ArtToronto

Category: Mauricio Contreras-Parades

  • ineffable plasticity/the experience of being human

    November 18, 2011
    Opening Reception 8-11pm
    Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art
    curated by Camilla Singh
    Artists: Matt Brown, Sherri Hay, Faith La Rocque, Jordan MacLachlan, Anders Oinonen, Susy Oliveira

    The receptions for these two exhibitions proved lively as the art and fashion crowd came out to view the contemporary art works and socialize.

      Leonard Brooks, Mocca curator David Liss, Simon Cooper Cole. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    The exhibit ineffable plasticity, the experience of being human in compassed a variety of media from painting to installation. Matt Brown’s Circle of Willis (ink on matte board) detailed drawings were engaging and colourful. The 30 works were depicting a recounting of the history of the world, lined the east wall of the gallery.

    Visitor in front of Matt Brown’s Circle of Willis. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Jordan MacLachlan’s terracotta plaster fired figures reflecting a cross section of life, are mounted on a series of tables stretching through the gallery, captured the attention of visitors. MacLachlan used a variety of oil paints and other media such as nail polish to colour his figures. The artist works out of car garage in downtown Toronto.

     Jordan MacLachlan’s terracotta plaster figures.

    Artist Jordan MacLanchlan. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Anders Oinonen‘s dark brooding paintings were compelling. Sherri Hays mixed media works were wonderfully graphic and revealing.

    Artist  Anders Oinonen. Photo: Phil Anderson

    Artist Sherri Hays. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Two of my favourite works were Crystal Ladder and Salt Ramp With Celestial Children by artist Faith La Rocque. The ladder with crystals suspended from the gallery’s ceiling was beautifully simple but embracing the theme of the exhibition.

    Salt Ramp With Celestial Children by artist Faith La Rocque. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Salt Ramp With Celestial Children by artist Faith La Rocque. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Hot Wet Planet and Nature Stoned (chromira prints on card with foam core) by Susy Oliveira were oozing of wild green garden imagery.

    Visitors check out work by Susy Oliveira. Photo: Phil Anderson

    Curator Camilla Singh has a reputation for putting together intriguing exhibitions and once again has not failed to deliver a clever and thoughtful exhibition that reminds us that we are bound by nature and its hold on us.

     Curator Camilla Singh, Artist Matt Brown & friend. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Visitor George Whiteside, photographer and friend. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Visitor, Eldon Garnet, artist. Photo: Phil Anderson

    Arnaqurk Ashevak, The Artist’s hand, 1991, from Human Nature. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Visiors with by Susy Oliveira’s Petal Piece. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Photo: Phil Anderson

    The galleries of MOCCA were packed and it would require a second visit to check out the works in details. It was a fun opening with nearby galleries also having openings at Edward Day Gallery and Clint Roenisch Gallery.

    The opening at Edward Day Gallery. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Text by Phil Anderson

  • THE MESSAGE

     November 2-13, 2011
    Panel discussion: Wednesday, November 9, 7pm
    GALLERY 1313, Main and Process Gallery
    1313 Queen Street West, Toronto

    The reception for this new media exhibition was pleasant with 13, 15 & 18 year old single malt scotch being served from the sponsor Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whiskey. Several of the participating artists including Zeesy Powers, Nicholas Stedman, and Myfanwy Ashmore were in attendance. Artist Robert Lendrum was in Halifax opening another exhibition, and Daniel Borins and Jennifer Marman were in New York opening an exhibition. Tasty treats were supplied by caterer Frances Wensley including spring rolls, vegetarian sushi and wrapped asparagus. A variety of media were in attendance including ArtSync TV. Some faculty members from the Ontario College of Art came by including Judith Doyle.

    On Nov. 9th the panel discussion takes place at the gallery and the exhibit ends on Nov. 13th. The week was busy with events celebrating the legacy of Marshall Mcluhan and this one was well received.

