Good Mourning Festival (2024)

Register for the workshop here!

Alebrijes are fantastical and imaginative creatures that come from our dreams. They are a unique blend of animal, human, plant, and flower characteristics, whether living or dead. Pedro Linares, ‘the Alebrijes creator, ‘ crafted them from paper mache, wire, and flour glue called ‘engrudo’, materials that are deeply rooted in Mexican folk art and culture. ‘Engrudo’ is a sight to behold with its vibrant colours and intricate decorations, sparking excitement and inspiration.

This workshop offers a hands-on learning experience. You will create your own Alebrije from scratch. You will start by building the structure with wire and then add the paper mache, painting, decorating, and varnishing it to protect the paint.

This workshop will guide participants through each step of the Alebrije-making process.This is a four-week workshop, with 2 hours for every session. This work shop is led by Ana Gabriela Lopez Castro, a Mexican visual artist residing in Toronto’s East End, embarked on her artistic journey in 2000, initially exploring photography and printmaking as her preferred mediums of expression. Her work is a vibrant celebration of Mexican folk art, often featuring her unique handcrafted alebrijes and fantastical creatures brought to life through paper mache. Her deep-rooted love for her cultural heritage and the natural world is a constant theme in her art.

With a bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts from the Faculty of Arts and Design at UNAM in Mexico City and an Advanced Diploma in Graphic Design from Centennial College, Ana Gabriela Lopez Castro has honed her skills and expertise in the field of visual arts. Her collaboration with Muse Arts since 2013 is a testament to her dedication and passion for her craft.

In 2019, Ana Gabriela Lopez Castro founded the Emotionart Collective art group. This transformative initiative brings intergenerational art workshops to different communities, such as Toronto Community Housing buildings, co-ops, and food banks. Ana’s vision and dedication are bringing about positive change in these communities.

Get your ticket here! 

This storytelling experience blends fact and fiction, teaching you true details about the history of this iconic Toronto landmark while imagining the spirits that might haunt its historic halls—and, later, your dreams. We’ll begin around a campfire with a tale from an Indigenous Storyteller. Then, the group will venture into the darkened corners of the Brick Works to hear 3 unique, fictionalized tales that draw on aspects of real history.

Returning for its second year, “Space for Grief,” is an immersive and interactive public art installation that explores community bonding and healing through the transformative nature of grief. It is a place where art and healing intersect, providing a destination for reflection, connection, and renewal.

The installation will launch as part of the Good Mourning festival, with an extended stay throughout November 2024. The multi-site installation includes a composed soundtrack to guide visitors through a meditative space in Tiffany Commons, wrapping around the North Pavilion, and ending at the pond with the Museum of Grief.

Each initiative is designed to hold space for individual stories while fostering a collective understanding of the universal nature of grief.

Learn more about Space for Grief; Instagram and Twitter

GROUNDED STRANDS: Join Maria, from Philotimo Life, to learn about the ways beads have played a role in many cultures for meditation. Visitors will explore their emotions, their connection to grief and the way it plays a role in their lives. Guests will have the opportunity to craft their own meditation beads (prayer beads, worry beads, etc.), to reflect their own personal style, emotions and approach to processing your personal experiences. At the end of the workshop, you will get to take home a personalized keepsake.

GRIEF MEMORY MOSAIC: You’re invited to share your experience with grief with others at the Good Mourning Festival. In this activation, you will be presented thoughtful questions that are designed to be introspective and encourage conversations. You will be provided with stickers and notepads to answer questions presented to you on a bristol board. As the festival progresses, the boards will transform into vibrant canvases filled with the answers and collective wisdom, stories and feelings of those in attendance. Our goal through this activation is to help encourage meaningful conversations and create connection with other attendees.

Learn more about Philotimo Life

Join Living Hyphen at the Good Mourning Festival where we will share stories of grief and gratitude honouring the complexity that makes us so beautifully human. Lean into the complexity and contradictions of your experiences in our storytelling gathering where we aim to honour all that we are grieving and all that we are grateful for in the same breath. The gradients of grief run far and wide, and for those of us who have been displaced in some way – whether voluntary or forced, on this land or from another land – our experiences may be tinged with grief in the shape of the deep distances away from our homeland, the disconnection from our ancestors, the forgetting of our mother tongues, the loss of our traditions and culture. At the same time, we are full of gratitude for our adopted homelands, for our triumphs, and for our everyday existence. In this storytelling gathering, we will practice holding multiple truths at once, honouring both our grief and gratitude. In a world that holds fast to binaries and absolutes, join us in community as we strive to uncover the nuance and complexity that makes us so beautifully human.

