Free Fermentation Workshop at the South Asian Visual Arts Centre (SAVAC) on Nov 2nd

Hello Akin Community!

We wanted to share an exciting opportunity happening at 401 Richmond W. On November 2nd, the South Asian Visual Arts Centre (SAVAC) is hosting an engaging Fermentation Workshop and Conversation with Vancouver-based artist Haruko Okano.

This event is free and open to the public, including kids. It will feature a hands-on fermentation activity, an artist talk, and will conclude with a communal meal. To participate, feel free to bring your favorite pickled or fermented foods to share. If you’d like to join the hands-on portion, please bring a mason jar with a lid and a small stone that fits inside.

In 1974, Haruko moved to the west coast traveling by foot and canoe through the northern parts of the provinces where she fell in love with the land Canada…not the government. Relationality with all living beings lies at the heart of her practice and life ethic as a third-generation diasporic person. The emphasis across all of her activities is on process, collaboration and integration. We will hear from Haruko about her unique approach to creating art, the food and medicine gardens she has tended since the 90s, and her journey to learn about and address the effects of intergenerational trauma within Japanese-Canadian communities and Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

Event details:

Date: Saturday November 2nd (2pm - 6pm)
Location: SAVAC, 401 Richmond St West
RSVP by email: communications@savac.net

Accessibility: Wheelchair ramp at the east entrance of the building. There is an elevator and accessible bathrooms. Dinner will be served. Masks are encouraged and will be provided.

Learn more at savac.net/fermentation

Akin Queen Open Studio: A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Community

On October 12th, we had the pleasure of opening our doors to the community for the Akin Queen East Open Studio, and we couldn't be more grateful to everyone who came and made the event such a success!

A huge thank you to our amazing Akin members for showcasing their work and welcoming visitors with such warmth and enthusiasm. The sense of community was palpable, and it was wonderful to see so many meaningful connections made throughout the day.

We also want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Nurielle Stern of Lost and Found Gallery and the artists from the 1-800-INF-ERNO exhibition for collaborating with us for the day. They truly added another layer of inspiration and we’re so glad to have shared this special occasion with them.

Lastly, a big thank you to all of our guests! Whether you’re an artist, an art lover, or simply curious about our space, your presence and support mean the world to us. It was fantastic to meet so many new faces, and we look forward to welcoming you again in the future— Until then, enjoy the photos from the Open Studio! 

Image Descriptions: a slideshow of images showing artists and guests at Akin Queen East during the open studio. There are different people who are talking to each other, smiling, and looking around the studios. Artwork and art materials can be seen in the studio space including paintings, sculptures, and textile works. 

List of participating artists: 

• Kris Cvetković

• Sarah Lawson

• Christine Li

• Jenny Misener

• Wendy Robertson

• Ashley Snook

• Mïka Tremblay

As well as the artists featured in the 1-800–INF-ERNO installation at The Lost and Found Gallery: Micki-Lee Smith & Zakriya Bashir-Hill, in collaboration with Diana Lawryshyn, Pratap Mathews, & Yun Young Lee. Also featuring paintings by Diana Lawryshyn.

Thank you! 
Love, Akin 

Get to know Remote Gallery! Open House July 17, 5-8pm

Join us at Remote Gallery on Wednesday July 17, located at 568 Richmond Street West, from 5 to 8pm for an Open House event. During this event, artists and creative folks interested in learning more about the space can meet Remote Gallery’s Manager, Renato Baldin and learn about the potential of the space, discuss tips for setting up exhibitions, available dates, and how to bring your ideas to life.

Remote Gallery Manager, Renato Baldin

Remote Gallery is Akin’s dedicated exhibition and programming space. It provides opportunities for artists and members of the public to rent financially-accessible space for various types of programming. 

Our versatile venue is open for single or multi-day rentals, accommodating workshops, presentations, meetings, community events, exhibitions, performances and various artistic programs. We are currently offering a 15% discount on bookings for rental dates from now until the end of August 2024.

Students and 2024 graduates of the following institutions are eligible for a 20% discount on bookings for rental dates from now until the end of August 2024: Academy of Realist Art, Centennial College, George Brown College, Humber College, OCADU, Seneca College, Sheridan College, Toronto School of Art, Toronto Metropolitan University, University of Toronto and York University.

