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.
May 31st, 2010 — Artist Spotlight, Photography, Toronto and region
Ryan Van Der Hout, Slide 17, 2007, Chromogenic Print
I got a lovely email from a young artist Ryan Van Der Hout, a recent graduate of the Ryerson photography program in Toronto. He calls his phot-based work, which doesn’t involve the use of a camera, “photographic sketches that highlight the possibilities of the medium.”
He’s got an exhibition on at Toronto’s Lonsdale Gallery from May 26- June 27, 2010, with an artist’s reception this coming Saturday.
May 28th, 2010 — Architecture, Art Market, Art News: Canada, Art News: International, Painting, Toronto and region, Vancouver and region
His highness the Aga Khan, with his Order of Canada. Image: archive.gg.ca
1. His Highness the Aga Khan will participate in the Foundation Ceremony to mark the beginning of the development of the Ismaili Centre, the first-ever Aga Khan Museum for Islamic Art and Culture, and their Park, in Toronto’s Don Mills area.
Read more HERE.
May 26th, 2010 — Art Gifts, Art News: International, Painting, Photography, Sculpture/Installation, Upcoming Events & Exhibitions
From London, UK: A charity called Art of Giving is launching their National Art Competition in October 2010.
The Saatchi Gallery, London. Image: piclondon.co.uk
It’s an open competition for artists working in painting, drawing, sculpture and photography. Ten finalists in each category will be given the opportunity to exhibit their work at London’s Saatchi Gallery on October 7 – 9. How many categories? It’s unclear, but you can read more HERE and apply HERE.
The winners receive a cash reward, and lots of publicity, which in the U.K, means something.
Paintings on view at the Saatchi Gallery. Image:contemporaryartlinks.com
Artists are invited to submit up to five works of art. It costs 20 Pounds per work, which is $30, which is not bad for the incredible exposure that your work could receive. And Art of Giving will be donating a minimum of 10% of the proceeds from the competition entry fees to the Red Cross Disaster Fund.
May 21st, 2010 — Sculpture/Installation, Toronto and region
We stopped by Redbull 381 Projects in Toronto last night to take in an intriguing installation by Montreal artist David Armstrong Six, titled The Law of the Excluded Middle.
David Armstrong Six, The Law of the Excluded Middle. All images: VoCA
May 21st, 2010 — Sculpture/Installation
Canadian artist Robert Waters has a show, curated by Shai Ohayon, at Tokyo’s Mizuma Art Gallery.
Waters installing Man at Computer. Image: Courtesy Shai Ohayon.
Waters’ projects “investigate the human nature and body through themes of male sexuality, violence and mortality“, and present the human body as a site of political action, according to the press release.
May 17th, 2010 — Sculpture/Installation, Thoughts on art, Toronto and region, Video/New Media
This past weekend, an exhibition titled Art School: Dismissed, curated by Heather Nicol, brought together works made by artists who are also art teachers. It took place in a decommissioned elementary school in Toronto. Here are some highlights:
The exhibition’s poster. All photos by VoCA.
Jay Wilson‘s sculpture made from toothpicks and white glue. It reached nicely between floor and ceiling, and was a reminder of school art projects, where the joy was in making something really cool. We liked its shape and structure.
May 13th, 2010 — Articles by Andrea Carson, Artist Spotlight, Design, Sculpture/Installation
Check out my article in this month’s issue of Azure magazine, on the incredible Emu feather concoctions by Colombian artist Maria Fernanda Cardoso.
One of Maria Fernanda Cardoso’s Emu Wear pieces. Image: ifoundsometreasure.com
Cardoso decided to investigate the Emu – the Australian, ostrich-like bird – as a way of relating to her new homeland, Australia. She began with feather sculptures and ended up with sculpture-like cloaks and hats that work as a kind of camouflage for the wearer.
May 12th, 2010 — Articles by Andrea Carson, First Nations/Inuit, Painting, Performance art, Toronto and region
Check out my piece on artist Kent Monkman’s home and studio in the current issue of Design Lines magazine. The studio, a former factory, was re-done by Jason Halter of boutique design firm Wonder Inc.
You know Monkman for his traditionally painted landscapes into which he inserts contemporary figures of First Nations people, often doing rather unconventional things…
Kent Monkman, Achilles and Patroclus, 2008. Image: kentmonkman.com
Or for his drag performances as Miss Chief Eagle Testickle…
May 11th, 2010 — Performance art, Sculpture/Installation, Toronto and region, Upcoming Events & Exhibitions, Video/New Media
It’s well known – in the art world, at least – that many artists support their careers by teaching.
It has also become popular for artists, collectives and independent curators to mount exhibitions in abandoned spaces.
Johanna Householder, video stills from installation in the Principal’s Office. Image: courtesy Heather Nicol
May 8th, 2010 — Thoughts on art
“L’harmonie, c’est la conciliation des contraires et pas l’ecrasement des differences” – Jean Cocteau
We just came across this quote. Harmony is the reconciliation of opposites and not the squashing of differences.
It’s a good thing to remember.
Jean Cocteau. Image: meanjin.com.au
There’s more on the poet, writer, filmmaker, ballet and opera designer and painter. HERE.
Andrea Carson writes on contemporary art, architecture and design...Read full bio