The Artichoke Vol 10 No. 4

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 04

JANUARY 2021

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the team EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ASSISTANT EDITOR WRITERS

Laura Bourbonnais Teagan Ariss Mash Altaf Victoria Ann Carly Balestreri Reann Bast Kirandeep Bhanot Amelia Calo Joshua Cea Kaela Cordero Marvin Darkwa Megan De Sousa Kaila Gallacher Melanie Gazvoda Inna Gordeyeva Eduardo Guerra Avery-Rose Hamilton Pyper Johnston Siddharth Koyal Nicole Moos Roshni Nayar Melissa Nicole Shamus Quinn Meg Rethinasamy Nima Salimi Vaiva Slapsys (Brie) Brianna Sutherland Julia Usher Teodora Vilotijevic Cassie Weir Nicole Williamson

DESIGN EDITOR Sarah Carriere SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Breagh MacDonald PHOTOGRAPHERS Sarah Shahab Saba Sharifi Eliza Szymak DESIGNERS Nuha Aneez Jena Angra Daphne Chu Victoria Collins Amy Davidson Sabrina Fortin Maria Guna Kalli Jones Stephanie Lai Kacey Lee Sharyl Man Daye Oh Bailey Paniszczyn Heidi Trautmann Ingrid Wong Phoebe Wong Ha-Yun Holly Yoon GUEST CONTRIBUTORS Boyan Demchuk Leah Fellows Ola Mularczyk Motun Oseji Arielle Voght

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january issue 02

CREATIVE Diamond Dust Five Years Later this new year’s eve New Year, New Beginning Let’s Take it from the Top The New Resolution Self-Care My Bundle of Warmth A Guide to Living with a Growing Heart Where Are You? O(lives)

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ART Just My Luck Painted Jackets The Sunflower Artichoke Photography Team

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FEATURE What to do in Toronto Virtually in 2021

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LIFESTYLE 7 Self-Care Tips for Combatting the COVID Winter Last Minute

2021 The Artichoke Magazine Winters Free Press Created in Toronto, Ontario PAST ISSUES issuu.com/artichokemag CONTACT US wintersfreepress@winterscouncil.com SOCIALS IG @artichokewfp FB @artichokemag

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CALENDAR january january

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New Year’s Day

Artichoke Holiday Virtual Craft Night

6pm VIA Zoom

Vanier College Production Improv Show 7:30pm

Revolt by Theatre @ York

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Frost Week

York U Classes Start

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Retro Jam Session 8-11pm VIA Zoom

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Meet the Council 8-10pm VIA Zoom

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Minecraft Monday 8-10pm VIA Discord

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YFS Frost Week

The Interview/Auditioning Skills with VCP 2:30pm

Family Feud 8-11pm VIA Zoom

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Word Night 8-10pm VIA Zoom

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Improv Night 8-10pm VIA Zoom

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The Radio Play Festival by VCP 7:30pm

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BY LEAH FELLOWS

Hey Winters!

IT’S ME, LEAH, your Winters Orientation Chair back with some exciting news! As you may have heard Winters Frost Week 2021 is happening January 4th January 10th! Our theme for the week is Comics so come ready to embrace the nostalgia of your favourite newspaper comic or bring your collection from your local comic book shop! We will be hosting a variety of virtual events that are 100% free! Some events that will be offered include Speed Friending, Ghost stories, Fashion Forward, and Nuit Des Artistes! Don’t forget to follow @onceuponawinters2020 for updates on all things Winters Frost Week! We had a great fall semester of events and I can’t wait to kick off 2021 with you all! I look forward to seeing you all there!

Cheers!

Leah Fellows O-Chair WCC

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FROST CALENDAR

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DIAMOND DUST

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BY JULIA USHER

The first photographs taken of snowflakes, resulting in the discovery of their uniqueness.

EVERY SNOWFLAKE IS one of a kind, charming and delicate, crystalized art.

What seems so simple contains millions of molecules; tiny hexagons sprout into intricate shapes.

Fascination captures the unknown, producing extraordinary discoveries; it started with one man, Wilson Alwyn Bentley, January 15, 1885, one photograph that led to thousands, providing evidence of their many forms. “Tiny miracles of beauty,� he had called them, ice flowers that bloom in the sky.

Each random branch represents its singular journey, disordered and circuitous, perfectly imperfect.

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We often look past the little things, the minuscule details that make something whole.

The big picture only tells us so much; there is more to the image worth seeking.

Explore and ask questions, stay curious and share that curiosity with others.

Find your snowflake, really look at it; it has floated down to you for a reason.

Don’t allow wonder to turn into closure, treasure your snowflake before it melts away, then capture another one.