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Please join us for the Open House event on July 17th and share with artists who might be interested.

No registration necessary, drop-ins welcome. See you there!

In the meantime - check out www.akincollective.com/remote for gallery details.

Click here for all Remote Gallery Accessibility information

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Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond Street West

 

Inspirations Studio, Art Auction & Fundraiser!

Please join us to celebrate 30 years of YWCA Toronto’s Inspirations Studio, a unique ceramics arts program that empowers women experiencing poverty, mental health or disability, while improving their lives through the making and selling of pottery.

Thursday March 21, 2024, from 6 to 9pm at OCAD University’s Great Hall, Level 2, 100 McCaul St., Toronto.

 

Hosted by Carolyn Taylor of Baroness Von Sketch and I Have Nothing on Crave, the event features:

LIVE Auction at 7pm featuring work by 10 amazing contemporary artists:

Mel Arsenault, Marissa Y Alexander, Shary Boyle,
Maggie Boyd, Lisa Creskey, Heather Goodchild, Lindsay
Montgomery, Julie Moon, Rajni Perera and Kendra Yee

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Silent Auction with work by studio members and response paintings
by OCADU students, plate settings from Toronto Potters and
gifts from local businesses.

Complimentary refreshments and drink.

Music and mingling.

DIY Pottery painting, wheel demos, raffles & more!

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Come be inspired by beautiful work and stories of the transformative power of art! And know that 100% of the proceeds will go to YWCA Toronto’s Inspirations Studio to offer low barrier access and opportunities.

Help keep this small but mighty program going strong!

Please share and we will see you there!

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Inspirations Studio

389 Church Street

Toronto, ON M5B 2E5

416-367-2728

www.inspirationsstudio.org

Please follow us!
@inspiredpottery

Join us on December 5th to celebrate Akin’s 15th Anniversary!

Join us on December 5th to celebrate Akin’s 15th Anniversary with a drop-in event at Remote Gallery.

We’ll be building a living collage of memories on the gallery walls in honour of Akin’s incredible community and our journey as an organization since 2008. Drop by between 4-8pm to say hello, check out the collage and add your own memories. Light refreshments will be provided. 

Can't make it in person? Stay tuned throughout the month of November as we celebrate our 15th anniversary on the Akin blog with memories and member highlights!  

You can help Akin Projects continue to support arts in Toronto for another fifteen years! You can donate to Akin Projects here. Your contributions directly impact artists in ways that are meaningful to arts and culture in our city, as well as to the communities in which we work. We can’t thank you enough for your support.

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Accessibility: 

Remote Gallery is located on the ground floor of the building. The entrance is on-grade and automated. The double door is 37x2  inches wide and has a push-bar doorknob. There is step-free access inside the gallery area. 

There is one gender-neutral bathroom. There are no grab bars in the bathroom and the toilets are not raised. The bathroom doorway is on-grade and has a round doorknob and is not automated.

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Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W

 

Akin turns 15! An Interview with Founder & Director, Oliver Pauk

Fifteen years ago, on November 1st, 2008, Akin opened its first studio for artists in Toronto. Since then, we’ve grown to support hundreds of artists all across the city, becoming the largest provider of shared studio spaces in Toronto.  

We’re launching this celebration with an interview with our Director and Co-Founder, Oliver Pauk, who’s been building Akin since the very first day.

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Tell us a bit about yourself! You're an artist yourself? 

Oliver: “I've been active in music and visual art since I was young. I've played in a few bands over the years and I started with photography the moment my dad gave me his old 35mm camera. I studied economics in school (which has been helpful in my work with Akin) but began really focusing on my creative interests right after graduating from university. Over the years my practice has evolved from photography to 3D printing, CNC milling and video. Lately,  I've been carving wood and stone and am really enjoying the deepened, hands-on relationship that I'm building with my pieces.” 

Learn more about Oliver’s art practice at www.oliverpauk.com 

Image Description: Oliver Pauk stands against a white curtain background. He is wearing a white T-shirt and a colourful hat and smiling.

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Take us back to the beginning, how did Akin start?

