Sirius Theatrical Company’s New Logo

For several years, I’ve been thinking about having a new company logo designed for Sirius Theatrical.  Then last fall, when our idea for the MY LAKESHORE - MY HOME festival was accepted as a Signature Partnership Project by the City of Toronto Cultural Hotspot program, I felt it was the right time to turn that idea into a reality.

Because we’re a small company and budgets are always tight, one of our Advisory Committee members suggested that I contact the ADCentre at the Humber College Lakeshore Campus and ask about finding a student designer.  Humber College, in turn, asked if I would like to offer the design as a project for first year students in the Advertising and Graphic Design program of the School of Media Studies & information Technology.  In the past, Humber College students have worked on several company projects and I’ve always enjoyed being able to offer them real world experience.  Their commitment to our projects, as well as the quality of their work has always been high, so I happily said ‘yes’ this time.  Our new logo design was offered as a competition and Sirius provided first, second and third place winners with honoraria.

In early January, I presented a creative brief to two classes.  What a wonderful learning experience that was for me!  I wanted the students to have a strong understanding of Sirius Theatrical, the company, but also get to know me, the Artistic Director, since I founded the company and it is my vision, with the guidance and help of our Advisory Committee and Marketing Committee members, that drives our work and our commitment within the community. I felt that it was important that they understand, not only what we do, but our values and our mission.  In preparing my notes, I had to look back on the last 25 years, at where we are now, and where I hope we’ll be in the future.  That was very enlightening for me.

Following my presentations to the class, the students worked extensively with Sarah Nasby, their professor.  On March 10 six pairs of students presented their designs to Committee members, Susan Nagy and Linda Wild, and me.  To say that we were thrilled with the designs would be an understatement.  All six of them were unique and creative and truly tried to capture the ‘essence’ of who we are and what we do. 

The winning design was created by Claire Gabe and Claire Mills, the second place design by Sam McLeod and Mike Bobby, and the third place design by Matt Miller and Lucas Smith.  Congratulations to everyone!

I’d like that thank Sarah Nasby, Professor, School of Media Studies and Information Technology, for all her work with, and support of, the students.  They are fortunate to have her insight and expertise.  Thanks as well to Alison Durtnall, Professor, CABA and Manager, AdCentre at Humber College who shepherded me through this experience with enthusiasm and patience.  The feedback and insight from Committee Members Susan Nagy and Linda Wild, both during and after the designs were presented, was invaluable and very much appreciated.

And finally, many thanks to Claire Gabe and Claire Mills for their exciting, imaginative and thought-filled design.

Heather.

First Writing Workshops for MY LAKESHORE - MY HOME Were Incredibly Exciting!

Bringing people together and helping them share their art is something that I’m passionate about.  This week, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to do that as I led two writing workshops for MY LAKESHORE - MY HOME.  

Everyone was coming together to develop personal material for the festival because it will be a celebration of THEIR experiences and THEIR stories so, I didn’t want the participants to feel isolated or to simply sit and write.  I felt that it was important, not only to spark their creativity, but to create a sense of community and communal experiences in the room.  So, rather than start off with a seated writing activity, I chose to bring everyone together with a theatre warm-up game that had us moving and laughing and sometimes even trying to remember our own names.  From there, I asked everyone to chose, from a series of photos taken in the Lakeshore area (storefronts, parks, playgrounds, the war memorial, the lake, the sky, a painted mural, and more), one that resonated with them.  After a moment of thought, each writer turned to another and shared why they had chosen that particular photo - their personal connection to something in the photo.  Then, they swapped photos, moved through a simple chain dance to someone else and used this new photo as a jumping off point into a new story.  As they did this a few times, it was exciting to hear the animated conversations and to see people coming together, laughing and connecting over something in each photo.    From here, we moved on to using the photos as ‘personal muses’ and the spark into our personal stories, real or imagined.  This universality of shared experience is a huge part of what I hope this festival will be, and I can’t wait to hear the stories that emerge over the next two weeks.  Our second workshop in the series is scheduled for  March 29^th, again at the New Toronto Library.  Contact us through our website if you’d like to join.

New Logo for MY LAKESHORE - MY HOME Finally Chosen

At long last, we've chosen the colours of our new logo for MY LAKESHORE - MY HOME!  It was a difficult decision and not just because we had nine different colour combinations to look choose from.  We wanted to suggest the vibrancy and energy of our multi-cultural community as well as the beautiful natural environment of Lake Ontario and the Waterfront Trail on our doorstep.   I feel confident that we've managed to do bring these ideas together in a logo that is eye-catching, exciting and memorable.