On January 15, 1885, Wilson Alwyn Bentley attached a camera to his microscope & captured the first image of a snowflake.

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BY CASSIE WEIR

RECENTLY, I WAS asked on a Zoom party call, “Cassie, where do you see yourself in five years?” Fortunately, I was able to stumble out an answer even after a few glasses of wine … “Five years?

Hopefully married and somewhere in the woods. Preferably living in a van or shed in the middle of nowhere.”

Reflecting on this question since it hit me like a truck that I am finishing my undergrad degree come April. That is insane. I remember roaming the halls of the CFT in first year after my first acting class, pretending to be a deer for three hours and wondering if this was what university is all about. Or attending events in Stong Residence, where I lived in first year, trying to fit in amongst the athletes. Or wandering York Lanes during the strike with my best friend wondering if we should have Popeyes or Wendy’s for dinner. I did not know that those moments would just fly past me. I wish I could have told myself back

then to hold onto those moments a little tighter.

Or how about in second year, starting Devised Theatre? Losing your mind over site specific? Or third year, performing a piece in front of your class where you cried to a sock puppet? Working with Res Life and meeting some of the most inspiring individuals? Or just the fact that sometimes a pitcher of cider really can solve your problems? Man. Gone in the blink of an eye.

Now fourth year. Online. Away from people I love. Pretending to be mother earth via Zoom. It is tough but learning all the same. Not how I wanted to end my time at York but at least we are able to support each other as a community.

“We’re all in this together!” Who knew Highschool Musical would still be so relevant.

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York has taught me so much. Lessons that I will carry with me throughout my entire life. Lessons that I hope to teach those I encounter once I am not a part of this community. Not everyone is going to like you and that is okay. It is not your responsibility to make them like you.

You love hard and unconditionally, and that is okay too. Everything you choose to do is out of love. It is okay to cry. Lists are important. Take risks in your art and life. Dance like no one is watching.

Things change and it might hurt a lot, but it will be worth it in the end. Dark chocolate tastes better when you put it in the freezer. Call your mom and tell her you love her. The best nights are the ones not planned. Scream into the void.

And take time to breathe. I hope these lessons can help you throughout your own personal journeys and if not, please just take the dark chocolate lesson into consideration.

Where will I be in five years? I am not too sure. If I think about it, five years is basically the length of my undergrad and if the next five will fly by just as fast as these four have‌ better prepare myself.

All I can do is hope that I will still be madly in love with a man who helps me grow, supported by my family, creating art I believe in and surrounded by the best friends a person could ever ask for.

All I can hope for is happiness.

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this new year’s eve BY LAURA BOURBONNAIS

THE COUNTDOWN CREEPS circles around my cursor, family Zooms in wintry backgrounds opened in neighbouring tabs. fireworks crackle on the screen, seamlessly noiseless in cyber void, champagne bottles untouched on deserted kiddie tables. a COVID-style Bye Bye soothes me to sleep. snug in mamie’s mailed quilt, I ease into 2021.

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NEW YEAR,

NEW BEGINNING

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BY AVERY-ROSE HAMILTON

THE WINTER MAY be cold but underneath new beginnings begin to unfold.

No one knows what lies in store for the soon-to-start year.

You may see the change, you may not.

Do not be scared, what comes may be something you are looking forward to or may not know that you need.

No one knows what lies in store for the soon-to-start year.

The possibilities are endless but uncertainty should not deter you from exploring.

Do not be scared, what comes may be something you are looking forward to or may not know that you need.

Come what may, remember that this is a time of renewal, be it big or small.

The possibilities are endless but uncertainty should not deter you from exploring.

Staying where you are may prevent you from reaching what could aid you in life.

Come what may, remember that this is a time of renewal, be it big or small.

It could be a new job, a new relationship, a new outlook, a new chance; you never know.

Staying where you are may prevent you from reaching what could aid you in life.

Though you may miss what ‘was’, keep the memories and use them as building blocks for ‘now’.

It could be a new job, a new relationship, a new outlook, a new chance; you never know.

Think of this as a chance to ‘revive’ what you want to keep and to ‘edit’ what you want to change.

Though you may miss what ‘was’, keep the memories and use them as building blocks for ‘now’.

You may see the change, you may not.

Think of this as a chance to ‘revive’ what you want to keep and to ‘edit’ what you want to change.

The winter may be cold but underneath new beginnings begin to unfold.

Happy New Year Everyone!

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LET’S TAKE IT FROM THE TOP BY SIDDHARTH KOYAL

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I DO NOT make New Year’s Resolutions.

I do not know why I have never made them.

In fact, in my family, it is kind of a joke that gets cracked at the end of every year.

“Hey what’s your New Year’s Resolution this year?