Oliver: “A group of friends and I had all been working on our creative pursuits separately from our homes but really wanted a place to work together and inspire one another. Friends of mine were moving out of their old loft space in West Queen West and one of them, Mike Dellios (who went on to serve a term as our Board Chair) and I decided to turn the loft into a workspace that the 12 of us could afford to work in. We set up storage racks, built worktables to share. On the weekends we'd often host art exhibitions, film screenings and other art events. This was all that Akin was intended to be. Pretty quickly we realized that we weren't the only artists in Toronto in need of space like this. After three months we moved around the corner onto Dufferin St, in a space that was four times larger. Fast forward 15 years, we're still essentially doing the same thing: working as an artist-run team to find spaces that we can afford, setting them up with an aim of reducing financial barriers to creative space for folks from the community, and bringing people together around the arts.”

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Which of our many past studios was your favourite? Why? 

Oliver: “I have a soft spot for Akin Lansdowne at 87 Wade Avenue. This was the second studio that Akin set up. At the time I was doing most of the work myself, but was starting to get more support from my friend Michael Vickers (who was Akin’s Co-Director for many years). We had as many as five units at one time in this building and they were beauties; bright, raw spaces with high ceilings, close to the subway, with tons of awesome neighbours and about 100 Akin members! We ended up hosting regular gatherings (both organized and spontaneous) and people got to know one another really well. This is still something that happens in our studios, but it was really cool (at least for me) to see the future potential of Akin through what happened in that building. It made me want to take Akin further in order to involve more artists in the city. ”

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What have been some of your proudest moments, working for Akin? 

Oliver: “Akin has been full of surprises from day one. It feels a little bit like another child in a sense (I do have a 5yr old human son). Helping build Akin has felt like a separate creative process of its own and I'm proud that we've made it to 15 years (because it hasn’t been easy). We’ve created this new sentient entity that Akin's team and I are able to collaborate with (which is how we view it). That brings me to something else that I'm proud of... our team. When I say team I mean our staff, our board, AREA (our real estate advisory), and our various other advisors. I feel so lucky to have met all of these people, let alone engage on this interesting mission with them. I'm proud of how much we all care about Akin, about the arts, about artists and I know that it shows in the work that we do.”

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15 Years of Akin in 15 Images:

Explore Akin’s history in 15 images, one taken from each year in
Akin's journey since 2008. Enjoy!

2008 - Akin Founders Oliver Pauk and Michael Dellios in the original studio

2009 - Akin Studio Dufferin

2010 - Akin Dufferin, Clay Girl Ceramics studio

2011 - Michael Vickers in studio with art

2012 - Akin Lansdowne before moving in

2013 - Akin table at OCAD's Toolbox event

2015 - Guests enjoy the artwork at the the exhibition day of the Art of Healing, a fundraiser art collaboration with the Ronald MacDonald House

2016 - Community Arts Space collaboration event at the Gardiner Museum

2017 - Akin at the Toronto Book Fair

2018 - Graffiti workshop at Akin St Clair with Moises Frank

2019 - Akin Welcomes Indigenous Elder in Residence Catherine Tammaro

2020 - Antonio Pendones member Akin X Collision Gallery exhibition

2021 - Community Fridge, Akin Ossington

2022 - Artists at the Akin Stockyards Open House event

2023 - Akin opens Akin Richmond-Bathurst

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What are the biggest challenges Akin has faced, as an organization? 

Oliver: “Where to begin :) There have been many. What we're doing with Akin is not a regular thing. It's different, it's special, it's innovative... Many hurdles have needed to be jumped. In many ways Akin still exists because of trial and error. There's no handbook for what we do. We've had to figure it out by failing and learning. A major part of our role today is to facilitate an amicable and mutually beneficial relationship between the arts and real estate. These two industries, and the people who make them up, have historically had a tumultuous relationship and it hasn't gone well in the vast majority of instances, internationally. We believe that we have figured out ways to create a win-win for both groups but there are challenges on both sides. Finding our way in the real estate industry has been challenging. Thankfully we're building a growing network of property owners who understand why we do what we do and why it's important to both communities and to them.

