Author: artoronto

January 14 – 30, 2012
Opening: Saturday, January 14, 2 – 4 p.m.
BAU-XI PHOTO
324 Dundas St. West
Toronto, Ontario M5T 1G5
T: 416.977.0400
E: info@bau-xiphoto.com
www.bau-xiphoto.com
Hours: Mon-Sat 10-5:30, Sun 11-5:30

Bau-Xi Photo is pleased to be exhibiting the newest series of photographs by Zoë Jaremus, entitled Into the Wild. Her new work negotiates the relationship between aggressive winter landscapes and the vulnerable female figures who traverse them, recalling the tales of the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen.

Zoë Jaremus is a young photographer who recently obtained her MFA from Concordia University. She previously studied at the Ontario College of Art and Design, and attended the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. Her photography depicts figures in contrived situations, at times metaphors for society, gender, societal stereotypes, and the human condition. The out-of-focus, ambiguous figures in her latest works often reflect a particular moment that conveys an ephemeral and transient feeling. With an ever-increasing list of exhibitions, her work is continually evolving.

Sea Otter Whip Tail

January 14 – 30, 2012
Opening: Saturday, January 14, 2–4 p.m.
BAU-XI GALLERY
340 Dundas St. West
Toronto, Ontario M5T 1G5
T: 416.977.0600
E: toronto@bau-xi.com
www.bau-xiphoto.com
Hours: Mon-Sat 10-5:30, Sun 11-5:30

Janna Watson is a young artist who has enjoyed early success in her painting career, shortly after graduating from the Ontario College of Art and Design. Janna’s work includes a beautiful freeness, a carefully balanced pairing of loose painting and stain combined with perfectly placed architectural lines. Janna says she is “inspired by the contours of natural landscape and the harsh outline of urbanity.” Most of her paintings are on wood panels coated in resin, giving a deep saturation to the swirling stains of colour and sharp lines below.

Watson states, “Line has an invisible and tangible ability to transmit energy and information. Line is what weaves forms and thought together and guides the eye through volume, space and time; it makes my thought process visible. Thoughts are triggered by outside influences, physically processed, and then sent outward once again. Thoughts cannot be possessed. They are simple, sometimes intruding, fleeting and completely intimate. They are the structures that manifest into real life with uncomprehendable potential. These are the qualities imbued in line. Line is used as a metaphor in my work, for the lifespan of a thought caught on canvas. It also symbolizes my opposing yet symbiotic lifestyles visible in the tension between organic and geometric forms. When I am painting, I strive to communicate the ideas I am digesting which give form to the image.”

Watson is a recent graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design and has already begun building an impressive list of exhibitions for such a young painter.

December 16, 2011
888 DUPONT ST., UNIT 111

Combining film, dance, and architecture, Raha Shirazi and Raja Moussaoui’s Intersections provides an immersive viewing experience. A projected image of a Middle Eastern bazaar greets the audience, beckoning them into the installation. To the right, an arched entryway, echoing the bazaar’s architecture, leads into tent-like structure. The white canvas walls serve as a screen for the artist’s family videos from Iran and Lebanon as well as for news clips—footage of war. Loud blasts punctuate the soundtrack of a wedding celebration and a mother clapping along to a child’s dance.

Dancers add another layer to the piece. The audience first glimpses them as shadows moving inside the canvas walls. Then they emerge and fill the space, their movements picking up some elements from the films, though not restricted by them. The performance is improvised, the dancers reacting to each other and weaving around audience members to get to different areas of the installation.

At the end of the passageway, the tent opens up into the corner of the room, creating a triangular space on either side where two very different images are projected. One is a typical Canadian landscape: a quiet lake at the foot of a mountain. A definite contrast to the images inside the tent, this final picture underscores the distance the artist has traveled and the displacement this work struggles to negotiate.

Liz Johnston

Jinny Yu, installation

January 4–22,  2012
Opening: Thursday, January 5, 7–10 p.m.
GALLERY 1313 
1313 Queen Street West,
Toronto, ON M6K 1K8
T: 416–536-6778
Email: director@g1313.org
www.gallery13131.org
Hours: Wed–Sun 1–6

Gallery 1313 has long been a supporter of the emerging artist. After having had over 6,000 artists exhibit at the Gallery, now in its 14th year we see many artists who have achieved success after starting with an early exhibition at the gallery.