“Probably to try not to talk about resolutions.” *laugh track* *Seinfeld intro plays* I think the main reason I do not make NYRs (I am abbreviating it now because it is a lot of effort to type the whole thing and I am hoping NYR catches on and that becomes my legacy) is that I am afraid of not being able to complete them.

But that is not uncommon, I do not think I have ever met a single person in the last 20 years of my life who has actually had a NYR and stuck to it. Maybe people have come close?

“I’m going to go to the gym often this year!”

Cut to: “I went to the gym for most of the first quarter of the year” Compared to what I do every year, that is pretty good.

Do not get me wrong, I am not saying it is impossible to stick to a NYR or that it is counter-productive to make them because you know you probably will not see it through.

I believe it is admirable if you made that first step and made one, because I think that shows great initiative (wow if only you could put “I made a NYR this year” on a resumé).

Following through is step two and that is the hard part, that is the ‘walking the walk’ of the NYR, but we will get back to that.

The main reason I do not like making a NYR is because it makes me ask the hard question to myself which is “what do I want to improve about myself this year?” I hate that question because the first assumption is that there is something about myself that I am not happy with and I have to change, whether it is going to the gym or cutting down on junk food or not napping for 2 hours a day after sleeping for 10 hours a night (that one may be based on true events).

Whether I like it or not (I do not) I am not perfect, and there are things about me that I could change, like the napping thing, but that is difficult (given how much I enjoy sleep) and something that I really am not looking forward to doing. At this point, I am hoping you are narrowing in on something about yourself that you want to change and you are understanding why I do not make NYRs.

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But this year, I am going to change things.

2021, I am going to be doing step 1, and my NYR will be…… *drumroll* while you are reading this…...to stop taking afternoon naps. As much as I love them, they make me feel relaxed the rest of the day and I do not feel like doing much. Of course, it is also hard to get out of bed once you have got back in it too.

I am going to use the time I take to nap and put it into something constructive or fun, like watching a new film or catching up on a good book or finishing my schoolwork so that I do not leave everything last minute.

Given past experience I may have to bookmark this for next year’s resolution.

Now step two is going to be the hard part, how do I follow through on this?

Well, the first thing I am going to do is not put myself under so much pressure, maybe sometimes I will not have slept well the previous night so I would want to take a nap, and that is not failure. I will not look at minor speed bumps as the end of the resolution and be like “alright well I’ll try again next year!” Another reason I have never made NYRs is because of how much pressure there is by me, for me to immediately not fail at it and be amazing at achieving my goal. Taking that pressure away makes me comfortable about achieving my goal at my pace.

Secondly, I am going to get help to achieve my goal. I am going to ask my friends to help me out by arranging video calls, or coffee meets (socially-distanced of course), or just taking a walk with me (while wearing masks) outdoors. Using my friends and family as crutches as I limp my way to a nap-free year is another way I can make the path a little less challenging for myself and be on a realistic track to achieving this.

Lastly, I am going to face the facts. There is probably a good chance that upon seeing my bed in the middle of the day I want to go take a nap and fall back into this habit. That is okay! I am not a fiasco (mostly because I do not think anyone is but I like that word).

It is not the end of the world - it just means that I actively tried and that is an improvement from last year, so in a way I did complete my resolution.

I think I just found a loophole there.

So, dear reader, if you are thinking about trying to make a NYR this year, or if you always do but feel bad about not completing it, I hope my little piece of writing helps you in how you feel about having a NYR this year, and I hope that you use my guide for step two as well to get you on your way to your goal, no matter how big or how small it is, as long as it is something that is important to you.

Also, to the people reading this who succeed at their NYR every time, help your friends and stop talking about how you always complete your NYRs. P.S. if you ever hear anyone verbally say NYR, you know where they got it from.

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THE NEW RESOLUTION.

AS WITH EVERY New Year’s resolutions, most people have set conditions and limitations on how to improve their goals, either be it financially or physically for the year. That being said, the COVID-19 situation has completely derailed any plans that most people had for the foreseeable future.

BY JOSHUA CEA

I remember talking to a classmate in one of my courses who mentioned to me that he had already planned what he was going to do in the next five to six years upon his graduation. It has been a while since I have last talked to him, but I would like to ask him if he sees his future as clearly as he saw it before the world turned upside-down.

CREATIVE

At a personal level, I have reached a point of not caring about the future or planning about life decisions and at these heights of the pandemic, who would?

I sometimes ask those around me if they feel like their lives are suspended.

Everything was locked down during the second wave and given these long and cold winter months the term “cabin fever” can be quite relatable to most of us living in the northern hemisphere. This pandemic is here for the long haul so it might as well be time to question what motivates us and what has kept us going during these difficult times.