Bringing together a large number of people to share working space comes with a lot of challenges.  We try our best to create safe, comfortable and inspiring spaces for everyone who is part of Akin and it's truly upsetting if we let people down. That motivates us to continue learning and improving every day.

2020 and 2021 were very tough years for us and for many of the artists we work with, for obvious reasons relating to COVID. It took lots of perseverance from our whole team as well as open communication with Akin's members and our real estate partners. Thankfully we made it through, albeit as a tinier version of the organization, and this is in large part due to the extreme resilience of the artists in Toronto. Much of this year has been rough as well, for our team and for me in my role, as we've undergone a number of organizational shifts. Thankfully, these challenges, along with the progress that we're making in other areas have enabled Akin to find itself in what I would consider to be its best position yet. We're set to open a number of new studios in order to provide work space for many artists and designers in Toronto who are in need. There will be many more challenges to come but I know that Akin's perseverance and spirit are strong and that we will continue to find creative solutions to move forward in ways that are true to what we believe in.”

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How has Akin changed over the years? What has stayed the same? 

Oliver: “There are some really important things that have stayed the same. We're still artist-run, still trying to break down financial barriers to creative space and we still care deeply about Toronto's community of artists. We have hopes to continue having a valuable impact on our city. 

And yes, Akin has changed too. When Akin was young, I would never have guessed that it could have the impact it has today. I'm happy about most major changes, but simultaneously I miss aspects of the old, simpler days. I knew everyone who was a member at Akin which is sadly not the case today. There was less riding on our team's decisions than there is now and that burden can feel heavy sometimes.”

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What have you learned about the artist community, and about Toronto, through your 15 years building Akin? 

Oliver: “I've learned about the vitality of artists. Artists genuinely think in ways that allow society to grow and heal and evolve. They're brave and interesting and, of course, inspiring. I've seen and learned of many challenges being created in Toronto for creatives. The precarity for artists to live in the city is high, forcing them to either give up their practices or move further out of the city. The vast majority of people living in the city say that they care about art and it's easy to understand how important it is for our society, economy, and health, but it seems like they don't realize that art is made by artists. This disconnect needs to be explored. I feel that there needs to be more effort put towards growing the public valuation of artists.”

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Where is Akin headed? 

Oliver: “We're sticking to what's important to us. We're building on what we do and what we as artists need and we're doing it in the ways that we know best. We've done a ton of work this year to ensure that Akin is around long into the future and a major part of this will be the opening of new studios in 2024. Thankfully we have a number of spaces that are being lined up and we know that they're needed by our community of artists. I intend for us to remain open-minded and open-hearted, to learn from the people we surround ourselves with and to continue exploring the current boundaries of our role in ways that are genuinely important.”

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Akin would like to thank Oliver Pauk for the interview and for all his hard work for Akin over the years. We also want to thank all of our amazing members (past, present and future), our board members, consultants, supporters and community members! Stay tuned throughout the month of November as we celebrate our anniversary on the Akin blog with more member highlights! 

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Want to celebrate
in-person?

Akin will be hosting a 15th Anniversary drop-in celebration at Akin’s Remote Gallery on December 4 from 4-8pm for an evening filled with Akin memorabilia and nostalgia. 

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You can help Akin Projects continue to support arts in Toronto for another fifteen years! You can donate to Akin Projects here. Your contributions directly impact artists in ways that are meaningful to arts and culture in our city, as well as to the communities in which we work. We can’t thank you enough for your support.

Collaborative visual poetry with Artist Yannis Lobaina - A free workshop at Remote Gallery

Date: Saturday, October 07, 2023
Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond Street West, Toronto

Join artist Yannis Lobaina for this free collaborative visual poetry workshop.

Participants will work together to create a multilingual collaborative visual poetry masterpiece! This in-person gathering promises to be a unique opportunity to explore the power of words and art. Free and family-friendly!

Whether you are an experienced poet or just curious about exploring your artistic side, this event welcomes everyone.