Thanks to everyone who came to our Open House last weekend at the New Toronto Library and filled out a ballot, especially those who shared 'why' they chose a particular colour combination. Thank you Lakeshore Arts, one of our community partners, for working with us on the design.

New Logo Design for MY LAKESHORE - MY HOME 

We Need Community Feedback

Excitement, joy, energy and inclusiveness are at the heart of the design of our new logo for MY LAKESHORE - MY HOME!   

When I saw the design for the first time yesterday it brought a huge smile to my face and laughter bubbling up because it’s so animated and joy-filled.  It captures, so simply, the essence of what we hope this festival will be and the potential it has to light up the Lakeshore next October.   Thank you to Karla-Wray and Lakeshore Arts for all your enthusiasm and creativity.

Now that we have a logo in black and white, we’re reaching out to you for help in choosing the coloured version.  When we unveil the design this Sunday, March 8 at our Open House at the New Toronto Library, we’ll have the black and white version as well as four coloured options on display.  Stop by between 2:00 and 4:00 pm, find out more about MY LAKESHORE - MY HOME, learn about the elements of the design, and then vote on your favourite colour combinations. 

We’ll also be sharing pictures of some of the performance locations that are under consideration.  Perhaps you can suggest some others along Lakeshore Blvd. West.  If you’ve got a favourite spot that you think might be suitable, come out and tell us about it.  And, bring along a picture. 

If you’ve always wanted to learn about writing short stories or trying your hand at writing a short scene, then sign up for our FREE writing workshop series that will begin March 15 at the New Toronto Library.  We’re looking for your experience about living in the Lakeshore.  Or, simply sign up to learn more about MY LAKESHORE - MY HOME and volunteer to help us out.

OPEN HOUSE:  Sunday, March 8 at the New Toronto Library from 2 - 4 pm.  (110 Eleventh St.)

MY  LAKESHORE  -  MY  HOME  -  FREE  WRITING  WORKSHOPS

Do you enjoy writing?  Interested in writing short scripts?  Monologues?  Other performance material?

We are offering 5 FREE writing workshops to help you animate YOUR experiences and stories of life in Etobicoke.  They are open to all residents of Etobicoke and are FREE and inclusive.  This will be a great opportunity to nurture your writing and help us develop performance material for the festival.

MY  LAKESHORE  -  MY  HOME  -  OPEN HOUSE

Join us on Sunday, March 8 from 2 - 4 p.m. at the New Toronto Library.

Learn More about how you can become involved in this inaugural performance festival.

MY  LAKESHORE  -  MY  HOME

An Inaugural Participatory Performance Fesitval for South Etobicoke  -  Oct. 1 - 4, 2015

by Heather Dick, Artistic Director

For several years, I've dreamed of developing a performance festival that would share the wonderful artistic and multi-cultural talents of our Etobicoke residents with the rest of Toronto and beyond.  I'm thrilled that this is finally going to happen in partnership with the City of Toronto Cultural Hotspot program.

MY LAKESHORE - MY HOME, a participatory performance festival, will run from October 1 - 4, 2015 and will celebrate the cultures, languages and creativity of the people who call Etobiocke their 'home'.  The festival will be created by, and feature, local residents of all ages and backgrounds.  As audiences, led by 'in character' guides, follow the action along Lakeshore Blvd. West from the Village of Mimico to New Toronto, they will be surprised and entertained by 12 to 15 performance pieces that will "pop up" in the most unexpected places.  A dance might happen on a lawn or a clandestine meeting in a doorway.  Lovers might meet in a parked car or strangers by the water.  Through music and song, spoken word, rap, dance, video and more, local residents will share 'their' stories about life in the Lakeshore and Etobicoke.  This is a Signature Partnership Project of the City of Toronto's Cultural Hotspot, which celebrates arts, culture and community in Etobicoke in 2015.

Between now and October 4, join one of our workshops, volunteer to create the festival behind the scenes, audition for an acting role, or follow the story as an audience member. Find out more at our Open House between 2:00 - 4:00 pm on Sunday, March 8 at the New Toronto Library.

ALL EVENTS ARE FREE AND INCLUSIVE!