If next year is going to be different then it is no longer applicable to make the same old excuses and write up the same resolutions that always end up in a dead end. If 2020 halted our plans, then this 2021 is a time for personal development and applying what we have learned this past year to create something better for ourselves and those closest to us.

So the question is “what to do?”

The pandemic has taught me to appreciate every day I have with those closest to me, to have more time to converse with relatives about topics that might have never come up, to cherish each and every moment I have with them as if it is the last.

Most of us have had to endure hardships either being unemployed, underemployed, and/or have had a relative pass away from COVID-19. Our world has become so distant and selfabsorbed in social media so maybe this might be the moment for those of us who spend so much time blinded by a bright lit screen to reflect on our judgements and actions and start to take notice of our family members more than before.

I wholeheartedly wish for myself to embrace the unknown without any compromise, and with the future up in the air and in suspension, who has time to care about what life has in store for us when we are living turbulent times? It is better to focus on the here and now and enjoy each moment before it passes away.

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SELF-CARE

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BY KAILA GALLACHER

(A PRESCRIPTION FOR Those Days) grab a soft towel. turn on the tap. let the warm water flow. grab some soap, or a cleanser. wash your face, slowly. take your time. don’t rush. this isn’t a race. when you are done, turn off the tap. dry your soft warm skin ever so gently. now breathe. apply moisturizer, if you have some and want to. look at yourself in the mirror find what’s beautiful in the curve of your lips, in the richness of your hair. see the glimmer of beauty reflected in your eyes. recognize this. don’t be afraid to say it.

I am beautiful. be kind. love yourself. it’s hard. it hurts. I know. it isn’t easy, it’s never easy. but all you need to do is find one single thing within you, who is only beauty, to recognize today.

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are you hurting? numb? angry? with yourself? was it hard to get out of bed today? did you sleep in late? stay up last night till the grey dawn of early morning? are you falling behind? do you feel you are failing? like you are lost? in a depression you can’t escape? stop. breathe. it’s okay. it’s okay to hurt. but you must remind yourself: you are doing the best you can with what you have in this moment. be kind to yourself. you are not a failure. sleeping in late is your body requesting for you more time you need to rest. so be kind. and breathe. nourish your body with water and fruit. lie in bed, if you need to. want to. but think: what’s one good thing you did today?

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[you got up from bed. you washed your face. you nourished yourself. even if you went right back to bed, the fact that you got up can be enough for today. the fact that you breathe can be enough for today. be kind to yourself.] 

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MY BUNDLE OF

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BY MEGAN DE SOUSA

WAKING UP, THE bright blue beams of sun hitting my scrunched up face early in the morning. My puppy, warm, wiggling and bright-eyed wobbles up to me and bumps his scruffy snout against my cheek.

In times of stress, that same wobbly puppy licks the salty tears off my eyes, and plops his gentle head into my lap.

To live with such a simple content yet to scratch at my door when I am feeling low, is a reassurance he will never understand.

To see such innocence, to know something relies on me, to pet his unsuspecting sweet brown head, gives me the softest comforts on rough days.

Whenever I open my door, particularly annoyed by the heaviness of its opening, by the effort I need to step into my house, hearing the happy scatter of his paws hitting the bleak cement tiles, gives me the purest positivity I can ask for.

For reference, my daily dose of positivity, Milo

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BY REANN BAST

A Guide to Living with a Growing Heart

CREATIVE When you feel the first thorn breaking through the vena cava, it will hurt. It will bleed. Don’t cut it. You will get used to it.

You will not notice the second. Or the third.

When the rest grow in, and your heart is surrounded by a crown, each beat will bring you to your knees. They won’t notice yet.

You will learn to breathe through it. Put your head between your knees. Pinch your leg.

Bite your tongue.

When the vines grow into your veins and thorns poke through your skin, they will leave. It hurts them to touch you. It will hurt you more. Going after them will make it worse. Each beat another break, each pump a new scar, each throb spills fresh blood.

You will learn to forgive them. Let their name fade, buried under the dirt and blood beneath your nails you gained from trying desperately to claw open your veins.

When the pain fades, don’t trust it. You will be able to walk without your knees clanging together. You will be able to stand in the wind without it knocking you down. You will be able to wrap your arms around yourself without creating new pain. But it isn’t over.

Because all the blood that was shed, all the tears that were spilled, watered the garden inside you. Roses will grow in your lungs, reaching up into your throat to tear it apart every time you speak, until the flower blooms in your mouth. You will be lovely.

When you are lonely, and you will be lonely, try to pick the rose. You won’t be able to. The pain will end, but you will still hurt. You will think that the dullness you feel pressing down into your stomach is something you can live with. But you won’t be able to. Who could kiss you with a flower in the way? Who could hold your hand when the thorns make them bleed? Who could listen to the rasp of your voice rubbed raw by the vines? You won’t blame them. After all, you’re the one with thorns in your heart.