    Gallery 1313 Board Member Diana Dickson, her son Mark, and Gallery 1313 Board Member Marie Nazar, in front of Zeesy Powers’ graphic digital print. Photo: Phil Anderson

    Robert Lendrum, in his video work. Nicholas Stedman, Tribot, behavioral sculpture and video. Photo: Phil Anderson

    Artist Jaspal Birdi with gallery interns Kelly Setter and Misha Michael. Photo: Phil Anderson

    Photo: Phil Anderson

    Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

  • Show Off @ the Junction Street Festival

    Street Party: Friday, October 21, 7 – 11pm
    The Junction, at Dundas and Keele
    On display: October 18 – 30
    www.mason-studio.com/showoff/

    Christine Kim and Lesley Look Hong, Pandemonium, 2011.

    Toronto-based design firm Mason hosted Show Off @ the Junction; an event where local designers and artists were let loose on Junction shop windows to create jaw-dropping installations which showcase the amazing retailers and product the community has to offer.

    The event, which included 12 retail shops and art galleries on the strip of Dundas St. W, west of Keele, unites over 20 designers and artists providing an opportunity to create conceptual spaces all the while supporting independent business owners and their unique product.

    Christine Kim and Lesley Look Hong, Pandemonium, 2011.

    Amanda McCavour, Scribble, 2011.

    Amanda McCavour, Scribble (detail), 2011.

    Studio 1:1 and Eclectic Revival, Deflect, 2011.

    Studio 1:1 and Eclectic Revival, Deflect (detail), 2011.

    Nivek Remas, Opticianado, 2011.

    Julia Vandepolder & Brian Harvey, Telephone Booth Gallery, 2011.

    Jenn Hannotte and Micah Lenahan, Russet & Empire, 2011.

    Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

  • ART TORONTO 2011

    Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Photo: Katherine Porter

    Ross Bell, Strip Cube, 2009-11. Georgia Scherman Projects. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    The 12th Toronto International Art Fair got off to a great start last evening (Thursday, Oct. 27) with the fundraiser gala for the AGO. The Art Gallery of Ontario in turn used the monies raised to add several pieces to its collection. All the galleries I talked to seemed to be thrilled at the success already of the Fair. Gallery owner Carrie Secrist of  the Carrie Secrist Gallery of Chicago said it was their first time at the fair and they had already sold over thirty small works . This was her first Toronto Fair and she has done many other art fairs and was pleased with the Toronto response to her artists.

    Angelo Musco at Carrie Secrist Gallery, Chicago. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    One of the unique offerings this year is the addition of the Next booths. These are for smaller up and coming galleries with works priced lower and artists who had not established themselves. Most of these young galleries were from Quebec and Toronto and paid roughly $6000 to get their booth. Artist Charlie Jones from L.A. has some colourful works in the exhibition. The printing making gallery, Open Studio was at the fair as was The Red Head Gallery a Toronto Co-op  gallery. MOCCA had sold out their Ed Burtynsky  Print Edition (sold all 25 prints) Dryland  Farming #13 as a benefit for MOCCA Programming. Canadian Art  Magazine’s Editor, Richard Rhodes had curated three special exhibitions for the Fair. The works will be changed in the space over a period of a day or two.

    Ed Burtynsky,  Dryland  Farming #13 Print Edition (sold all 25 prints)

    Another addition this year is a video screening room with 15 Canadian and international video titles being screened continuously in a loop. With the expansion of the actual space on the floor of the Convention centre (they have now section C as well as A & B) this allowed the Fair to display sculpture & installation in their OPEN SPACE section. Most of the works are from Toronto galleries but this is a great addition as well to the Fair. The Art Game by Kent Monkman is part installation part performance with a little tongue in cheek look at the art world. It was definitely worth waiting to catch this performance. There is so much to see you need more than a few hours to take it all in.

    Kent Monkman, The Art Game. Photo: Katherine Porter

    Director of the Fair, Linel Rebenchuk had reason to be happy with the opening success of the Fair. Wear some comfortable shoes and prepare to be amazed.

