Scarborough artist to participate in Ideal-Way exhibition

Inspirational Javed part of a select team to showcase their talent
by GEORGE KAGAME

A Scarborough resident Shabana Javed is among a few artists selected throughout Toronto to participate in a four day long art show dubbed Ideal-way exhibition at Varley Gallery’s Eckhardt McKay house in Unionville.

The art exhibition which seeks to promote the talents of intellectually disabled persons in Ontario starts on 1st and ends on 5th April. The selection process was supervised by Andrew Hamilton an established painter, fine arts professor and curator. Javed who was born with Down syndrome and turns 27 next month, is a well established artist as well as humanitarian activist according to her mother Lolita Javed also a Scarborough artist.

“She started painting aged 14 and has participated in many festivals in Toronto, she has also donated many of her art pieces to community art groups.” In fact Javed is much more than just an artist, she is a dancer with widespread experience. As well as participating in art exhibitions, Javed has also been part of the Kiwanis dance festivals at York University. She favours the Indian classical North Indian dance styles which have ensured her entry in the York University Kiwani dance festivals since 2006 to 2008.

Javed has also participated and exhibited in the Scarborough Civic Centre exhibitions annually from 2006 to date and the Port Union Community centre winning many trophies and medals in the process. “She specializes in the multi colour and is also very good in Chinese brash paintings. Her work has been described as unique and mastepieces”, Lorita adds.

Javed was among a handful of applicants that applied to showcase their talents in the Ideal Way Exhibition from 500 initial competitors. The competition according to organizers targets ‘To build bridges joining those with an intellectual disability and others, as a pathway to inclusion. To improve the lives of such persons by creating, and enhancing, opportunities for mainstream community interaction. To educate, and positively improve mainstream social attitudes in order to make all persons with intellectual disability feel I.D.E.A.L.... Included, Deserving, Equal, Appreciated and Loved.” Organizers say it is the first of its kind in the province.

Javed will also stage her own art exhibition mid May to early June at the Scarborough Civic centre