Connections

Designer/Band leader: Leigh Crichlow

Theme: A Cultural Expose

What is the meaning and significance behind the theme for this year’s costume?

This year, we have the Junkanoo Legends with us. To incorporate them, we decided to do a cultural expose.

Why is this theme important for this year’s carnival?

What we’re trying to do is include more people. People seem to think it’s strictly a Caribbean thing. We’ve had other cultures come and say, “I didn’t know I could take part!” People don’t realize although it’s a Caribbean festival, it is supposed to be all-inclusive.

As a designer, what inspires you when you design a costume?

I’m very creative and detail-oriented and it usually takes a couple drawings, but I like to make something simple yet detailed. I like to look for something bright and festive-looking that’s comfortable.

Fantazia

Designers: Will and Annalisa Morton

Theme: Come Dance with Me

We’re trying to do different dances from different parts of the world.

Why is this theme important for this year’s carnival?

I like to do positive things. A lot of people, when they do their mas, they like to go to the dark side. I like to be more fun, that’s why I picked this theme.

As a designer, what inspires you when you design a costume?

Annalisa Morton Fantazia band designer

First, I pick the name of the section then I start playing with the colours, trying to see what would go well with that name for the section.

Louis Saldenah Mas – K Club

Designer/Bandleader: Louis Saldenah

Theme: Secrets of the Outer Limits

What is the meaning and significance behind the theme for this year’s costume?

I wanted to do something different because nobody really has attempted this type of mas before.

Why is this theme important for this year’s carnival?

I never thought about the theme and the importance of any given year. The theme just came to my head. Once it comes to my head, I just run with it.

As a designer, what inspires you when you design a costume?

Once I decide the theme, I give the section leaders the opportunity to come up with their colours. After we come up with all the colours, we start to discuss where we want to take the design. It’s a team effort. I want to give the young people the opportunity to put their input into the design of the costume.

Callaloo

Designer/ Bandleader: Marlon Singh

Theme: Native Americas

What is the meaning and significance behind the theme for this year’s costume?

We like to educate people and bring back the feeling of how mas used to be. That is why we’re doing Native Americans, not only from North America but Central America as well.

Why is this theme important for this year’s carnival?

It’s how the bandleader feels. Whatever feels good to you, you just do it.

As a designer, what inspires you when you design a costume?

I look at the colours people used to wear, how they lived, where they lived. When you really study a theme and get into it, you see what colours you need to put in there. It means something.

Carnival Nationz leaders Marcus Eustace and Bryce Aguiton

By Stephanie Pollard

Carnival Nationz

Designer/ Bandleader: Marcus Eustace and Bryce Aguiton

Theme: Mythical Creatures

What is the meaning and significance behind the theme for this year’s costume?

We decided to challenge ourselves with a theme that is epic in proportions and captivates everyone’s imagination. Which lady has never dreamt of being a magical mermaid? Which man has never thought what it would be like to ride Pegasus? These are fantasies based off of creatures and myths that have transcended time.

Why is this theme important for this year’s carnival?

We noticed a distinct pattern in popular culture over the past few years with the resurgence of fantasy, sci-fi genre movies and shows. We thought it would be a perfect compliment to what we do at North America’s largest festival: create fantasy.

As a designer, what inspires you when you design a costume?

Simply put, the thought of thousands of lovely ladies reveling for hours in your unique creations feeling like they just won $1-million is all the inspiration needed!

Whitney, Mas Players International costume designer

Mas Players International

Designer: Whitney Doldron

Theme: Fairytale Fantasies

What is the meaning and significance behind the theme for this year’s costume?

Our costumes emulate experiences beyond everyday life. We have set the stage for our revellers to fantasize about moving from a life of rags to riches or dreaming of Prince Aladdin whisking them off on a magic carpet for a day.

Why is this theme important for this year’s carnival?

This year, my team chose a theme that could relate to all ages. Our mas band ranges from young babies to the old and wise. Our theme is clean and simple. This allows all participants to associate each section with a childhood memory or even a modern day fantasy.

As a designer, what inspires you when you design a costume?

The theme is actually what inspires the design of the costume. Every year after the parade, our team has a brainstorming session on possible themes. We finalized this theme when we started to think of what the kids would look like going down the road as fairies and knights at Junior Carnival.

By Stephanie Pollard

Black Sage Carnival

Designer/Bandleader: Corey Howard

Theme: From Rags to Riches

What is the meaning and significance behind the theme for this year’s costume?

From Rags to Riches is dedicated to our teacher, friend and mentor Selwyn ‘Nip’ Davis, who took the time to nurture our creativity, craftsmanship and desire to learn and get involved with this aspect of Caribbean culture.

Why is this theme important for this year’s carnival?