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Where are you?

BY MELISSA NICOLE

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In the dead of night When all light vanishes Where are you?

When the sun shines bright And the shadows disappear Where are you?

As the air grows thick Like a cloud of smoke Where are you?

When you’ve lost your way And want to go back home Where are you?

As I lay in bed in the early of morning I stare with heavy eyes at the ceiling, hoping That I can get some shut eye before the waking hour But in my head I hear a constant voice Where are you? Where are you? Where are you?

I toss and turn every night Trying to get my mind satisfied But no matter how hard I try, how many pages I write I just can’t seem to turn it off Never, all my life

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Perhaps I’ve always been this way Ever since I was only a child Instead of playing basketball or with barbie dolls I would just sit on the hill and think for a while

In high school, all the kids Would worry about how they looked or when the next smoke break was All I would do is stare at a page in my textbook And doodle any figure or sentence that came in my goddamn brain

Spacing out during dinner, as food is being put on my plate As the family begins to talk about their day My mother looks over to me, a brow raised on her face And utters the words ‘Where are you?’

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I can control my thinking now mostly, but sometimes it gets too much Stress upon stress, thinking about future and such But to come back to reality, I breathe in and graze Upon the thoughts in my brain with a simple phrase Where are you?

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O(LIVE)S O(LIVE)S O(LIVE)S O(LIVE)S O(LIVE)S

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BY MARVIN DARKWA

She awoke… Covered in sweat, basking in perpetual twilight. Another conquest, another village torched. It was sour ecstasy. A face sprayed with amusement sat next to her. “Olivia, was I umm... okay?” She flashed him a stony gaze and exited the cramped room. The corridor exposed a house full of people, some halfasleep, each lost in their own respective worlds. She passed each of them as she exited the living room. “Wait! Wait!

Wait!” Olivia paused. The boy spoke, “let’s do something fun.” She stood exposing a scar to the boy who stared at it. Olivia promptly noticed and immediately covered it up with her green blouse. Her caramel skin made it hard to discern a proper age to the boy.

“And why would I want to spend more time with you? You got what you wanted, didn’t you?” she said with abstract melancholy. “I dunno. It’s just I think you could really use a friend…” the boy said trailing off. She stopped, dilly dallying in the confusion of the moment. Olivia walked away. “Dope,” the boy remarked.

He grabbed his black snapback and exited the house. A thunderous sounding lock clasping on the door as they exited to the world, exited to themselves.

They walked. Two youths with stained

self-awareness. They proceeded down the singular pathway that led into town.

Ghostly figures who called themselves parents, teachers, and workers but who were actually perpetrators of ignorance. All who cast their timid rage upon her. Upon Olivia. Their Medusa’s gaze. Her Anglo name not hiding her true sense-of-self. A negress in the making. The once vivacious vert coloured grass was now stained in the chilly autumn. They walked through the town.

“SOOO your family seems cool.” The boy remarked. She said nothing. “Do you think we’ll have a test today?” She said nothing.

“Jeez, this weather”. Once more, she said nothing. They made their way across dirt parched town square, the neighboring townspeople alive with despair. The two continued walking. Cloaked in anonymity and amour. They stopped at the sight of clearing in the town. A forest amidst the trees. To the two it felt otherworldly, and odd. But most of all, it felt peaceful. They settled down and proceeded to converse in loud whispers in a world that seemed to be of their own making.

Olivia stared at the boy with wistful amazement (for many reasons), but mostly that he was still around. She sauntered into the Eden that they had found, her lime tinted eyes bouncing off the reflection in

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the river in the clearing of trees. “There!”

Olivia said, and then began to run as did the boy. “This flower…” said Olivia. “A Yoko Ono flower,” said the boy. Olivia bounced around exclaiming “I want this. I truly do. Oh, no but I mustn’t!”

The boy stood still. Entranced by her stoic astonishment.

Olivia plucked the flower; and put it in her black knapsack.

“Fine you’ve been good, let’s go again,” Olivia said in an inviting tone.

“Wait!” said the boy in a bizarre cadence, “you think the only reason I’m with you is to…” Olivia, taken aback, quickly turned around. Her short-shorts exposing her figure to the boy. He lingered for what seemed like an eternity in the moment and approached her. The boy stood in place and noticed a long gash on her ankle above Olivia’s running shoes.

The boy began to speak and Oliva cut him off. “If you’re gonna stay, make yourself useful. Here, carry this.” She passed him her backpack. She began running as if possessed by the spirit of the Greek God Hermes, her bushy black hair flowing in the breeze.

