Book Launch Charismatic Chiaroscuro Meena Chopra - Artist & Poet

Poetry and Art Come Alive at Heritage Mississauga with Meena Chopra’s Latest Book Launch Mississauga, April 17, 2025 — Renowned poet and visual artist Meena Chopra unveiled her latest works, Charismatic Chiaroscuro and Shifting Silhouettes, at a vibrant launch event hosted at Heritage Mississauga. The evening brought together art enthusiasts, poets, dignitaries, and members of the literary community to celebrate Chopra’s newest contribution to Canadian art and poetry. Blending visual aesthetics with lyrical depth, Chopra’s latest collections explore the interplay of light, shadow, and human emotion through a unique fusion of poetry and digital art. Guests were treated to readings, a curated display of artworks, and thought-provoking conversations about creativity, identity, and the evolving role of art in contemporary society. Among the distinguished attendees were Mike Douglas, Executive Director of Mississauga Arts Council; Jayme Gaspar, Executive Director of Heritage Mississauga; historian Matthew Wilkinson; writers Pratap Reddy with his wife Shashi, Kim Cayer writer, Serina Lewis, Sunil Sharma and Sangeeta Sharma with their daughter Srishti; Nain Amyn, Board Member of the Mosaic Festival of Mississauga; poet and artist Brenda Brown; Elizabeth Banfalvi; Mary Ellen; Saran Ghai; Reeta Ghai; Sudeep Tyagi; and Gopal Baghel. The event was masterfully emceed by Bhupinder Virdi, whose warm presence and thoughtful introductions added to the evening's charm. The launch highlighted Heritage Mississauga’s ongoing commitment to supporting local artists and fostering cultural dialogue. It was a true celebration of artistic expression, marking another milestone in Chopra’s acclaimed career. 

This video documents the book launch of "Charismatic Chiaroscuro" and "Shifting Silhouettes," two books by artist and poet Mina Chopra. Here is a summary of the video's key moments: Introduction of Speakers: The event begins with introductions of several prominent figures, including Mike Douglas, Executive Director of the Mississauga Arts Council [00:55], Jamie Gasper, Executive Director of Heritage Mississauga [03:19], and Serena Lewis, a poet and author [05:30]. Mina Chopra's Presentation: Mina Chopra discusses her creative journey and her latest works [11:04]. She explains that "Charismatic Chiaroscuro" reflects her journey, inspired by a 1988 oil painting [12:56]. She then recites four of her poems: "Mississauga" [14:16], "Saptarishi" [15:50], "Lost" [18:25], and "Deep Dark Woods" [22:53]. Reflections on the Books: Several speakers share their thoughts, including author and editor Elizabeth Manley [26:48], writer and artist Pratab Rai [31:00], and writer and editor Dr. Surjit Sharma [39:54]. Closing Remarks: The event concludes with a Q&A session and book signing [49:51]