Your Cultural Concierge! VoCA offers critical commentary on the Canadian art scene, with a focus on Toronto. Featuring exhibition previews, critics picks, interviews and in-depth articles on art in Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Halifax.
March 18th, 2008 — Articles, Miscellaneous thoughts on art
The Guardian digs up the seemingly never-ending debate over the death of art criticism:
Read the article HERE
Raoul Hausmann, The Art Critic, 1919-1920. Image: cti.itc.virginia.edu
The Guardian Art Blog picks up the story with readers comments:
Check it out HERE
VoCA would love to hear your comments!
March 17th, 2008 — News: Canada, Toronto
Catherine de Zegher, former executive director of The Drawing Center in New York, has joined the Art Gallery of Ontario as director of exhibitions and publications, overseeing the Gallery’s ambitious development of these key programs.
“I hope to ensure that the new AGO uses its incredible collection and establishes an inspired exhibition program to reflect a diversity of artists and ideas,” says de Zegher.
VoCA says: Yes!!
Catherine de Zegher. Image: artonpaper.com
March 17th, 2008 — Artists, Books, Exhibitions, Toronto
Nicholas di Genova: Intoxicated Demons
March 28 – 27 April, 2008
Urban Art Gallery, Berlin
Nicholas di Genova, Example of a Bird/Amphibian Hybrid, 2007.
Image: le-gallery.ca
“Much of my inspiration is drawn from old zoology books and publications” -Nicholas di Genova
March 16th, 2008 — Artists, Exhibitions, Toronto, Video/New Media
Lisa Klapstock, Picture 9-Toronto, 2008. Image: jessicabradleyartprojects.com
March 14th, 2008 — Artists, News: International, Sculpture/Installation
Cai Guo-Qiang, Inopportune: Stage One 2004. Image: national.gallery.ca
It is now the hottest art market in the world, with paintings changing hands for giddying sums. But could this sudden injection of cash stifle an art scene that is still in its infancy?
March 13th, 2008 — Artists, Photography, Sculpture/Installation, Toronto, Video/New Media
Kristan Horton is a prolific artist – and his work is strikingly well constructed. Horton doesn’t seem to do anything in half measures.
Just look at this piece, Cig2Coke2Tin2Coff2Milk from 2006. The six minute stop motion animation shows how a package of Canadian cigarettes transforms - as if by magic – into a can of Coke.
Kristan Horton, Cig2Coke2Tin2Coff2Milk, 2006. Image: kristanhorton.com
Kristan Horton, Cig2Coke2Tin2Coff2Milk, 2006. Image: kristanhorton.com
This work begs the question: What is the difference between the can of coke and the simulated can of coke? You might say, the experience of “the real thing”.
Artists like (VoCA favorite) Gregor Schneider, Christoph Buchel and Mike Nelson have been re-creating reality as art for a while now, and with this work, Horton seems to be suggesting that the approach works on a smaller scale too.
March 12th, 2008 — Artists, Exhibitions, Sculpture/Installation, Toronto
Derek Sullivan, Installation shot from his show at SAAG. Image: dereksullivan.ca
Having just closed his solo exhibition We May Be Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants But Some Of Us Are Looking At The Stars at the Southern Alberta Art Gallery, Lethbridge, Toronto artist Derek Sullivan is busy with a number of exhibitions in Europe and the US.
March 11th, 2008 — Articles
The show confirms impressions of a new, gray mood among younger artists, one at odds with the recent prevalence in international art of both commercial glitz and festivalist brass. Call it a decline in producer confidence…
Read the article by the New Yorker’s Peter Schjeldahl HERE
March 10th, 2008 — Exhibitions, Montreal, Sculpture/Installation
Yannick Pouliot at the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal
8 February – April 20, 2008
Yannick Pouliot, Empire-possessif, 2007. Image: macm.org
VoCA contributor Catherine Toews was in Montreal recently, where she was seduced by young Quebec rising star Yannick Pouliot’s exhibition at the Musee d’Art Contemporain.
March 8th, 2008 — Articles by Andrea Carson, Artists, Exhibitions
Rodney Graham, a work from Wet on Wet: My late early styles, 2007.
Image: lissongallery.com
Read my review of Rodney Graham’s recent exhibition at London’s Lisson Gallery:
Andrea Carson writes on contemporary art, architecture and design...Read full bio