Small Arms Inspection Building

1352 Lakeshore Road East, Mississauga, Ontario

Join us for a FREE poetry and calligraphy workshop led by poet Laboni Islam and artist Soheila K. Esfahani.

This two-day workshop is focused on supporting inter-generational dialogue through creative writing and art-making. The workshop is uniquely designed to encourage participants of different generations to work together to create something new through text and image. Participants will use storytelling and self-expression to consider themes of emigration, immigration, migration, culture and memory.

In this workshop you will have the chance to:

• Read and write poetry through participatory and directed writing exercises
• Use traditional reed pens and ink to explore the possibilities of Islamic calligraphy (prior knowledge of the language or calligraphy is not necessary)
• Create independently and collaboratively with other participants You'll leave your own with poetry and calligraphy art!

For the workshop, please bring with you an image or object that you associate with your culture - we encourage you to interpret culture openly and in ways that are important to you!

Please note:

• This is a multi-generational workshop, designed for adults and children, age 11+
• All children must co-register with an adult caregiver
• This is a two-day workshop, attending both sessions is highly recommended
• This workshop is FREE but space is limited, so please register through the Museums of Mississauga by phone 905-615-4860 or email at museums@mississauga.ca.

Artist Bios:

Laboni Islam was born in Canada to Bangladeshi parents. She fondly remembers living, working, and going to the library in Mississauga. Her poem "Lunar Landing, 1966" was shortlisted for the CBC Poetry Prize (2017). Her poetry has been anthologized in The Unpublished City (Book*hug, 2017), which was shortlisted for the Toronto Book Awards (2018). Currently, she leads tours and art-making sessions at the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Aga Khan Museum for young audiences, Kindergarten through Grade 12.

Soheila K. Esfahani grew up in Tehran, Iran, and moved to Canada in 1992. She is an award-winning visual artist and recipient of numerous grants. Her work has been exhibited across Canada from Vancouver to Halifax and collected by various public and private institutions, including the Canada Council's Art Bank. She is a lecturer at the University of Waterloo and a member of the Red Head Gallery.