Most of these emerging artists are recent graduates of art programs in different art schools, such as York University or the Ontario College of Art. This exhibition has attracted artists from not just Ontario but also Alberta, Quebec and British Columbia. It is a rare opportunity to see fresh artistic talent that is on the rise. For collectors and gallerists it is a rare opportunity to get a glimpse of some future art stars.

Curated by Phil Anderson, Director of Gallery 1313.

Works include a variety of mediums from artists:
Jordan Dunlop, Daphine Viassis, Bradford Wilson, Tara Krebs, Richard Adnert, Jill Claeys, Cam Reid (Vancouver), Anestessia Bettas, Coryn Kempster, Morsal Behdad, Adi Zur, Oliver Pauk,  Susan Ross, Aleksandra Woszczyna, Christina Tjandra, Tasnuva  Hasan, Nikki White, Catherine Polcz, Eli Kerr, Erin Finlay, Tom Legrady, Dan Hu, Claire Scherzinger, Rob Porter, Caroline Scanlan, Robin Lason, Jaymie Lethem, Kelsey Reich, Brianne Lowe, Mikaal  Naik, Edward De Ryk, David Roddis, Arash Akhgari, Audrey Smith, Cloe Norman, Julia Jamrozik, Tommy Aird, Robert Snikkar, Rosemary Vanaderggen, Mike Russo , Rhiana Sheyd, Michelle Li, Christine Bunn, Sam Cotter, Dimitri Fedosseev, Mohammed Rezaei, Gwen Tooth, Fernanda Figueroa, Jinny Yu & others.

Gallery 1313 gratefully acknowledges the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

“The Sphinx”, by Sunmi Jung

 January 12 – February 3, 2012
Opening Reception and Artist Talks
Saturday, January 14, 1:30 p.m.
CANADIAN SCULPTURE CENTRE
500 Church Street
Toronto ON M4Y 2C8
Tel: 647-435-5858
Email: gallery@cansculpt.org
Hours: Tuesday–Friday 12–6; Saturdays 11–4

Please join us in celebrating the dedication and commitment of Executive Members and Volunteers of the Sculptors Society of Canada.

Meet Artists:

Mary Ellen Farrow
Camie Geary-Martin
Karen Stoskopf Harding
Judy Raymer Ivkoff
Elaine Jaques
Saulius Jaskus
Sunmi Jung
Evgueni Kogan
Janine Lindgren
J. Mac
Richard McNeill
Peter Shoebridge
Alex Tavares
Dina Torrans
Judi Michelle Young
Daniel Yu
_________________________________________________________________

CALL TO ENTER:

Sculptors Society of Canada presents…
The 17th Annual Juried Graduating Sculpture Student Exhibition,
June 6–July 6, 2012
Jurors: TBA 
Applications to be available February 1, 2012
Deadline: April 13, 2012

Sculptors Society of Canada presents…
The 13th Annual Juried Emerging Sculptors Exhibition, August 15– September 7, 2012
Jurors: TBA 
Applications to be available Feb 15, 2012
Deadline: May 15, 2012

Canadian Sculpture Centre, 500 Church Street, Toronto ON M4Y 2C8
For info: gallery@cansculpt.org or 647.435.5858 (24hr messaging)

Mary Catherine Newcomb, Untitled (detail), 2011-12, rabbit’s ear, glass, silver, grass.

January 7 – 29, 2012
Opening: Saturday, January 7,  2-5 p.m.
Q&A Session: Sunday, January 15, 2-4 p.m.
LOOP GALLERY
1273 Dundas Street West
Toronto, ON, M6J 1X8
T: 416.516.2581
E-mail:loopgallery.patricia@gmail.com
http://loopgallery.blogspot.com
www.loopgallery.ca
Hours: Wed–Sat 12–5 p.m., Sun 1–4 p.m.

In her January 2012 exhibition at loop Gallery Mary Catherine Newcomb combines an image of the hare, a recurring personal symbol, with her interest in working with living media in the 8’ long “Great Hare.”

The exhibition also features a number of smaller pieces including a rabbit’s ear suspended in olive oil with a small silver cup, six silver beans on a small bed of grass, and a series of ink drawings on the rib bones of a cow. These works, together with the Great Hare, whose pelt of coiffed turf is literally alive to the touch, raise questions about the relationship between different life forms.

