Syrus Marcus Ware facts for kids

Syrus Marcus Ware is a Canadian artist, activist, and teacher. He lives and works in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is an assistant professor in the school of the arts at McMaster University. Since 2014, he has also worked as a designer and teacher for The Banff Centre.

Ware was the first artist-in-residence for Daniels Spectrum, a cultural center in Toronto. He is also a founding member of Black Lives Matter Toronto. For 13 years, he led the youth program at the Art Gallery of Ontario. During that time, he helped create programs like "Free After Three" for young people.

He has published four books. In 2020, he helped edit a book called Until We Are Free: Reflections on Black Lives Matter in Canada. This book shares thoughts about the Black Lives Matter movement in Canada.

Early Life and Learning

Syrus Marcus Ware was born in Montreal, Quebec. He is the twin brother of Dr. Jessica Ware, who studies insects. He went to Etobicoke School of the Arts for high school. Later, he moved to Forrest Hill Collegiate Institute.

Ware studied art history and visual studies at the University of Toronto and the University of British Columbia. He earned his first degree in 2002. While studying, he also worked as a coordinator for a center at the University of Toronto that supported women and trans people.

In 2006, Ware started his Master's degree in Sociology and Equity Studies in Education. He finished this degree in 2010. In 2014, he began his PhD at York University. He finished his PhD in 2021. He has received important scholarships like the Sylff Fellowship and the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships.

Art and Career

Ware's art explores ideas of social justice and Black activist culture. He uses different forms of art like performances, large drawings, installations, paintings, and dance. His art is deeply connected to his beliefs in fairness and activism.

Ware was chosen to show his art at the first Toronto Biennial of Art in 2019 and again in 2022. At the 2019 Biennial, he created "Antarctica." This was a performance and art piece about climate change. He also made "Ancestors, Do You Read Us: Dispatches From The Future." This video work showed a future world in 2072 where Black and Indigenous people had survived climate change.

His art has been shown in many places. These include the Sydney Festival, the Art Gallery of Burlington, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and the Art Gallery of Windsor.

In 2021, Ware wrote a new play called "Emmett." It was made for Obsidian Theatre and CBC Gem. The play is set in the near future and follows a character named Medgar. The performance was filmed in Toronto in 2021 and starred actor Prince Amponsah. It started showing on CBC Gem in February 2021.

Community Radio Work

For 17 years, Ware hosted a community radio show called Resistance on the Sound dial. It was on 89.5 CIUT FM. On his show, he played activist music and interviewed political leaders and artists. He also took part in other shows on the station.

Activism and Community Work

Ware is an abolitionist, meaning he works to change the justice system. He has been an activist for 25 years. He was a key member of Black Lives Matter - Toronto. He also helped start Black Lives Matter - Canada and the Wildseed Centre for Art and Activism.

Ware worked with Blackness Yes! for 19 years. Together, they created events like Blockorama, a stage for trans and Black people at Pride. He also helped create TransFathers 2B. This was the first parenting course in North America for trans men who were thinking about becoming parents. It was based at The 519 Community Centre. He is currently on the board of the Tegan and Sara Foundation.

Ware has said that he wants to make the arts world more fair and diverse. He aims to challenge ideas of white supremacy in art.

Awards and Recognition

Now Magazine gave Ware the "Best Queer Activist" award in 2005. He received the TD Diversity Award in 2017. He also won the Min Sook Lee Labour Arts Award in 2017. Ware is a Vanier Scholar and a Sylff Fellow.

In 2012, he received the Steinert & Ferreiro Award for LGBTQ activism. This is a very important award in Canada.