Consecration with Chiedza Pasipanodya

Tender Possibilities enters this year's Summer Sessions at Evergreen Brick Works with a consideration of how a place becomes imbued with the energy of the sacred, the act of consecration. In recognizing that this process can only happen through a shared venerance, these poems expound on the power of that collective belief. Reverent acknowledgement becomes a means to counter the profanity of the myriad violences which govern our day to day. The ritual is a manifestation of the desire to hold onto the ephemeral, and through exploring its contours they hope to more easily access that which only remains on the planes of dream and memory. Together, participants can begin to render the ways that transfiguration occurs and how we can situate ourselves to be better attuned to its dimensions.

This session will be facilitated by featured poet, Chiedza Pasipanodya and Tender Possibilities’ founder, Farhia Tato, alongside an installation by featured visual artist Sienna Shields. Reflecting on the work created for this opening session, Shields writes: “Beading, across many cultures and generations, has been and will continue to be a process of reflection, prayer, and listening.” Conceived as a grotto of contemplation and beauty, the sculptural installation extends the session’s inquiry into consecration through acts of repetition, memory, and collective relation.

Chiedza Pasipanodya is a Zimbabwean-Canadian sculptor, writer and curator. Pasipanodya is the author of grace: Notes on Survival (Sorplusi Press, 2014) and recently released The Sweet Spot (Hush Harbour Press, 2025), their sophomore collection of poetry and photographs. They have been published in Quill and Quire, Canadian Art, Macleans, Akimbo, Westend Phoenix and The Art Momentum, and contributed to Tim Whiten: Elemental (2025), Water, Kinship, Belief: Toronto Biennial of Art 2019–2022 (2022), and Impact: Women and Concussion (2021).

Alaskan artist Sienna Shields (b. 1976) is an interdisciplinary artist and filmmaker whose expansive career spans over two decades, with explorations in large-scale paintings, collages, bead sculptures, and film. Her work delves into themes of cultural memory, community and wanderlust.

This series is made possible with support from: Toronto Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, and Scarborough Arts. With special thanks to our community partners: East Scarborough Storefront, East End Arts and Riverdale Hub.

Transit reimbursement:

As part of the summer sessions, we’re offering fare reimbursement for public transit riders (PRESTO 2-Ride Tickets in person, and up to $10 in reimbursement for GO Transit or other regional transit fares prior to the sessions). If you’d like to opt in, please email [email protected] with the best email address or phone number for e-transfer and the amount of reimbursement requested.
TTC service is available via the 28 Bayview South bus from Davisville subway station. The free Evergreen Shuttle Bus also runs seven days a week, year-round, between Broadview Station and Evergreen Brick Works. It departs every 30–45 minutes from the Broadview Subway Station Parkette, located on Erindale Avenue next to Broadview Station.

Childcare support:

During each session we can have up to two people who can provide on-site childcare services to support parents and caregivers if requested. Depending on the day, this may include an arts and crafts activity inside or around the Children’s Garden which is the meet up point for the session and/or a walking tour of Evergreen Brick Works which will end at the location of the session. If you have any questions or need this type of support, e-mail [email protected]!

Call for childcare support hosts:

We're excited about our upcoming summer series held at Evergreen Brick Works from June 7 - July 26. We believe care work is a shared responsibility and we’re shaping the Summer Series with that in mind. This year, we’re inviting folks to support us in roles like childcare. It is a meaningful way to help make the space more welcoming while strengthening community bonds. Sign up here to support!

Info: Meet up point is Children’s Garden (https://maps.app.goo.gl/cJFKnCiV7t21ET5X6)

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