1. How much will the Toronto International Art Fair improve now that Paul Morris is in charge?

Morris, a co-founder of New York’s Armory Show, now oversees six fairs owned by the Chicago-based Merchandise Mart, including Art Chicago, Next: The Invitational Exhibition of Emerging Art in Chicago (Where some of Canada’s best galleries, Birch Libralato, Edward Day, Goodwater, Greener Pastures, Katherine Mulherine, Newzones, the Other Gallery, Pierre Francois Ouellette, Clint Roenisch and Skew are exhibiting this week), Volta fair in New York and Basel, the Armory Show and TIAF.

Armory Show founder Paul Morris. Image: newyorksocialdiary.com

He says “(The fairs) can’t succeed unless they are all incredibly different and keep their own identities. I work with all the individual directors and make sure everyone sticks to the mission statement, with room for growth and imagination.”

We say: Here’s hoping.

2. VoCA has a solution for any architects who struggle with regulations that force them to install ugly exit signs.

(we’re talking to you, ROM crystal).

Ingo Mauer’s new light, recently premiered at the Milan furniture fair, should pacify hardass municipal building regulators.

‘Exit light’ by Ingo Maurer. Image: designboom.com

3. La Manif d’Art 4, “Manifestation internationale d’art de Quebec”

May 1 - 15 June, 2008

VoCA thinks Quebec is where it’s at - click HERE - so we strongly recommend Manif 4.

The biennial Manifestation internationale d’art de Québec was born of a desire within the arts community to see an important international visual art event in Québec City. Responding to that desire, the artist-run centre L’Œil de Poisson launched the first Manif d’art in the fall of 2000.

With Quebec City celebrating its 400th anniversary, this year’s international exhibition centres around the notion of meeting or encountering.

Artists from Québec, Canada, and abroad are featured in important exhibitions that showcase cutting edge trends in contemporary art, there are colloquiums and forums as well as activities and presentations for the public to engage with contemporary art.

There are art prizes awarded and the Collector’s Club, in which each member receives an original limited-edition print by a well-known Québec artist.

For more info, please click HERE.