Living Hyphen on Instagram!

Bereaved Families of Ontario – Toronto is a local charitable organization who supports individuals, families and groups experiencing grief from the death of a loved one. Since 1978, we have supported thousands of people through our peer support model by offering one-to-one sessions and peer support groups.

Learn more about Bereaved Families of Ontario

The Health Design Studio at OCADU works to bring an inclusive and interdisciplinary design approach to healthcare design challenges. Much of the work focuses on design for safety critical and high sensitivity topics, including the dosing, ordering, tapering, and management of opiates, and communication at end of life.

Follow Health Design Studio on Instagram!

Navigating death and loss is difficult, sometimes earth-shattering. Yet, there are few ways to prepare for major loss than simply experiencing it firsthand. On the other side of that experience, though, we may find ourselves with new wisdom about how to keep going despite immense grief.

‘Death sucks’ aims to be a space that welcomes vulnerability and honesty about the challenge of going through a loss. It invites participants to share what they wish they had known before experiencing death or loss. The wall becomes a bank of guidance and tenderness for navigating hardship. The card format borrows the age-old gesture of card writing, creating an intimate and hand-held asynchronous exchange between two people: the person sharing what they wish they had known and the person(s) receiving the words of wisdom.

Learn more about Death, Dying and Design

Strings Attached is a new visual theatre company that uses puppetry to explore the lost and hidden stories of Toronto’s past. We are interested in animating the “tide marks” that history has left behind; from old store fronts, to hidden back alleys, to that crazy story about your great aunt! Toronto’s intriguing and complicated history is all around us waiting to be discovered and shared. We aim to spark curiosity and dialogue about the city’s rich and diverse heritage. Malachy and the Elephant explores notions of confinement, immigration and loss through two seemingly different points of view. The first being that of Malachy, an ageing Irish prisoner inside the Don Jail, reminiscing about his time “outside” while he was building the Riverdale zoo, as well as his relationship with the elephant he cared for. The second is seen through the eyes of Princess Rita, an elephant taken from Mozambique who brought in huge numbers of visitors and revenue for the Zoo. Malachy and the Elephant is a tender and darkly comic piece that delves into the lives of two “inmates” who are longing for freedom and connection.

stringsattachedtheatre.ca

The original wind telephone – “Kaze no Denwa” in Japanese – was created by Itaru Sasaki in 2010 after his cousin passed away. It was his method of expressing his feelings and thoughts, and a way to maintain a connection with his cousin. After the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, which devastated the region and resulted in the loss of many lives, Sasaki’s wind telephone became a place of pilgrimage for those mourning lost family members and friends. Wind telephones have since popped up all over the world, serving as a poignant reminder of the human need for connection, beyond life and death.

Pick up the receiver, speak your heart, and let the wind carry your words.

Using creativity as a bridge to understanding and healing, we will create a space in which individuals are invited to explore and express the wide range of emotions tied to grief. We will prompt visitors to use art materials, such as drawing utensils, paint, yarn, and modelling clay, to creatively explore grief. Through this shared creative process, we hope to shed light on the interconnectedness of our experiences of loss and the impact of community support. This project is a collaboration between Sketch Night and Luz Paczka. Sketch Night is a volunteer-run, community event that provides a space for individuals to explore their creativity – whether it is through sketching, music, knitting, or any creative practice – while enjoying the company of others. Luz Paczka is a social designer who focuses on community health and wellbeing. Outside her design work, Luz is also a visual artist and weaver.

Meet your local flower farmers at The Good Mourning Dried Flower Market, where the beauty of Ontario-grown flowers lives on through the art of dried arrangements. Celebrate the changing seasons by connecting with the passionate people who grow your flowers, and discover how dried blooms can bring lasting, whimsical charm to your home. Support local agriculture and experience the magic of Ontario’s flowers in a whole new way. Don’t miss this chance to connect with your community and enjoy the timeless beauty of local blooms!

Come explore the beauty of dried flowers! Work with locally grown blooms & take home a bouquet!

Dried flowers represent the beauty that remains long after the life cycle of the plant ends – serving as symbols that prompt reflection on cherished memories and the lasting impact of those who have departed from our lives.

A lot of the fresh cut flowers maintain their beauty long after their life cycle ends. Flower varieties including Statice, Strawflower, and Celosia, to name a few, keep their vibrant colour once dried and are excellent for dried flower bouquets. Come join us in Koerner Gardens to make your own Everlasting Bouquet! All flowers provided are grown by local flower farmers. Drop in between 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm!