They walked back into town, both of them saying nothing but wanting everything. The shadows in the aged town showered the two with a happy ignorance,

a green tractor passing Olivia and the boy in the distance in a nearby field. The driver glared at the two with infinite intrigue. Olivia and the boy continued to walk, neither of them saying anything, the seconds, minutes, hours, feeling like they completed small odysseys.

They walked by a new trail in the town and the bleach stained houses seemed to pop out of place. “Look,” started the boy.

Oliva turned to the boy. “What is it?”

Olivia said in a voice of melodic madness.

“Today was-”, he stumbled over his words and started again “I mean today was-” Once more he stumbled, getting caught up in the surge of guilt he felt. “I mean I never really-” He halted once more. “It’s fine.” She stood unbroken in her stance and cast him a half-smile, “see you at school tomorrow…”

She walked inside to her house, the smell of weed wafting into her nose like rain from a green-lawn filled with morning dew. A private hell of drunks, delinquents, and delusions of happiness awaiting her. She turned at that moment as did the boy. “Wait, what’s your name?” said Olivia. “Jaden,” he said in a moment of isolated contentment. They walked parallel to each other, his dusty green running shoes trailing off the muddy lawn.

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BY OLA MULARCZYK

Did you accidentally curse yourself? In this series, I chose to showcase superstitions and bad omens from around the world. From black cats to bubble gum, you better tread carefully.

ART

Just My Luck

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Special thanks to Justyna Mularczyk, Filip Mularczyk, and Paolo Di Michele

@OnismaPhotography

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PAINTED JACKETS BY ARIELLE VOGHT

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FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM: @artsbyarielle The Wave Jacket and the Scream Jacket are both inspired by actual artworks (The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Hokusai and Scream by Edvard Munch). The flower jacket is Arielle’s own design.

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MY NAME IS Motunrayo Oseji and I am a first year student at York. I am a 17 year old Nigerian, who is an upcoming Makeup Photographer as well as Makeup Artist, amongst other things. The pictures below are from my very first, newly released piece ‘The Sunflower’.

Makeup for me is not just about lipsticks and lashes, it is an art, a form of self-expression.

The same way every other artist has their own medium of delivery, i.e painters have canvases, potters have clay, as a Makeup artist, my face is my canvas, my clay and that is exactly what I wanted to showcase in this self-portrait piece.

The main reason why I do what I do, is to let every single individual know that we are all artists in our own way. This being my first piece, I needed to finally let the world see the light and burst of creativity within me, a light that is also within all of us.

FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM: @motun.oeji

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photography TEAM

BY ELIZA SZYMAK SABA SHARIFI SARAH SHAHAB

ART

WHILE ARTICHOKE OFTEN has art/ photography features, in addition this year we also have a photography team! Typically you’ll see their work is scattered through general pages, but for this issue here is a thorough look into their creative work.

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WHAT TO DO IN TORONTO VIRTUALLY IN 2021 BY WCC PRESIDENT BOYAN DEMCHUK

IT HAS BECOME somewhat of a tradition over the past few years that the President of WCC writes something that takes a moment to reflect on the future, and all the fun things you, our readers, can take advantage of in the city of Toronto this new year. But, this past year was something unlike anything we have faced before. It was a year of hardships, a year of change, and a year of development. So, as we all try to look past 2020 and onward to 2021, I do want you to take a moment to look at this past year and reflect on how you have each grown as individuals. Hardships are what make us stronger, we learn more from the times that are tough than we do from the times that are easy.

So, acknowledge that even though this past year probably has not been what you anticipated, make sure to try and look at the positive lessons you have learned about yourself and the world around you.

Since there are not many in-person activities or big events happening in Toronto this spring, I want to take some time to focus on five different ways you can spend quality time at home, selfcaring, and continuing to use this time to grow.

1. Treat Yo Self Adjusting to the online atmosphere has surely been tough for you, and you deserve to give yourself a break every now and then. Whether that is just not touching any emails for a day, ordering your favourite junk food on UberEats late at night, or even taking a nice bath. Do not be afraid to give yourself something that makes you feel good from time to time.

2. Go For a Walk While we might not be able to go hang out with friends indoors or visit the Ab, we can still go outside for a nice walk. There is nothing like getting some fresh air to clear your mind of everything that has been weighing you down.

Plus, you can use all of your stylish new masks to keep warm this winter.

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3. Learn Something New While I am sure you have heard this many times over the past few months, I think it is worth bringing up. You are never gonna spend so much time stuck at home for the rest of your life so take advantage of that and learn something cool. There are endless recipes you can teach yourself online, and countless YouTube tutorials online that are at your disposal. Origami?

Knitting? New TikTok dance? A cartwheel?

