In the spirit of reflection over a year gone by so quickly…and despite our recognition of the overall futility of ‘Best Of’ lists, we have nonetheless gone ahead with VoCA’s Best of 2007, in the hopes that it may provide for some spirited discussion over the holidays:

BEST OF 2007

Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Corpus, c. 1650 Image: cbc.ca

1. Bernini’s Corpus, donated by collector Murray Frum to the AGO, Toronto

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6. PLUG IN ICA – WINNIPEG

Neil Farber, Farber Drawing 683, 1999. Image: plugin.org

One of the members of the Royal Art Lodge, Neil Farber’s work features an odd cast of characters that includes waif-like children, cats, dogs, and ghosts, combining innocence with a complicated and often foreboding sense of the absurd. Farber’s drawings remind us that among the range of emotions, humor is arguably the most complicated – and perhaps the most human.

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Although VoCA won’t be thinking of Christmas shopping for at least another week, here are some ideas for arty presents that support Canadian museums, artists and artist-run centres.

After all, art has been “the new fashion” for quite some time…

1. PRESENTATION HOUSE GALLERY - VANCOUVER

Lynn Valley #2/Kleenex Mathematics. Image: presentationhousegall.com

Lynn Valley is an ongoing series of publications edited exclusively by artists, published by the gallery with Bywater Bros. Editions from Toronto.

Lynn Valley #2/ Kleenex Mathematics expands on super hot Cologne based artist Johannes Wohnseifer’s recent explorations with spam email. Working with a series of diaristic photographs taken in the past two years, Wohnseifer has overlain unedited spam texts, creating collages of word and image that blends autobiographic detail, historical allusion and dense visual puns with the found poetics of strategically designed, nonsensical language.

The book is 64 pages, softcover, edition of 1000.

For more information, please click HERE.

2. VANCOUVER ART GALLERY - VANCOUVER

A Zero-Yen House by Kyohei Sakaguchi. (This image is NOT the edition available from the VAG).
Image: inhabitat.com

The latest artwork in the gallery’s Artist Edition series is the first by Tokyo-based artist Kyohei Sakaguchi.

The work of Kyohei Sakaguchi examines the significance of non-traditional and informal architecture. In the past few years, he has documented an elaborate sub-culture of architecture that includes diverse types of temporary and semi-permanent houses built in public spaces by homeless persons utilizing scavenged materials.

Priced at $175 (unframed), each of the 65 photographs includes a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist. Proceeds from the sale of Artist Editions support the Vancouver Art Gallery ’s exhibitions and programming.

Please click HERE for more information.

3. THE BANFF CENTRE – BANFF, ALBERTA

Lori Blondeau, Belle Sauvage, 2005. Image: banffcentre.ca

These edition projects were commissioned by and entirely produced at The Banff Centre. Prints from these editions are available for purchase at The Banff Centre’s Walter Phillips Gallery. All proceeds from the sale of the editions support Visual Arts at the Centre, and provide ongoing opportunities for professional artists.

As a Cree/Saulteaux artist, Lori Blondeau’s artistic practice continues to explore the influence of popular media and culture (contemporary and historical) on Aboriginal self-identity, self-image, and self-definition. The title of the work, Belle Sauvage, references the central subject; a persona Blondeau has assumed in her performance art.

Lori Blondeau, Belle Sauvage, 2005, edition of 16, $500. A six-colour silkscreen print on BFK Rives 100 per cent cotton rag paper.

For more information, please click HERE.

4. PAUL AND WENDY PROJECTS – TORONTO

The Royal Art Lodge, Poster Making, 2007. Image: paulandwendyprojects.com

Paul Van Kooy and Wendy Gomoll have met and worked with a community of contemporary artists over the
years. The ambition of Paul + Wendy Projects is to produce limited edition art works by these artists whose work they love.

Poster Making, By the Royal Art Lodge. Handprinted Serigraph on acid free archival paper. Edition of 75, numbered, signed, embossed and date stamped by the artists. $250 CAD

The current members of The Royal Art Lodge are Michael Dumontier, Marcel Dzama and Neil Farber. The group was founded in Winnipeg in 1996. Since 2003, they have focused on painting as their main collaborative output.

Please click HERE for more information.

5. MARTHA STREET STUDIO - WINNIPEG

Simon Hughes, Some Icebergs, 2006. Image: printmakers.mb.ca

MPA was formed in the spring of 1984 by a group of Manitoba print artists. Now a non-profit organization, the studio has become one of the largest, best equipped and most diversified open printmaking facilities in Canada. New editions include work by Micah Lexier, Paul Butler, Krisjanis Kaktins-Gorsline and Michael Dumontier.

Simon Hughes, Some Icebergs. 2006, edition of 15. The portfolio of 3 images is hand-printed on Magnani Pescia paper using a multi-layered silk-screen process.

For more information, please click HERE.

Raphael, The Alba Madonna, c. 1510, Andrew W. Mellon Collection. Image: nga.gov

Some picks of this year’s Christmassy art books, chosen by the Telegraph.

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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.

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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?

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

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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.

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

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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)

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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!

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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.

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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