Arts on Fire is an intellectual, creative, and personal evening where we invite exceptional guests who influence and revolutionize the arts to share their stories and inspire audiences. Whether you're an art enthusiast, a creative professional, or simply curious, this is your space to hear success stories, ask questions, and network with some of the most impactful voices in the industry.
Hosted by Wayne Larsen, an artist, author, musician, university professor, and a past director of Canada’s Institute for Investigative Journalism. Concurrent to a 20-year career on the Journalism faculty of Concordia University, he has published hundreds of features, reviews, humour pieces, and cartoons in a variety of publications, including the Toronto Star and Montreal Gazette. He was a copy editor at Reader’s Digest Canada, and from 2000 to 2012 was editor-in-chief of the award-winning Westmount Examiner. He has written four books on Canadian art, including works on Tom Thomson and James Wilson Morrice. His 2009 biography of A.Y. Jackson, The Life of a Landscape Painter, was a Globe and Mail bestseller. As an artist, he has produced hundreds of landscapes, primarily depicting rural Quebec. He often sits on exhibition juries, and lectures on the visual arts and media issues at universities and cultural institutions.
Featuring: Joyce Borenstein
Joyce Borenstein – A celebrated Canadian film director and animator, Joyce has worked in independent animation since the 1970s and later joined the National Film Board of Canada. She is also the daughter of Quebec-based Expressionist painter Sam Borenstein, whose dynamic, colorful paintings have become cornerstones of Canadian art history. Joyce will reflect on her father's artistic legacy and share insights from her own creative journey, including a special screening of her Academy Award-nominated animated documentary The Colours of My Father (1992).
### About Sam Borenstein (1908–1969)
Sam Borenstein was a pioneering Quebec-based Expressionist painter known for his vibrant, emotional depictions of Montreal and rural Quebec. Though underappreciated during his lifetime, his legacy has grown significantly since his death in 1969. He was the subject of a major retrospective at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (2005–2006), with exhibitions also held at the McCord Museum, the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, and the Yeshiva University Museum in New York.
In 1992, his daughter Joyce Borenstein paid tribute to his life and work with The Colours of My Father, which brought his story to international audiences. Today, his legacy is also commemorated in Montreal with a street named in his honour—Place Sam-Borenstein.
What to Expect:
- Candid conversations about the artistic journey, challenges, and triumphs
- A deep dive into the worlds of animation, filmmaking, and visual storytelling
- A chance to interact with the artists in an intimate setting
- Exclusive networking with fellow creatives and industry professionals