We wanted to show Nip we were listening, that we absorbed the knowledge he imparted on us. We wanted to show the old could successfully blend with the young.

As a designer, what inspires you when you design a costume?

The need to be authentic! We strive to depict what the costume is meant to portray while making sure of its appeal to the masquerader.

Corey Howard

Lekesha Barry
Age: 39
Toronto
I think it will be the Toronto Revellers, all the way! They always have really, really good costumes. Their theme for this year is “Disco Fever.” I love that because it makes me think back to my parents playing all kind of disco records and dressing up real funky.

Shawn Hart
Age: 15
Pickering
I will say that the winner will be Tru Dynasty. They are a younger type of band and they represent the next generation of Caribana. The theme is “Fever” and if you saw the costumes, you would know that it is going to be hot, hot, hot!

Cheryl Clarke
Age: “Mind ya business”
Brampton
I am a diva at heart. So, for me, there is only one band that can take the crown: Tribal Knights. They are doing “Hollywood: Glitz and Glamour” as a theme. So, if you want to jump up while still holding down your inner diva, Knights is the way
to go.

Akua Delfish
Age: “Um, yeah”
Toronto
I think Carnival Nationz is going to win. They have a track record of success and they won last year. This year, they have a legendary theme: “Sparrow D Legend.” It pays respect to The Mighty Sparrow, also known as the Calypso King of the World. How can they lose?

SIXAHWI, a not-for-profit African-Canadian visual artist collective

Black artists unleash MAS Hysteria

BY: Jason Roberts

There’s a serious lack of recognition of artwork produced by black visual artists today; all you need to do is visit any local art gallery or museum for evidence to support this claim.

There is, however, one group that is aware of this problem and is taking steps to change it. The group is called SIXAHWI (as in “six of us”), a not-for-profit African-Canadian visual artist collective that began in 1993. Though only one original member, Ato Seitu, remains, the vision and goal is to revolutionize how the world sees and appreciates artwork produced by black visual artists, especially here in Canada.

Performing artist and SIXAHWI visual artist Ashley McKenzie-Barnes believes that now is the time for blacks to play a greater role in the Canadian art scene. “Part of the problem is that African-Canadians need to establish a greater presence as power players within the art market, not just as artists but in other key business roles,” says McKenzie-Barnes. “Black visual artists need to make greater efforts to showcase diversity in their works by producing art pieces that appeal to the ever-changing tastes of people within the artistic community who have grown accustomed to expecting certain work from visual artists of colour.”

With that recognition comes a comprehensive new plan developed by the group that includes increasing their membership and the continued development of a comprehensive art project in the making for four years.

In 2009, the group produced “Mas Hysteria,” an exhibit described by members as a “unique” and “unusual” exhibition that integrates elements of music, dance, drama and visual art into a single presentation. The two-venue showcase debuted at Nuit Blanche in October 2009, and later the same month at the Eleanor Winters Art Gallery at York University. The exhibit highlighted the evolution of Trinidad and Tobago’s mas, the world’s largest theatre of the street. The end goal of the display will be to draw attention to the artistic aspects of mas making, which are often overlooked.

Mas Hysteria, inspired by group member Ras Stone, is a multi-disciplinary art exhibit that will, in addition to more traditional arts displays, have wire sculptures and steel pan players in full mas costume. “These elements will serve to demonstrate how various creative aspects of mas making are examined and represented both historically and within a post-colonial context,” says Stone.

The collective feels that this exhibition, and the upcoming work promised by the group in the future, will contribute to the goal of achieving respect and demand for black art within both black communities and the wider public, thus turning a long-standing dream into reality.

“The show must go on. We have to keep pushing the wood in the fire,” says Seitu. “There is a saying in Jamaica:  If you want good your nose has to run.’ We are still pioneers in this time. What we are doing today is really for tomorrow’s generation.”

KEISA RHODIUS, 21: undecided

By Simona Siad

I play mas because: It’s fun, exciting and a positive way to celebrate my culture. Participating in mas gives you the chance to feel beautiful in your costume and be proud of who you are, physically and culturally. It gives your confidence a boost when you get out on the road and the music is blasting and the crowd is cheering.

On dressing up: I love getting ready with my cousins and friends. We usually take the subway to the parade in our costumes and tourists always stop us and take pictures. It makes me feel so proud.

My beauty tip: Use the parade as a goal to stay in shape all year. Playing mas motivates me to workout, to stay fit and to be healthy.

My favourite memory: It was from my first year, when I played with the Toronto Revellers. They had an African theme and my costume was leopard-print.

Advice to other women: It doesn’t matter how you look, it’s how you feel in the costume. It’s not what other people think.

When I play mas I feel: Proud.