toronto
The subjects in Colin’s work exude a look of detachment and stoicism, much like the portrait imagery of the Italian neorealists. Mario Giacomelli and Vittorio De Sica come to mind. – Shaun Pilot | Entertainment Producer and Promoter
It’s amazing to see a project, born from the artist’s passion and talent, bloom to become successful. – Elodie Li | Communications Specialist at Glendon College, York University
I found it truly astonishing to find people from so many different parts of the world gathered in one place. You know, when one sees them on your website or on your Facebook posts, one doesn’t quite realize the true significance of what you’ve been trying to achieve, and then quite suddenly (and starkly) it all comes together when you assemble your subjects under one roof (so to speak). Congratulations to you and your team for putting together a show that will remain etched in our collective memories for a long time. – Mayank Bhatt | Author and Participant in the Project
Loved the installation and the works. I had a lovely time with some other participants watching the images floating on the screen…It was great and I think I’ve made new friends. – Nava Waxman | Visual Artist and Participant in the Project
Both Calina and I really enjoyed your photographs, not to mention all the amazing participants we chatted with throughout the evening. You have created something really special with Cosmopolis—not just photos, but a real dialogue between Torontonians. - Maddy Macnab | Historica Canada