Pan Am Path celebrates LGBT athletes with Toronto mosaic, "Album" challenging views of athleticism and the traditional family

TORONTO, June 3, 2015 /CNW/ - Discover "Album," a mosaic created to challenge societal views of family and athleticism.

The artwork is being unveiled on the heels of an international study titled: "Out in the Fields: The First International Study on Homophobia in Sport." The study* found that found only 1% of respondents "believe LGB people are completely accepted in sporting culture." The same report noted that 46% believe "LGB people are not accepted at all" or "only accepted a little." Published two months ahead of the Toronto 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games, the study highlights the importance of works like "Album," which aim to promote inclusion and equality.

Inspired by Article 16 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, "Album" was created by Arts Etobicoke and Red Dress Productions to recognize the contributions of LGBT individuals in sports while challenging traditional representations of athleticism. It also explores traditional representations of family diversity (LGBT, blended, adopted, multi-racial, intergenerational, those without children). Artists Anna Camilleri and Tristan R. Whiston led local community workshops to create a variety of mosaics that form one towering mural under the Dundas St. West Bridge near Lambton House.

This important project is the latest of a series of human rights themed murals created by artists and community-based groups throughout the Greater Toronto Area in collaboration with Amnesty International's Project "Urban Canvas" to celebrate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 16 of the Declaration speaks to the rights of all men and women to marry and to have a family. Canada is the fourth country in the world, and the first country outside Europe to legalize same-sex marriage.

WHEN:	Wednesday June 10, 2015 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
WHERE:	Lambton House 4066 Old Dundas St., York, ON, M6S 2R6

Arts Etobicoke was established in 1973 to provide a united voice for the local arts community. It is proud to support established and aspiring artists of all ages and backgrounds.

BACKGROUND: About The Pan Am Path & Art Relay

The vision of the Pan Am Path is to combine the power of art and sport to create a living path across Toronto. From May 16 to August 15, 2015, the Pan Am Path will come alive with a city-wide Art Relay of installations and events. Each week, the festival travels across Toronto celebrating some of the city's greatest assets: diversity, nature, arts and active outdoor living.

The Pan Am Path was started by a group of Toronto artists and city-builders in collaboration with the City of Toronto. On July 18, 2013, Toronto City Council endorsed the Pan Am Path as a Host City Showcase Program of the Games.  The Pan Am Path is an 84-kilometre continuous trail for walking, running, cycling and wheeling that connects the city from east to west. Legacy construction to improve and create new connections along the Pan Am Path will continue through 2017.

The Pan Am Path App is a wayfinding mobile app that matches your geographic location on the Path to music that is rooted within that community via 4 local music-streaming stations. Other Features include: a full map of the path, directions to nearby local businesses and a calendar of Pan Am Path Art Relay programming.

Friends of the Pan Am Path is the main organizer of the Pan Am Path Art Relay, motivated by the chance to celebrate the best of the region: art, nature and diversity -- while also creating a meaningful legacy of the 2015 Games for residents.

The Pan Am Path Art Relay is proudly supported by the City of Toronto, Toronto Foundation, Ontario Trillium Foundation, Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, Toronto Star, Toronto Arts Council, Trans Canada Trail, Canadian Heritage, Toronto Pearson, United Way Toronto, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Laidlaw Foundation, Lotus Leaf, & Westbury National.

For the full Pan Am Art Relay event calendar map, app and participating organizations, please visit: http://www.panampath.org.

NEXT-UP IN THE RELAY: June 14 - Walking Wave, Sir Casimir Gzowski Park

Join Lakeshore Arts in a parade celebrating music, art and dance.

Community-building art including painting, printmaking and puppetry along the waterfront. Collaborators include the Humber College Puppetry program, SEYA Street Choir, Mural Routes, Ballet Creole and more! Wear shades of blue, white and green to create a human wave. Parade starts at 2 p.m.

The event is led by Lakeshore Arts, a not-for-profit, local arts service organization based in south Etobicoke. It has a 22-year track record of transforming neighbourhoods through the power of art, arts education, community engagement and local partnerships.

SOURCE Friends of the Pan Am Path

MEDIA CONTACT: Andrea Chrysanthou, [phone], [email protected]; Julia Che, [phone], [email protected]