A DAY IN THE LIFE
By Funmilola Lawson with Maandeeq Mohamed in collaboration with Jane Finch Action Against Poverty, co-presented with the Art Gallery of York University

This spoken word audio visual piece reflects the stories and voices of the community that Jane Finch Action Against Poverty (JFAAP) represents.  Written and performed by Funmilola Lawson, the audio visual work highlights the struggles, journeys and triumphs that residents of Jane and Finch have endured throughout the years while reflecting on the work JFAAP has done for this community.

This project was developed through Mayworks’ Labour Arts Catalyst. An accompanying personal essay, by Maandeeq Mohamed, provides history and context for Lawson’s piece. Read the essay here.

A Day in the Life Exhibition
May 2nd to July 10th
Art Gallery of York University

Funmilola Lawson Performance
Friday May 6th, 7PM at the Living Voice
United Steelworkers Hall

David Yu and Maandeeq Mohamed: In Conversation
Friday May 27th, 6PM
Zoom
Register HERE

FUNMILOLA LAWSON

With the rise of artists blowing up from Toronto, Funmilola (LolaBunz) Lawson is definitely next up. Lola is a hip hop artist first but holds several titles as a songwriter, spoken word artist and entrepreneur. She is known for her authenticity in her music and sound locally and internationally. Lola’s passion for uplifting her community fuels her creations; from workshops, to poetry, music and beyond. Lola uses her music and words to inspire other youth while bringing attention to issues that impact her community. Lola is recognized as a leader in her community and has been booked to perform, organize youth-led initiatives and speak at conferences in Toronto, across Ontario and internationally. Over the years, Lola has been published and won poetry slams showcasing her writing abilities. She has also landed major hip hop performances on BET freestyle Friday, South By Southwest (Texas), A3C Hip Hop Festival (Atlanta), and opening for Rapper Wale at Art Basel Miami to name a few. Never static, Lola catches her fans off-guard with versatility in her music and words. Lola holds a B.A in Social Science from York University and is pursuing her Masters in Education.

MAANDEEQ MOHAMED

Maandeeq Mohamed is a writer engaging Black Studies and related cultural production. Her writing is featured in Real Life, C Magazine, and Canadian Art. Currently, Maandeeq is the Reviews Editor at C Magazine, as well as a PhD student in English and Gender Studies at the University of Toronto, where she is a SSHRC Joseph-Armand Bombardier Doctoral Fellow.

JANE FINCH ACTION AGAINST POVERTY

Jane Finch Action Against Poverty is a grassroots group in the Jane Finch community. It consists of community resident’s and members from different organizations in the area. The group was formed in October of 2008 following a rally at the intersection of Jane Finch to commemorate the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

ART GALLERY OF YORK UNIVERSITY

Art Gallery of York University (AGYU) is a socially minded public non-profit contemporary art gallery that is a space for the creation and appreciation of art and culture. It is an affiliated and supported unit of York University, with key funders including the Canada Council for the Arts, the Province of Ontario through the Ontario Arts Council, the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council, foundations, embassies, other cultural institutions, and through our membership. Throughout its 32-year history, AGYU has always operated at the forefront of contemporary artistic, curatorial, and art institutional practices. It has honed and expanded its mandate to establish a unique history and place as an art institution by using the following guidelines when defining its program of exhibitions, lectures, performances, publications, screenings, education and outreach activities, and residencies.