On through February 25, 2007.

From the catalogue: “In an essay on Michaelangelo Antonioni’s film Zabriskie Point, Diedrich Diedrichsen considers incoherence as a utopian strategy against the rationalizing forces of bureaucracy and consumer society. He calls this “psychedelic critique.”

Curator NEIL CAMPBELL has divided the show into three parts. The first is a survey of Vancouver painting from the 1960’s, 70’s and 80s. We loved the salon-style hanging:

Says Campbell: “When students investigate painting in our art schools, they’re usually looking elsewhere for their references – to New York or Berlin or London. They could use more occasions to become familiar with what’s been made locally.” Continue reading →

VoCA recommends JAAKKO PERNU at Tatar Gallery in Toronto from January 25 to March 31.

The Light Keeper, 1997. Image: Arthouse.oulu.net

This Finnish artist makes sculptures from willow branches. Although his pieces have a formal quality, his inspiration comes from the history of wood craft in Finland. Continue reading →

December 15, 2006

Dear Young Collector,

I hope this letter finds you well. As promised, here is my follow-up to my previous note.

So. You’ve heard that it’s cool to buy contemporary art; you think you might want to buy something, but you don’t want to throw your money away. There’s so much art around – how do you know if it will be worth anything one day? How do you know which gallerist to trust?

Image: Epo-kem.com

First, make sure you want to begin collecting because you have an interest. Whether it’s an interest in a particular media or just a curiosity to see what’s out there, collect because you love what you’re buying – not because you’re hoping to one day make a profit. Continue reading →

This year, VoCA suggests forgoing gifts altogether in favor of supporting our environment.

Envrionmental Defence Canada

If you can’t resist pressies, here’s a list of art and related gifts that last - and that support the arts in Canada:

ART METROPOLE, Toronto – Founded in 1974 by renowned artist collective General Idea, this is your one-stop shop for amazing and inexpensive artist multiples. Nota bene: This is where you can buy Benny Nemerofsky Ramsay’s DVD, I Am a Boyband.

More HERE

FLASH FORWARD. From Magenta Publishing for the Arts comes a top-quality Canadian book on of-the-moment photographers. Perfect for anyone who is into photography – a budding collector, perhaps?

More HERE

Subscription to award-winning CANADIAN MAGAZINES like the Walrus, Border Crossings or Azure – excellent reading!

More HERE

CCA BOOKSTORE, Montreal – You know you’re in a world-class city when you walk in the door, and the bookstore only reinforces this feeling. New titles include: Greek architecture and its sculpture by Ian Jenkins, Inside Toronto: urban interiors 1880s to 1920 by Sally Gibson as well as many titles en Francais.

More HERE

MIRVISH BOOKS, Toronto – shop here, if only to see the gorgeous Frank Stella mural on the back wall.

More HERE

NICHOLAS HOARE, Ottawa – There’s one in Toronto, too, but the original bookshop is our favorite. You could spend all day in there.

More HERE

Artist editions at the VANCOUVER ART GALLERY – For someone you really love, there’s the Rodney Graham upside-down tree. It’s his most famous artwork and is only $475 unframed. (edition of 500)

More HERE

MERCER UNION sale, Toronto – the artist-run-centre is having its annual member’s show and sale this Thursday December 14th at 8 pm, with works by Arnaud Maggs, Derek Sullivan and many more - all priced at $100. Hurry!

More HERE

PLUG IN, Winnipeg – Five Winnipegers have contributed to this portfolio, including Paul Butler, Bonnie Marin and Simon Hughes. The portfolio is $1,000 or $300 for each unframed work.

More HERE

GARDINER MUSEUM shop, Toronto – You might not think so, but the Gardiner shop is a great place for artist made ceramic objets d’art…and jewellery by Krystyne Griffin.

More HERE

In a piece titled Best in show: the experts’ choice in the Art Newspaper, Steve Wilson, co-founder of 21C Museum Foundation in Louisville, selected the very same film by Anthony Goicolea that VoCA had recommended on November 27 (please scroll down or click VoCA recommends in the sidebar).

Image: Monte Clark Gallery

The film was showing with Postmasters gallery at Scope.
It is presently showing (until January 17th) with the Monte Clark Gallery in Toronto. Continue reading →

In the Globe and Mail recently, Canadian millionaire (and supporter of the arts) Sir Christopher Ondaatje called on the private sector in this country to support the arts.

Ottawa’s planned National Portrait Gallery has suffered under several - equally stagnant - government administrations, and now word is that it might be moved to Calgary, where the private sector can make it happen. Ondaatje, a Toronto businessman turned London-based philanthropist and author, has supported the Royal Ontario Museum and helped fund an extension to England’s National Portrait Gallery in 2000.

“Canada’s private sector must take leadership,” Ondaatje said, speaking from London. “Canada has been a nation of hit-and-run millionaires. In America, they stay put. Canada’s [rich] must get involved.”

Read the article HERE

December 6, 2006

Dear Young Collector,

As you probably realize, the international art world has become a spectacle unlike any other. Auction madness in New York and London seems to have peaked in the last number of years, with records being set as new collectors from China and Russia in particular enter the market. A few weeks ago, for example, the highest price ever for a contemporary art work – 27 million US – was paid for an abstract painting from 1977 by Willem DeKooning.

Willem DeKooning, Untitled xxx, 1977. Image: IHT.com

Andy Warhol’s silkscreen of Mao – similar to paintings that you might have seen at the recent AGO Warhol exhibition – sold to a Hong Kong collector for $13.37 million US. Continue reading →

Painter TOMMA ABTS has won the 22nd Turner Prize, Britain’s 25,000 Pound art prize for an artist under 40.

Read all about it HERE

Image: bbc.co.uk

Image: anaba.blogspot.com

Image: bbc.co.uk

New media art has been on VoCA’s mind lately. Particularly the many excellent and underrated video artists in Canada.

VoCA’s top ten video artists: Continue reading →