Media Room
For Immediate Release
Sept. 18, 2009
WonderCafe.ca & The United Church of Canada Launch Paint Your Faith with
Unveiling of One-of-a-Kind Collaborative Art Installation
On Saturday, September 19, 2009 WonderCafe.ca – the interactive website created by The United Church of Canada – will officially launch Paint Your Faith, a unique, nation-wide program to encourage people from all walks of life to express their faith through art. The program launches at downtown Toronto’s MetropolitanUnitedChurch with the unveiling of a stunning, one-of-a-kind urban art installation covering a 30’ x 60’ exterior wall donated by the Church. The mural reflects the collective interpretation of faith of four world renowned aerosol artists– Chor Boogie, Siloette, Elicser and Mediah – created over two weeks of collaboration.
“Paint Your Faith is an extraordinary celebration of art and faith,” says Rev. Dr. Keith Howard, Executive Director of the Wondercafe program at The United Church of Canada. “Since its inception in 2006, WonderCafe.ca has become a gathering place for people to come together to discuss spirituality, faith and big issues that affect our everyday lives. Paint Your Faith is part of our ongoing efforts to find new and exciting ways to engage people, both inside and outside of the church. In the coming weeks and months we’ll be inviting people of all faiths from across Canada to join in this celebration with their own local events and online at WonderCafe.ca.”
A Unique Expression of Faith
The centerpiece of Paint Your Faith is the vibrant, colourful and soulful mural covering an exterior wall of a 103-year-old building on the property of the Metropolitan United Church, which is located in the heart of one of downtown’s Toronto’s most diverse and vibrant neighbourhoods. It’s the product of two weeks of collaborative work by the four artists, each of whom brings their own unique perspective on faith and spirituality to the wall. The blending of styles and imagery conveys the personal nature of faith while at the same time showcasing how different beliefs and attitudes towards spirituality can come together in one vibrant, powerful expression of faith.
The project first started when the MetropolitanUnitedChurch approached Wondercafe with the prospect of doing something creative with the wall. Under the direction of Smith Roberts Creative Communications, the UnitedChurch’s advertising agency, the idea for Paint Your Faith was born. Internationally recognized aerosol artists Chor Boogie and Siloette were invited to join Toronto artists Elicser and Mediah for the unique collaboration to be unveiled Saturday, September 19th at a community party on the Metropolitan United Church’s grounds in downtown Toronto.
An Urban Celebration
For the artists, Paint Your Faith represents a unique opportunity to express their own personal views of spirituality on a large urban canvas where they can explore and blend their own individual styles together. Aerosol art has its roots in the street culture and various other popular movements of the late 20th century and is as diverse and vibrant as the communities where it evolved. In recent years it has achieved mainstream acceptance and has emerged as a dynamic, relevant form of artistic expression.
Each of the participating artists is an internationally recognized innovator in the aerosol art movement, having helped the medium gain credibility and recognition worldwide. Their work has been featured across a variety of media from outdoor art installations, galleries and museums to music videos and mainstream advertising.
Meet the Artists
Chor Boogie of San Francisco, California, combines a knowledge of street culture with a familiarity with colour therapy. Chor's unique talent for meaningful expression has been shown throughout the world, most recently in China where he was commissioned to do a mural for the Olympics. San Francisco-based Siloette is an illustrator, designer and muralist, who brings a feminine perspective to her work that can be found on walls, apparel and advertising worldwide. Elicser, based in Toronto, is one of the city’s most recognized street artists. A major influence on Toronto's downtown landscape, his murals can be seen on installations throughout the city. Mediah, also from Toronto, is an aerosol and new media artist who has been active since 1994 and has had his artwork exhibited across Canada and showcased in Rome, Mexico, San Diego, Naples, Milan, New York, Texas and Germany.
Paint Your Faith
“We’re delighted to have these four distinct artists working together on behalf of WonderCafe.ca and The United Church of Canada” says Dr. Howard. “Their collaboration is the starting point for a national program inviting people from all walks of life and every religious background to paint their faith. WonderCafe.ca will host a special Paint Your Faith site where people can upload their own art, and events will be held in communities and churches right across the country over the next year. The result will be a collective, national canvas as rich and vibrant as the beautiful wall now brightening downtown Toronto and the MetropolitanUnitedChurch.”
About WonderCafe.ca
WonderCafe.ca is an interactive website presented by the people of the United Church of Canada. Launched in November 2006, WonderCafe.ca is a meeting place for people from all walks of life to discuss issues related to faith and spirituality. Dedicated to exploring life’s big questions, more than 60,000 people visit WonderCafe.ca every month.
For more information, please contact:
Laurie Hall Michelle Calvert
Flex PR Flex PR
416 696-5554 647-504-0231
If you would like to speak to the representatives for Paint Your Faith from The United Church of Canada, please contact:
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Aaron Gallegos |
Shirley Welch |
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Paint Your Faith is a bold initiative by The United Church of Canada encouraging and inspiring people of all ages and backgrounds to explore and express faith in ways that go beyond words.
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