In January 2007, friends and families from the Jane/Finch community enjoyed an afternoon at the Samuel J. Zacks Art Gallery on York campus at the opening of an art exhibition by local high school students from C.W. Jefferys Collegiate Institute and Monsignor Percy Johnson Catholic High School. Looking at the Overlooked, presented by Destination Arts, the Art Gallery of York University and the Canadian Art Foundation, featured documentary photographs, mixed media, and video produced by the students during the fall of 2006.

Prior to commencing the project, students were invited to take part in guided tours of Jeremy Deller’s exhibition at the Art Gallery of York University (AGYU) by Allyson Adley, Collections/Educational Assistant followed by a drama workshop facilitated by Kathy Lundy and several of her THEA 4440 students. Drawing inspiration from Deller’s commitment to the documentation and celebration of unrecorded or overlooked histories, youth were encouraged to research and represent their own communities’ hidden stories. Asserting their creative agency as historians and cultural producers, students brought to light marginalized histories that are rarely, if ever, captured in history books. By providing critical cultural and educational resources and support, the AGYU and Destination Arts are committed to developing initiatives that stimulate and recognize the creative vision and artistic promise of youth.

Artists: Ricky Asamoah, Alexandra Craciun, Nicholas Di Prospero, Kevin Flynn, Katrina Gono, Nazia Habiba, Josie Ieraci, Tanya Jack, Max Manning, Stephen Mekhail, Kara Le, Justin Oppong, Shanaeh Reid, Julia Ren, Tia Robinson, Tiana Robinson, Ria Saskar.