Photo by Xeynamay
“What goes through the mind of an artist as they commit themselves to making masterpieces on the sidewalk for pocket change?” – Ayrah Taerb
“Indica; Omega, Documents My experience in this city at the intersections between poverty and genius: complexity and culture; the speed of capitalism versus the stillness of humanity.” – Ayrah Taerb
On October 7, 2021 Ayrah Taerb filled the space under the Gardiner Expressway at Strachan with a performance of Indica; Omega, that kicked off our Public Art Project Series.
Stay tuned for more about Indica; Omega in Spring 2022.
As part of ArtworxTO: Toronto’s Year of Public Art!
Indica; Omega is a dissertation on the subject of Black expression through which Artist Ayrah Taerb delivers a performance installation that manifests as a platform for the identically titled album, featuring original music that explores a density of intersecting concepts. Black Creativity, Black Marginalization, Black Harm Reduction, and Black Mental Health all find their way to the forefront of his subject matter throughout the mid-length LP that both shocks and intrigues listeners who seek to genuinely interact with Blackness as it presents itself in pop culture.
This installation evokes a multi-sensory experience of precarity, transience, & solitude. Vulnerable lyricism explores personal relationships with creativity, self-care, romance & drug use/abuse, featuring a sound bed that samples Claude Debussy’s Reverie.
“This installation takes a look at the beautiful and painful consequences of the creative commitments Ay have made.” – Ayrah Taerb
Filming in Metropolitan United Church, featuring Ayrah Taerb and Matt Somber.
Photography by Matt Somber and Jahmal Nugent
Photos by Jahmal Nugent
Ayrah Taerb
Project Lead - Indica;Omega
Project Lead - Indica;Omega
botaddress@@
Photo credit: wowk photography
Ayrah Taerb is a songwriter, recording artist & performer. His creative influences span the length of multiple generations in both Rap and Hip Hop, with auxiliary influences coming from Reggae, Soul & Electronic music. As the Creative Lead behind “Indica; Omega”, his album crafting process has informed the genius of many artists in the arena of Film, Live Music, and Sound Engineering.
Xeynamay
Video, Podcast Series, Documentary, Graphic Design
Video, Podcast Series, Documentary, Graphic Design
botaddress@@
Xeynamay Gezahegn is a content creator with multidisciplinary training in Film, Music, Writing and Performance. Gezahegn is a poet of many mediums hoping to tell the stories of the people she encounters. At 13, Gezahegn moved from Ethiopia to Canada. While she was fluent in English, some experiences couldn’t be fully translated. It was then she began exploring the act of communicating via art. Her content creation focuses on the documentary style. She wishes to continue exploring how to capture true stories in traditionally “fiction” styles like animation, audio storytelling and more.
The CHMST
Producer - Indica;Omega
Producer - Indica;Omega
botaddress@@
The CHMST is a beat maker/producer, engineer, bandleader, and curator of sound. His acute interest in the scalable art of sonic profiling has both necessitated and encouraged his genius approach to sampling, drum programming, and low end sound design. His involvement in the creation of “Indica; Omega” has been an exciting case study used partially to inform his forthcoming album titled Differently.
Jermaine Henry
Moderator - Indica;Omega
Moderator - Indica;Omega
botaddress@@
Jermaine Henry is a published author, inspirational speaker, emcee, master facilitator and social entrepreneur who has worked in the philanthropic, mental health, youth-serving, arts, culture and social innovation sectors for over 10 years.
His work has been published in the North American Journal of Psychology and he has been featured in the Toronto Metro Newspaper for his work with Brave Spaces.
He has worked with many organizations and foundations across Canada, such as School For Social Entrepreneurs, Toronto Arts Council, CMHA,The New Mentality, Inspirit Foundation, Laidlaw, Ontario Trillium Foundation – Youth Opportunities Fund, Youth Social Infrastructure Collaborative, Centre for Social Innovation, YouthREX, Algoma University, York University and more.
Jermaine’s passion is in inspiring people to express their stories through his journey of struggle and success, while promoting freedom, love and equity. He’s a co-founder of the Young Leaders Circle, Consultant with The Outside. and Creator of IBLV DREAMERS.
Matt Somber
Performer - Indica;Omega
Performer - Indica;Omega
botaddress@@
Matt Somber is a lyricist, emerging photographer and performer. He recently released his debut single Sky fall in anticipation of his upcoming album. He hopes to continue exploring performance and direction while cementing his status as a Toronto legend!
Shenn Goddess
Creative Consultant - Indica; Omega
Creative Consultant - Indica; Omega
botaddress@@
Shenn Goddess is a multidisciplinary artist, with a background in singing, songwriting, theatre and dance. She has been writing music since her childhood and has performed original music throughout the City of Toronto at venues such as Night Owl. In 2016, she studied theatre under d’bi young at the Watah theatre where she wrote and performed her first monodrama. In 2018, she studied at Steps Dance Studio under the supervision of salsa-trained instructor Jena Alma, through the Pretty Wings intensive.
While she continues to create music and deepen her craft, she is currently studying with Body Intelligence to become a craniosacral therapist and Yoga Blue Fitness in order to evolve her embodiment practice to create art from a more integrative perspective.