As part of the Good Mourning Festival, we invite you to participate in a touching community event where you can plant tulip bulbs in our Memorial Garden. This special garden serves as a place of reflection and beauty, where each tulip symbolizes a cherished memory, a loved one, or a personal milestone.

How It Works:

• Purchase a Bulb: Guests are encouraged to purchase tulip bulbs at a “pay what you can” cost, with a recommended donation of $5 per bulb. Your contribution helps maintain the garden and supports the Good Mourning Festival continue to be free
• Plant Your Tulip: After purchasing your bulb, you will have the opportunity to plant it in our Memorial Garden. Whether in honor of someone special or to commemorate a personal occasion, your tulip will grow as a living symbol of life, love, and remembrance.
• Return in Spring: When the tulips bloom in the spring, you’re welcome to return to the garden and take a tulip with you as a keepsake. Each flower will serve as a beautiful reminder of the connection you’ve made with the garden and the memories it holds.

This activity is a heartfelt part of the Good Mourning Festival, providing a meaningful way to engage with nature, support the community, and create something beautiful that will continue to bloom year after year. Join us as we plant the seeds of memory and watch them grow into a stunning display of color and life.

Food serves as a tangible and sensory link to our cultural and familial heritage. It can bring us closer to our deceased relatives bypreserving their traditions, memories and the emotional connections we had with them. Sharing food can be a meaningful way to honour and remember those who have passed away while also reinforcing the sense of continuity within a family or community.

Food has the power to evoke strong emotions and memories. Cooking or eating a dish that a deceased relative loved can be a way to feel close to them, almost as if they are present in spirit. The taste and smell of familiar foods can trigger a sense of comfort and nostalgia, bringing back fond memories of times spent with loved ones.

Visit our Saturday Farmers Market to find recipes shared by our vendors honouring loved ones passed.

RAW Taiko, founded in 1998 as Raging Asian Women Taiko Drummers, is a Toronto-based organisation made up of East and Southeast Asian women and gender non-conforming drummers. They carry on the diasporic taiko tradition that grew out of Asian American and Asian Canadian participation in racial and gender justice movements of the 60s and 70. One of the few taiko groups of its kind in the world, RAW Taiko exists as a critical response and challenge to systemic and internalised oppressions. RAW Taiko plays large drums as creative resistance for social change, carving space for self-expression, education and community building. RAW Taiko will present taiko songs related to mourning, ancestors, grief, and ghosts.

Content Note: Mentions of violence and suicidality (during opening poem, in first 5mins of performance)

Poetree is an interactive installation created to support individuals dealing with grief. Set within a whimsical, imaginative garden, the installation features various trees adorned with origami pieces, each containing encouraging words or poems. These messages are contributed by community members over three weeks leading up to the installation. During this period, the same community gathers to craft the origami pieces. The installation highlights the strength and healing power of community during times of grief, offering comfort and connection through shared creative expression.

Make the most of your fall visit to the Garden Market by exploring the exciting activities we have in store! Wander through our whimsical maze, pick out the perfect pumpkin to take home and enjoy fun face painting for kids. Don’t forget to snap a photo while you’re there!

In this activation, the community is invited to acknowledge pet loss and grief as a collective. You will have the option to light a candle in your companions honour and write their name on a rock as a symbol of the weight that grief holds within you. You are also welcome to bring your pet’s collars and harnesses and attach them to the “rainbow bridge” on site. All items left will be donated to the Toronto Humane Society. Our goal is to bring awareness to and normalize pet loss grief as it is often unacknowledged, minimized and unvalidated by social norms.

Amy Pemas is the owner of In Good Hands Pet Loss, a Holistic Pet Funeral Home located in East York. She is a certified end of life doula, certified end of life animal care provider, trained hospice and bereavement volunteer, CNP, reiki master, and iridologist. Amy received training as an assistant pet funeral director from Helen Hobbs at Pets At Peace. Her background and experience brings a unique holistic approach to pet after-life care and bereavement support.

Carbon Conversations TO is a volunteer-led community group with a mission to normalize climate action. In this activity, participants will express their climate grief through art, including writing, drawing, painting and collage. Participants will be given a blank postcard, where on one side/half, they can reflect on what breaks their heart about climate change.

On the other side/half, they can reflect on how that grief connects with the things they truly love and care about in this world. People will then have the opportunity to send the postcard to someone they love, as a way to open up the conversation about climate grief in our social circles.