    Director of the Fair, Linel Rebenchuk. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Derek Liddington, ( Part of Open Space ) Daniel Faria Gallery, Toronto. Photo:Phil Anderson

    Solo Artist Project: Larry Kagan at Lonsdale Gallery, Toronto.  Photo:Phil Anderson

    Andrew Smith, Galerie Dominique Bouffard, Montreal.  Photo:Phil Anderson

    Andy Warhol, BMW M1, 1979. BMW Art Car. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Chuck Close, Roy, 2009; Alex, 1992. Galerie De Bellefeuille, Westmount. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Evan Penny, Old Self, Variation #2, 2011. TrépanierBaer Gallery, Calgary. Photo: Katherine Porter

    Julie Blackmon at Catherine Edelman Gallery, Chicago

    Left: John Massey, Casa 1, Malaparte, 2010/11. Georgia Scherman Projects, Toronto. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Markus Linnenbrink, EVERYWHEREALLTHETIMEEVERYTHING, 2009. ftc. Berlin.Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Kathy Kissik, Chaos in London, 2008. The Elaine Fleck Gallery, Toronto. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Dean Project, New York. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Solo Artist Project: Attila Richard Lukacs, Installation. Windsor Gallery, Vancouver. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    418 Contemporary Art Gallery, Bucharest, Romania.Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Jonathan Cooper, London UK. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Mike Weiss Gallery, Kim Dorland,Cabin, 2009-2011, New York. Photo: Katherine Porter

    The Collage workshop. Photo: Katherine Porter

    Art Gallery of York University. Photo: Katherine Porter

    Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Text: Phil Anderson

  • Art for Tibet

    Saturday, October 15, 6 – 10:30pm
    Gallery 1313
    1313 Queen St. West, Toronto
    Gallery Show: October 5-16, open to the public
    www.artfortibet.com

    Photo: Phil Anderson

    The evening was successful in raising funds and awareness for the organization and its cause. Bidding was online as well as at the event. The organizer Teuzin Nawang Tekan got the idea for the Toronto event after attending a similar event in New York. The group is looking at a larger event in 2012. This year’s event managed to attract a lot of the local Tibet community in Parkdale as well as others interested in the cause.

    Photo: Phil Anderson

    More than 20 acclaimed and emerging artists exhibited artworks together for the first ever Art for Tibet (A4T) Canada, annual art show, cultural exhibition and fundraiser at Gallery 1313 in Toronto. Art for Tibet featured leading contemporary Tibetan and international artists, including Tenzing Rigdol, Chungpo, Ang Tsherin Sherpa, Brian Harris, UIla Djelweh, and many more.

    Photo: Phil Anderson

    Since protests swept across Tibet in March 2008, the Chinese government has arrested and imprisoned numerous Tibetan writers and artists for criticizing its policies in Tibet. Despite this escalated repression, we are witnessing a cultural renaissance in Tibet, with an endless stream of poems, essays, songs and paintings flowing out from beyond the Himalayas. Over 50 Tibetan artists and writers have been arrested, tortured and imprisoned in the past two years. This year’s Art for Tibet drew attention to their persecution by honouring Tibetan artists in Tibet and in exile for their contribution to Tibetan contemporary culture. All proceeds from the event will benefit SFT Canada, a non-profit organization with international headquarters in New York.

    Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Text: Tenzin Nawang Tekan, Art For Tibet Canada Coordinator

  • Nuit Blanche 2011

    Saturday, October 1, 6:59pm – 7.00am

    From sunset on Saturday, October 1, to sunrise on Sunday, October 2, 2011, Toronto celebrated its 6th annual all-night contemporary art festival, Scotiabank Nuit Blanche, displaying over 130 works created by local, national and international artists.

