Brains ready to invade the streets of Toronto



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Michelle Vella with "Iris Apfel".

The fourth annual Yogen Früz Brain Project brings together some 50 Canadian and international artists to transform virgin models of the human brain into unique works of art. Its founders hope that this work will spark discussion with the public about dementia, with the goal of raising $ 1 million for brain health and research at Baycrest Health Sciences, a world leader in research on aging and brain health.

Erica and Noah Godfrey are Honorary Co-Chairs of the Brain Project. "It's Erica's baby. It was beyond what she and we had always dreamed, raising more than $ 3 million since its inception, "said Noah Godfrey. "Brain health and Alzheimer's disease have touched our families and that's part of the message: it affects everyone's family. We all have a brain. It's getting old There are things we can do today and our children can do to make sure their brains function optimally as they get older. "

According to the World Health Organization, about 50 million people worldwide live with dementia and nearly 10 million new cases each year. Although rare, young people may also have dementia. According to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, early onset dementia accounts for 2-8% of dementia cases. Sixteen thousand Canadians under the age of 65 live with early dementia.

"If we could delay the onset of dementia by five years, we could reduce its prevalence by about a third in the population – that's a considerable number," said Josh Cooper, president and CEO. Chief Executive Officer of the Baycrest Foundation.

READ: BRAIN HEALTH FORUM COMING TO TORONTO

At a recent launch in the media, The CJN He has been keeping up with some of the artists and has taken a look at the 50 brains that will be settling on the streets of the greater Toronto area on July 2nd.

Each brain sculpture tells a personal story. The artist Orit Fuchs, who lives and works in Tel Aviv, is a storyteller pbadionate about creative self expression. "This project was very personal," said Fuchs. "My parents, in their last years, have suffered from dementia and Alzheimer's disease. So it was familiar to me – and very painful. "

The brainworm of Orit Fuchs

The brain sculpture of Fuchs, called The brain eater, looks like the clbadic video game Pac-Man. "I visualized the brain cells (in the form of small dots) and the Pac-Man (the disease) eating them slowly.

I have chosen to leave some paths without points, because the Pac-Man has already eaten them – they are already lost, "said Fuchs.

The artist Gina Godfrey is an abstract artist and portraitist, printmaker and prolific curator who has already created three brains for the project. At this year's exhibition, his brain, titled Deep thoughts, is made with mixed jewelry and paint. "Every brain in the world has deep thoughts," said Godfrey. "My piece is very personal, because it's my brain."

Godfrey describes the text as follows: "Deep thoughts pbad through my brain in a very colorful way from the little person to the shining jewels in the stem … reaching out, moving with a flow of ideas …… The bow in pastel colors has a movement, like a flashing sign. The gold jewelery embellished in the stem is also a dynamic person in constant reflection. "

Gina Godfrey with her brain "Deep Thoughts".

Dani Fine Lines is an arts program for youth and adults with developmental intellectual disabilities. His piece, Superhero in the mirror, tells the story of a fascination of superhero movies.

"Just like the superheroes, the artists' paths in life are paved with attempts to show people around them a glimpse of what they see in themselves – powerful personalities and many abilities, despite which might not be interesting, "said Anna Gruzman, Dani's recreation programs. director. "Putting mirrors on the superheroes somehow forces the person looking at them to see themselves as powerful, beautiful and capable."

Michelle Vella is a portrait artist specializing in drawing celebrities with wide open eyes. "The inspiration behind the design of my brain was the Iris Apfel fashion icon. She is a dynamic 97-year-old woman known for her big jewelry, big baubles and bracelets, and black-rimmed glbades. The iris is an excellent representation of the well-being of the brain and what we all hope to have in the 90s, "said Vella.

The artwork will be exhibited from July 2 to August 31 at various locations in Toronto, including Nathan Phillips Square, Distillery District, Brookfield Place and Union Station.

To learn more about the Brain project, visit brainproject.ca.

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