Maybe try them all.

4. Reorganize your Living Space Another thing that works well to spice up your life a little is to switch things up in the room you spend all of your time in. Move your bed across the room. Switch which way your desk faces.

Change your posters. It is small but it really makes things feel fresh and new.

5. Participate in Virtual Events Winters College Council is also still offering our usual event programming this year, virtually.

We have a wide variety of different virtual activities happening every week including Game Nights, Wellness Hangouts, Word Nights, and Murder Mystery Events. So, please feel free to come by and have fun with both old friends and new.

I would also like to bring your attention to a variety of virtual events and programming within the AMPD community happening at York this Winter/Spring that you will be able to pass the time with.

Theatre @York Presents Revolt (January 21st - January 23rd) Mortified (March 21st - March 27th) playGround Festival February 8th - February 12th Devised Theatre Festival March 16th - March 20th Scenes by Design April 7th - 9th Department of Dance 50th Anniversary Festival March 30th - April 9th Bloom May- Dates TBD Finish Line (Annual Film Production Showcase) April- Dates TBD YSDN Grad Show April- Dates TBD

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ARTICHOKE

7 Self-Care Tips for Combating the COVID Winter BY MELANIE ROSE GAZVODA

LIFESTYLE

WINTER IS HEAVY. The stretch from December to February is cold, dark, and desolate. This time of year can feel isolating, especially because of COVID-19. If you are feeling depressed and anxious, you are not alone! Social isolation causes depression and an incurable loneliness within everyone.

But do not forget you are in control of your own reality. These tips have really helped me stay positive, motivated, and healthy since the beginning of quarantine. I hope they help you too!

1) Changing Your Mentality “Remember: you get to choose the [person] you want to be. You get to discard the thoughts and habits that aren’t serving you, and create new ones that do. Align your actions with that highest, most exquisite vision of yourself and watch your whole life change.” – Cara Alwill

It all starts inside. Sometimes the voice inside our head can transform into a bully when we listen to it. If this happens, you need to kill your automatic negative thoughts. We are in control of our own realities and when you only see negative patterns, it can swallow you like a dark thundercloud. When you have negative thoughts like, ‘I’m not good enough,’ ‘smart enough,’ or ‘attractive enough,’ you need to either write them down to get them out of your system, or find an equally positive thought to challenge it. It may seem hard to do, especially when you have become so comfortable telling yourself negative thoughts for so long. But if you continue to tell yourself the opposite, eventually your brain will re-wire into believing the latter. I listen to inspirational YouTube videos or podcasts to help inspire and motivate me. One of my favourites is the podcast, ‘UnF*ck Your Brain,” by Kara Loewentheil.

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2) Eating Healthy

3) Exercise & Going Outside

“When you start taking care of yourself you start feeling better, you start looking better and you start to attract better. It all starts within you.” – McGill Media A study at the University of California discovered that, “90% of the body’s serotonin is produced in the gut.” We always hear, “you are what you eat,” and this is so true. It is important not to eat junk food and unreasonable amounts of sugar. Foods like blueberries, walnuts, broccoli, dark chocolate, and leafy greens are all brain foods, which help boost your memory, clear your skin, and have heart benefits. The winter and quarantine make it difficult to eat healthy and to motivate yourself to make dinner, but you can always order meal kits like HelloFresh. They have a variety of options and customizations like vegetarian, which make it so much easier to decide what to eat for dinner and you are bound to find something you like!

My family gets HelloFresh three times a week because it is reasonably priced, and it has quick recipes that taste amazing.

“It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.” – Confucius When we deprive ourselves of the outdoors, we are robbing ourselves of fresh air, exercise, and mental clarity.

Charles Dickens went on walks as far as 20 miles in a single day. Walking boosts our mood naturally by releasing endorphins, and it inspires us to take on challenges for the rest of the day. I challenge you to go on a walk this week and listen to music or enjoy the sounds of nature. Some days are harder to get out of bed than others, but once you do, your body will thank you.

LIFESTYLE

4) Giving In

5) Yoga & Meditation

“Whatever makes you feel the sun from the inside out chase that.” – Gemma Troy Sometimes, you need to give in to your needs. I am not saying to go on a giant shopping spree every time you feel like it, but if you are feeling down, giving in can be as simple as taking a bath, watching a movie, or doing your favourite hobby. It is unrealistic to believe that you are meant to be happy 100% of the time! No one is. People are hard on themselves when they are unhappy or unmotivated, but the most important thing you can do in these times is to acknowledge your feelings and do something you enjoy—guilt free!

You deserve to enjoy things that bring you happiness and laughter. Be safe and socially distance, but maybe go on a socially distanced walk with a friend.