    Zone A

    Karen Henderson, Slow Falls Rising, 2011. Photo: Phil Anderson

    AES + F, The Feast of Trimalchio, 2009-11. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    AES + F, The Feast of Trimalchio, 2009-11. Photo: Phil Anderson

    Sam Durant, Electric Signs, 2002, 2008. Photo: Phil Anderson

    Richard Purdy, L’écho-l’eau, 2011. Photo: Phil Anderson

    Althea Thauberger, The Police Station, 2011. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Jessica Rose, A City Sleepover, 2011. Photo: Katherine Porter

    Jessica Rose, A City Sleepover, 2011. Photo: Katherine Porter

    Zone B

    Usman Haque and Natalie Jeremijenko, Flightpath Toronto, 2011. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Usman Haque and Natalie Jeremijenko, Flightpath Toronto, 2011. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Usman Haque and Natalie Jeremijenko, Flightpath Toronto, 2011. Photo: Adrian Oosterman

    GUILD, Through the Gorilla Glass, 2011. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    GUILD, Through the Gorilla Glass, 2011. Photo: Adrian Oosterman

    Christine Irving and Interactive Art, The Heart Machine, 2010. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Christine Irving and Interactive Art, The Heart Machine, 2010. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Anthony Swan, Hillary Predko, Maihyet Burton, Denis Taman Bradette, The St. James Circus. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Jean-François Bouchard, Still Life. Photo: Phil Anderson

    Zone C

    Jeremy Jansen and Niall McClelland, Barricades, 2011. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Jeremy Jansen and Niall McClelland, Barricades, 2011. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Jeremy Jansen and Niall McClelland, Barricades, 2011. Photo: Adrian Oosterman

    LEITMOTIF: Cubes, group exhibition. Photo: Phil Anderson

    Funhouse, group exhibition. Photo: Katherine Porter

    Text: Michelle Lun

  • Gallery Hop / Evening Magazine Launch

    Saturday, September 24, 5;30 – 7:30
    CANADIAN ART FALL ISSUE

    On the evening of Saturday 24th 2011, the Canadian Art Foundation’s 16th Annual Gallery Hop wasn’t the only thing worth celebrating in Toronto. That same evening, Canadian Art Magazine celebrated the launch of its fall issue and 25 years in production.

    Mark Glassman of Pages Bookstore (now closed) in centre. Photo:Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    John Bentley Mays, art writer in the right Photo:Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

     Photo:Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    The evening was hosted at Monte Clark Gallery, of the historic Distillery District, who also celebrates its 10th year in Toronto. The gallery currently shows the group exhibition Capture, which includes works by artists like Scott McFarland, Alison Yip, and Jeff Wall.

    Photo:Katherine Porter

    Photo:Katherine Porter

    Photo:Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Text: Katherine Porter

  • Gallery Hop, Panel discussion

    Panel artists Jed Lind, Sarah Anne Johnson, An Te Liu and Rick Rhodes, editor of Canadian Art (from left to right). Photo:Katherine Porter

    Tiff Bell Lightbox

    Marvel, excitement, and pride filled the voice of Rick Rhodes, editor of Canadian Art magazine, as he presented the theme of last Saturday’s Gallery Hop Panel Discussion: Location3 (Location, Location, Location). As he introduced the Canadian Art Foundation’s 16th annual ‘Hop’, Rhodes suggested that Location be understood both as an indication of progress and as an equation. As the Saturday panel graduates from the unpainted dry wall and exposed electrical of Queen West’s pre-restored Gladstone Hotel to the Tiff-Bell Lightbox, we recognize its progress.

    Panel artists Jed Lind, Sarah Anne Johnson, An Te Liu (from left to right)Photo:Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    By pointing to the mysterious worlds of math and science in a subtle pun, Location3 also refers directly to ideas of place and place-less-ness as an equation that is integral to Art (especially in Canada). On the panel, artists Jed Lind, An Te Liu, and Sarah Anne Johnson spoke to the diversity of ways in which location has informed their work.

    Sarah Anne Johnson’s presentation. Photo:Katherine Porter

    An Te Liu negotiated culturally coded notions of place, non-place and place-ness-less, Johnson spoke of her need to inject bleak documentary-style photography with personality, story, and emotion,

    Sarah Anne Johnson:Ripple, 2011 Photo:Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    and Jed Lind spoke to his fascination with location as a perpetual product of dislocation.

    Jed Lind’s presentation Photo:Katherine Porter

    The result was a (free!) intellectual and visual feast for Canadian art enthusiasts, that promises and exciting event for years to come.

    Photo:Mauricio Contreras-Paredes

    Text by Katherine Porter