Our Pavilions will be buzzing with an exciting array of music, dance and storytelling. These performances by the Mexicans Folk Ballet bring communities together by creating something big through the arts and sharing Día de los Muertos customs to this multicultural country.

Step into a vibrant celebration of culture and creativity at our Artisan Market, dedicated to highlighting the incredible talents of Mexican and Latinx creators. This lively marketplace is a feast for the senses, featuring a diverse array of handcrafted goods that showcase the rich traditions, modern innovations, and artistic excellence of the Mexican and LatinX Community.

Drop by the Food Court to celebrate Mexican and Latin Food produced with local ingredients! Tamales, carnitas, arepas, churros and nopales are just some of the delicious foods that you might find. Vendor List coming soon.

The “Community Ofrenda” is a collaboration by Toronto-based Latinx art collectives Creato, MAXEI, and Studio Chamelens. This activation invites visitors of all ages to explore and engage with Día de los Muertos traditions as celebrated across the Latin American and Caribbean diasporas, as well as the work of local Latinx artists and creatives.

Digital Ofrenda Installation
Visitors will be invited to enter a transformed cove space, illuminated by faux candles generously provided by Candlelight Concerts. A digital ofrenda will showcase photos, voice recordings, artwork, music, and videos contributed by Latinx artists and community members. This installation honors loved ones, explores themes of grief, and pays tribute to Latin American and Caribbean cultural traditions.

Art-Making Activities
Participate in self-guided art activities led by the MAXEI collective. Create and add your own ‘cempasuchil’ flowers to a communal board. All ages are welcome, and materials will be provided.

VELA Short Film Screenings
Experience “VELA” a family drama/thriller by Mexican-Canadian filmmaker Esteban Powell Suárez. Set in contemporary Canadian suburbs, the film blends magical realism with Mexican folklore, exploring grief and the power to reconnect familial bonds.

An opportunity to taste a variety of mezcals and tequilas while learning about the history and methods of productions of both agave spirits.

Strings Attached is a new visual theatre company that uses puppetry to explore the lost and hidden stories of Toronto’s past. We are interested in animating the “tide marks” that history has left behind; from old store fronts, to hidden back alleys, to that crazy story about your great aunt! Toronto’s intriguing and complicated history is all around us waiting to be discovered and shared. We aim to spark curiosity and dialogue about the city’s rich and diverse heritage. Malachy and the Elephant explores notions of confinement, immigration and loss through two seemingly different points of view. The first being that of Malachy, an ageing Irish prisoner inside the Don Jail, reminiscing about his time “outside” while he was building the Riverdale zoo, as well as his relationship with the elephant he cared for. The second is seen through the eyes of Princess Rita, an elephant taken from Mozambique who brought in huge numbers of visitors and revenue for the Zoo. Malachy and the Elephant is a tender and darkly comic piece that delves into the lives of two “inmates” who are longing for freedom and connection.

As part of the Good Mourning Festival, we invite you to participate in a touching community event where you can plant tulip bulbs in our Memorial Garden. This special garden serves as a place of reflection and beauty, where each tulip symbolizes a cherished memory, a loved one, or a personal milestone.

How It Works:

• Purchase a Bulb: Guests are encouraged to purchase tulip bulbs at a “pay what you can” cost, with a recommended donation of $5 per bulb. Your contribution helps maintain the garden and supports the Good Mourning Festival continue to be free
• Plant Your Tulip: After purchasing your bulb, you will have the opportunity to plant it in our Memorial Garden. Whether in honor of someone special or to commemorate a personal occasion, your tulip will grow as a living symbol of life, love, and remembrance.
• Return in Spring: When the tulips bloom in the spring, you’re welcome to return to the garden and take a tulip with you as a keepsake. Each flower will serve as a beautiful reminder of the connection you’ve made with the garden and the memories it holds.

This activity is a heartfelt part of the Good Mourning Festival, providing a meaningful way to engage with nature, support the community, and create something beautiful that will continue to bloom year after year. Join us as we plant the seeds of memory and watch them grow into a stunning display of color and life.

Make the most of your fall visit to the Garden Market by exploring the exciting activities we have in store! Wander through our whimsical maze, pick out the perfect pumpkin to take home and enjoy fun face painting for kids. Don’t forget to snap a photo while you’re there!

Happy Faces86 is very happy to celebrate The Day of the Dead with you. Come and get your Face painted as a calaverita, catrina or skull. We will have different designs for those who like butterflies, rainbows, spiderman etc.

Prices start from $5 and up. We accept Debit and Credit cards.  We can’t wait to see you!