It is okay to eat junk food every once in a while too. Life is too short not to treat yourself.

“The goal of meditation isn’t to control your thoughts, it’s to stop letting them control you.” – Buddha Yoga and meditation remind us to reconnect to the universe and breathe.

Yoga is a great exercise, but it also offers breathing techniques for anxiety, restlessness, and being overwhelmed.

Meditation allows people to clear their heads and quiet their thoughts by focusing not on our thoughts, but on our breath. It allows us to view our problems from another perspective. If you can transcend your body and experience your thoughts from another point of view, it will help you make decisions.

I meditate at least 10 minutes every day.

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6)Routine “You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.” – John C. Maxw AZell Get a day and nighttime routine! This is really important. If your sleep schedule is crazy right now because you are at home all day, you are not the only one.

But sleep is vital for productivity and decision making. We are not at our best when we are sleep deprived or when we oversleep. This can also cause us to feel tired. Having a nighttime routine helps ensure we get enough sleep.

If you are in school right now, having a day routine can be a lifesaver. We always tell ourselves, “I’ll get that done tomorrow,” but make tomorrow happen today. When we organize ourselves and make time for school, it makes stress manageable. Every day I wake up, make my bed, have a tea, exercise, do yoga, meditate, do homework, make lunch, and continue to do homework (there is a lot). I find this schedule has helped me stay on top of things, but when I stray from it, I become overstressed and negative. Some days we just need to push ourselves and if you have a routine, one day it will just come naturally.

LIFESTYLE

7) Social Media Cleanse “Comparison is the thief of joy.” – President Theodore Roosevelt Due to COVID-19, social media and online bullying have risen. We turn to screens for an instant hit of dopamine, but this makes it so much more difficult to do tasks. For November, I challenged myself to get rid of all social media: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. Although it seemed difficult in the beginning because it was the first thing I checked in the morning and I found it gave me so much more time to do work because I had no distractions. Sure, social media can be nice in moderation, but if you find you are comparing yourself to others, are unmotivated to do homework, or are becoming easily irritable, it might be time to take a break.

You might be eating the best grilled cheese of your life, but when you go on Instagram and see that Stacy is in Bora Bora and eating perfect medium-rare steak with garlic mashed potatoes, your grilled cheese now looks and tastes like shit. Everyone is different, but if you compare your looks, wealth, education, and perceived happiness to others, you will never be truly happy. People only post their best online, you never see the behind the scenes. Try not to forget that even Beyoncé feels bad some days, and she compares herself to others too. You just have to be uniquely you and get off your phone! One day we may go back to ‘normal,’ but until then you need to be kind to yourself and others. These are unprecedented times no one has seen before. You are doing the best that you can, and the sun will always come up the next day.

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LAST MINUTE

LIFESTYLE

BY EDUARDO GUERRA

I AM NOT going to lie. This whole thing was written at the last minute.

As you read this, imagine someone insanely smashing their keyboard, hoping they can come up with something clever, before this is due.

But I will tell you this, as you enter into the new semester, it is important to organize your time efficiently, or you end up feeling stressed the moment you get up in the morning… if you even slept at all, or after pulling an all-nighter of assignments. Why…?

Because you left it to the last minute.

I get it though, you feel as if you have a billion things to do for all of your classes. But remember, you have to treat each assignment equally. Just because one assignment is a journal entry that is not worth a lot and the other is an essay that could make or break your grade, you have to treat them with equal value. Otherwise, you forget about certain things and end up getting a zero. Speaking from personal experience, I have some tips that have helped me organize my time.

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First off, you should make a list of everything you have to do. It helps to have a visual of a list of goals to complete, which should motivate you. Secondly, always be checking your emails and eClass. I am not always the biggest fan of online classes, but it is a reality that we are going to be living in for a while. So, we are going to have to get used to it, and that includes all the online elements. Checking your emails is crucial to your online schooling success. Your prof. might send out something important but since you did not see it in time, before you know it, it is 11:50 p.m. on the day it is due, and you find the email and start to panic because you left it to the last minute. Finally, and this is important, always make time for yourself.

I know I have been preaching to not leave things to the last minute and getting your work done on time, but self-care is a key element to your success. Whenever you feel overwhelmed by work, walk away from it for a bit, and do something that helps to alleviate stress. This could be as simple as turning off the lights and lying still in bed in complete silence, or with music in the background.

If you take a nap, that is not a problem, you will be recharged when you get back to work. However, never let your self-care spiral into procrastination; otherwise, you will, and say it with me “leave it to the last minute.” These are just some of the tips and tricks that have helped me organize my work (excluding this which was written at the eleventh hour). I hope they can help you too, as you begin the new semester with more difficult classes and even more essays to write.

Good luck, I believe in you.

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