Mary Catherine Newcomb is a sculptor based in Southern Ontario who was born and raised in Montreal. She has received numerous awards from both the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts. Her work has been widely exhibited in Canada and internationally.

 Martha Eleen, Tough Luck, 2011, oil on wood, 30″ x 30″ .

January 7 – 29, 2012
Opening: Saturday, January 7,  2-5 p.m.
Q&A Session: Sunday, January 15, 2-4 p.m.
LOOP GALLERY
1273 Dundas Street West
Toronto, ON, M6J 1X8
T: 416.516.2581
E-mail:loopgallery.patricia@gmail.com
http://loopgallery.blogspot.com
www.loopgallery.ca
Hours: Wed–Sat 12–5 p.m., Sun 1–4 p.m.

Loop Gallery is pleased to announce exhibitions by loop member Martha Eleen entitled I, Huck.

The latest exhibition by Toronto-based artist Martha Eleen, I, Huck maps the domestic space framing the artist’s relationship with her son Gabe, who is vulnerable and requires constant support.

This is an inside view of a dynamic person whose natural gifts of sharp wit, emanating love, and disarming honesty are often obscured by disability bias.

The titles used in the work are quotes from Gabe. Fascinated by analog audio technology, Gabe listens to several recorded versions of Huckleberry Finn and likes to call himself  ‘Huck.’ He thinks the “n” word is “neighbour.”

Martha Eleen is an honours graduate of Emily Carr College of Art in Vancouver, Canada. Her artistic practice engages the ideas of cultural landscape, the construction of society, and the politics of space through painting. Her work has been exhibited in public galleries in Canada, the United States, Japan, and Mexico. Martha Eleen is represented by loop Gallery in Toronto. She teaches painting and drawing at the Toronto School of Art.

Merav Sudaey, Toronto, Two deers, 2011,  acrylic on canvas, 50 x 50 cm.

January 6 – April 1, 2012
JULIE M. GALLERY
15 Mill Street
Building 37, Suite 103
Toronto ON   M5A 3R6
T: 416 603 2626
F: 416 603 2620
E: info@juliemgallery.com
www.juliemgallery.com

“Take my breath away” is a group show featuring Maya Bar, Deganit Berest, Miriam Cabessa, Ilya Gefter, Shai Kremer, Alma Shneor and the latest work by Merav Sudaey.

On view as of January 6th, this collection of works is specially designed to take advantage of the full spectrum of colour of which we Canadians are deprived during those bone-dry, white winter months.  Select paintings and photographs range the gamut from realism to patterned abstraction. Gathering a collection of bright, saturated paintings and photographs by our most popular gallery artists, “Take my breath away” is a strident reminder that the white chill of winter is fleeting.  The pleasure evoked by a beautiful vista is universal.

Visit the gallery to experience that beauty—be it realistic or abstract—through the eyes of our artists.

Surrey City Centre Library

November 24, 2011–February 26, 2012
DESIGN EXCHANGE / Exhibition Hall
Toronto Dominion Centre
234 Bay St.
Toronto, ON M5K 1B2
Tel: 416-216-2126
Email: laura@dx.org
website: www.dx.org
Hours: Mon–Fri 10–5,  Sat–Sun 12–5 p.m.
Fees: Adult $10, Student/Senior $8, DX Members free

On November 23 the Design Exchange Awards announced Canada’s top 50 design projects.

In its 20th year the awards welcomed hundreds of entries from across Canada in Architecture, Interior Design, Industrial Design, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, Visual Communications, Fashion and CEO of the Year. Winning projects will be featured in a major exhibition at the DX.

Projects were judged on their level of innovation, sustainability/accessibility, function profitability and aesthetics.

HIGHLIGHTS:

CEO of the year was presented to Pierre Beaudoin, President and CEO of Bombardier.

Headquartered in Montreal, Bombardier is a leader in state of the art aerospace and rail transportation. Bombardier is a true Canadian success story with revenues of $17.7 billion. Astoundingly, every three seconds a Bombardier aircraft takes off or lands around the globe.

In the Commercial Architecture category, three libraries across Canada took prized positions. Projects include Bibliotheque Raymond-Levesque by atelier TAG (Manon Asselin Architect) in Quebec (Gold), Surrey City Centre Library in British Columbia by Bing Thom Architects Inc. (Silver) and Hamilton Central Library and Farmers Market by RDH Architects Inc. in association with david premi Architect Inc.

