By Rebecca Gruszka, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Culture Days are upon us in Burlington and that means all around the city until October 15, special events are happening online and in-person that celebrate the cultural diversity of Burlington. One such event that is both online and in-person is called A Place I Call Home Halton (APICHH), the brainchild of artist Faisal Anwar.
APICHH is an interactive event that runs the length of Culture Days. The Oakville-based Anwar is behind this innovative and thought-provoking community-driven art project, inviting Halton residents to “engage, reflect, and contribute to a collective exploration of the concept of home” particularly given the migrations, societal changes, and instability that characterize our world today.
Anwar is asking community members to share images that represent their ideas and understanding of home, what reminds them of home — through their own personal interpretation.
APICHH encourages these images to be shared on social media by tagging A Place I Call Home Halton (@aplaceicallhomeproject) on their Instagram account and by using the hashtag #aplaceicallhomehalton. Images can also be sent through direct message to APICHH on Instagram.
According to A Place I Call Home Halton, the goal is to foster a sense of unity and collaboration within the community. They are offering a platform for all of Halton to express and contribute to the larger conversation around home and belonging. APICHH will create a collective memory that represents all aspects of what “home” means to people, provide an opportunity for participation, and display the diversity that represents the wider community. The result is the enhancement of our cultural fabric while promoting meaningful discussion around issues that impact the community.
The photos shared through APICHH by the community reveal a diverse understanding of home. These photos connect everyone and provide a space to not only share what makes us different but also what brings us together and what we have in common. Pictures like: a dog looking out the window on a snowy day; families spending time together walking, playing, baking, and resting; a rainbow crosswalk and picnic table; dough twisted into pretzels; a plate of spaghetti and meatballs; a plate of chocolate chip cookies. All engage the senses and capture home.
Anwar describes himself as a hybrid media artist who splits his time working on his various projects and as a “creative technologist” working between Canada and Pakistan. He is the founder of CultureLab.art, where they create projects, including A Place I Call Home, that focus on climate change, wellness, sustainability, emerging economies, and social change. He is also a co-founder of ArtAddress, which offers a space for mentoring and fostering creative ideas and dialogue. Anwar was also the chief curator Karachi Biennale 2022, which included artists and exhibitions from across the world. And as Anwar says in an A Place I Call Home post, “Home is where we belong, dream, and celebrate life.” The perfect subject for an artist who loves exploring the intersections of the human experience.
Culture Days is a national, non-profit organization that celebrates arts and culture, with calls each year for artists, collectives, or others to host free, participatory arts and culture events. They aim to “foster appreciation and support of the artistic and cultural life that is lived, created and expressed across the country …promote direct interaction between creators and the public…and affirm that every citizen is the guardian of the cultural life of his, her or their community.” Participating community members have described Culture Days as multicultural, community-focused, welcoming, accessible, inclusive, and inspiring.
As September 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, falls within Culture Days programming, the events on that day exclusively highlighted Truth and Reconciliation this year. In partnership with Indigenous communities, these Culture Days events helped people participate in the calls to action. These events show how art can work to foster deeper understanding between all people and contribute to the work towards healing for our Indigenous communities.
The City of Burlington proudly notes that Burlington’s 2021 Culture Days celebration was ranked seventh overall nationwide among similarly-sized cities, demonstrating how important arts and culture are to the Burlington community. Oakville topped the list in 2022.
These trends show that Burlington — and Halton — cares deeply for the arts and culture present in our city. Head over to the arts and culture events at Burlington.ca to see a schedule of the remaining Culture Days and more ways to participate. You can still submit images that represent your idea of “home” until Oct. 15 to APICHH (on Instagram at @aplaceicallhomeproject or by using the hashtag #aplaceicallhomehalton). Let’s work together to show off Burlington’s diversity and commitment to arts and culture.
Sources:
Culture Days. n.d. A Place I Call Home Halton (APICHH): Interactive Artwork and Social Media Activity (Burlington). Url: https://culturedays.ca/en/events/5fa21697-5220-4a5f-af37-576452c699ca(accessed Oct. 6, 2023).
City of Burlington. n.d. Culture Days. Url: https://www.burlington.ca/en/news/festivals-and-events/culture-days.aspx (accessed Oct. 6, 2023).
Culture Days. n.d. Burlington Culture Days. Url: https://culturedays.ca/en/events/5fa21697-5220-4a5f-af37-576452c699ca (accessed Oct. 6, 2023).
Culture Days. n.d. Culture Days 2022 Highlights. Url: https://culturedays.ca/en/2022-highlights (accessed Oct. 6, 2023).
Culture Days. n.d. Impressions of Culture Days. Url: https://culturedays.ca/en/research/impressions (accessed Oct. 6, 2023).
Anwar, F. N.d. A place I call home Halton: Artist Bio. Url: http://faisalanwar.ca/portfolio/item/a-place-i-call-home-halton/ (accessed Oct 10, 2023).
Anwar, F. n.d. What does home mean to you? LinkedIn post. Url: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/faisal-anwar-5b91473_aplaceicallhomehalton-aplaceicallhomehalton-activity-7098291038787706880-9bMu/?trk=public_profile_like_view (accessed Oct. 10, 2023).
Rebecca grew up in Oakville but has been living in Burlington for over a decade. Rebecca has a background in Child and Youth Care, creative writing, editing, and publishing. She is a part of the chapbook publishing press @whisperingwick.