These projects have helped transform city centres by reconnecting the community and encouraging reading, studying and unity. Each library has witnessed a significant rise in attendance, illustrating how exceptional design attracts the public. Principal designers Andrea Lenczner and Christie Smythe of Smythe took home Gold in the Fashion Category.

Recognized for high quality contemporary jackets and coats designed and manufactured domestically in Canada, Smythe set out to create a niche position to exploit the denim phenomenon and address the growing trend of label mixing. Today, Smythe boasts a broad customer base with international distribution around the world including the United States, UK, Japan and Canada.

For a full list of winners or to browse the Winners Catalogue, go to www.v2com.biz. Each project has a unique design story and reflects Canadian talents—to learn more about each project contact Cindy Grenke at cindy@dx.org or 416-216-2134.

 ABOUT THE DESIGN EXCHANGE

Design Exchange (DX) is Canada’s Design Centre and Museum with a mission to promote the value of design. It is an internationally recognized non-profit educational organization committed to promoting greater awareness of design as well as the indispensable role it plays in fostering economic growth and cultural vitality. DX improves communication between various design disciplines, educators, businesses and the general public through programs, exhibits, lectures, and workshops. For more information visit www.dx.org.

Bona fide Internet sensation and “Official Brand of the Twenty-First Century”, The Pleasure Is Back is proud to once again take the leap out of cyberspace and make its window display debut with the new The Pleasure Is Back showcase at Roadside Attractions in cosmopolitan Toronto, Canada.

Presenting the allure of cheap, mass-produced products through the idealizing and alienating lens of storefront windows, this groundbreaking display will boost sales throughout the holidays right into the New Year!  Along with such favourite The Pleasure Is Back merchandise as our t-shirts, mugs, posters and books, a cutting-edge 3D slideshow of notable clippings will captivate passersby while increasing name recognition and brand awareness amongst the highly sought-after strolling-pedestrian demographic. While this display will only be up for a limited time, viewers are encouraged now and in the future to visit us at thepleasureisback.com for more about our brand and exciting line of products!

Artist’s website: http://www.adammedley.com/

Sherri Hays, Vibrate like sound

December 21, 2011–January 14, 2012
CHRISTOPHER CUTTS GALLERY
21 Morrow Avenue
Toronto, ON M6R 2H9
T: 416 532 5566
info@cuttsgallery.com
www.cuttsgallery.com
Hours: Tues–Sat 11–6 

The Christmas Group show features Gallery artists.

January 4–28, 2012
Opening: Saturday, January 7, 2–5 p.m.
THE RED HEAD GALLERY
401 Richmond St. W., Suite 115
Toronto, ON M5V 3A8
T:  416-504-5654
Email: art@redheadgallery.org.
www.redheadgallery.org.
Hours: Wed–Sat 12–5 pm

Around the Block is a multi-channel video and audio environment that enacts common realities of the street where we flow like a river through restricted space with obstructed views. Our ears are more liberated than our eyes.

Around the Block began as a collection of still images and sounds from a typical urban neighborhood.  Invariably, most views are blocked and/or framed by fences that demarcate property boundaries, constrain pedestrian movement or enforce security. The audio environment, on the other hand, is relatively boundless. It delivers open and fluid evidence of what people are saying, doing and experiencing.

The aggregation of images that comprises Around the Block is distilled into a continuum of visually limited space.  Rendered as three videos, projected in series, we see people stroll by—sometimes curious about what lies beyond their view. All the while, the audible experience tempts us with glimpses into a larger and unseen distance.

Taken as a whole, Around the Block forms a dynamic stream of familiar yet idiosyncratic spaces. It reveals much about the texture and syntax of our urban existence while questioning the culture of privatization and disconnection.  The work constitutes a virtual place where viewers can reflect on the sensations, knowledge and experience that is both available and unavailable to them.

Jean Bridge is an interdisciplinary artist who works in a wide range of digital and interactive media.  Her projects have been exhibited widely in Canada and internationally.  Bridge lives in St. Catharines, Ontario, where she teaches new media at Brock University.  She is also the founder of nGen, Niagara Interactive Media Generator.  For more information: www.jeanbridge.com

 The artist wishes to acknowledge the support of the Ontario Arts Council and the technical assistance of Tracy Van Oosten, Barsin Aghajan, Stu Gritter, Ben Mikuska and Duncan MacDonald