About the artist:
Yannis Lobaina is a Cuban artist, author, filmmaker, photographer and community arts facilitator. Currently, she lives in Toronto. In her work, Yannis explores themes of immigration, diaspora, language, and motherhood. As a photographer, she focuses on minimalist storytelling photography, landscapes, patterns, sacred geometry, and pareidolias in Mother Nature. She has been recognized with several awards and grants by the TAC and OAC, which has funded her ongoing series Alive, Upside Down. Yannis has twice received the Newcomer Space Award (2020, 2022) and has been showcased at Remote Gallery (2021) and at public Library Oakwood Village Library and Arts Centre (February 2023).

Yannis is a receipient of the Newcomer Space Award, a collaboration between Akin, the Toronto Arts Foundation, and the Neighbourhood Arts Foundation.

Sara Abulkarim, Where Have You Been? August 5 & 6, 2023

August 5, 12pm-10pm
August 6, 12pm-6pm

Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W

Opening Reception: August 5, 6pm-10pm

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“Where have you been?” is a solo art exhibition that takes viewers on a journey to the places I have been since having moved to Toronto in 2017.

Through a series of paintings made of acrylic and mixed media, I explore the places and spaces that have been meaningful to me in my journey of self-discovery, growth, and challenge. These places have become my home, my family, and my friends, and I invite you to explore them with me.

Come join me on August 5th and 6th at Remote Gallery in Toronto to learn about this journey of exploration and discovery as I share with you the places that have helped me find myself.

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Sara Abulkarim is the 2022 recipient of the Akin x OCADU Career Launcher Award. Born in Iraq, she immigrated to Montreal in 2002, where she studied Interior Design. Following her passion, in 2017 she decided to study Fine Arts at OCAD University. Sara’s art often stems from memory and feelings. She paints moments and fragments of her life, meaningful spaces and moments that sculpted her into the person she is today. Intrigued by abstract, she loves to try new techniques and mediums to mimic her emotions through colours and gestures. Her work is characterized by vibrant colours and animated movement. Website: www.saraabulkarim.com

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We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts

#BringingTheArtsToLife @Canada.Council

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Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W, Toronto

 

The White Cave, a Video-Installation Exhibition by Elsa Hashemi

July 21 - 27, 2023

Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W
Hours: 4 - 8pm

Opening Reception: July 21, 6 - 9pm

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“Having a long day filled with a variety of feelings and emotions, we all go back to our ‘White Cave‘ which is the last and the most intimate place to finish the day... No matter how joyful, sad, confused, overwhelmed or excited we have been during the day, we share them all with our safest place...”

— Elsa Hashemi 

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Elsa Hashemi is a recipient of the 2022 Space Award and a visual artist whose main focus is Photography and Calligraphy-Painting. She works as an artwork/mural-documentation photographer in Toronto and a freelance Calligrapher. In addition, she teaches visual arts to kids; and ESL & Canadian culture to adults. Her artistic practice mainly involves conceptual art, portraying concepts like Migration, Being a Woman, Immigration, and Quarantine. Through her images and calligraphy-painting art, she tells stories of people, believing that stories can tell us about the realities in life that are too complicated. She is a recipient of Toronto Arts Foundation's Newcomer Arts Award and RBC Mentorship Award. As a professional photographer, she combines deep theoretical/technical knowledge with experience documenting artworks, creating portfolios and photo books for the artists, designing brochures, and promoting products and artworks via social networks and various advertising materials. Elsa stands out in photographing events, including arts and cultural ones, meetings and gatherings, and outdoor festivals and events. 

View Elsa’s website here and her Instagram here.

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We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts

#BringingTheArtsToLife @Canada.Council

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Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W, Toronto

 

In the Middle, a celebration of Canadian-Middle Eastern and North African Artists

July 15, 12pm-10pm
July 16, 9am-6pm

Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W

Opening Reception: July 15, 6pm-10pm

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In the Middle is a celebration of the unique perspectives of Canadian-Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) artists as well as those geographically adjacent. It is an opportunity to recognize the importance of MENA and MENA-adjacent artists in the Toronto art scene and to highlight an underrepresented vision as well as recognize the diversity of MENA culture and celebrate the beauty of its art.

Eleven artists will be sharing their stories and unique experiences with the world. It’s a chance to create a dialogue about the importance of representation and inclusion in the art world and to create a space where MENA and MENA-adjacent artists can be seen, heard, and respected.

Artist Participating: 
Amina Boufennara 
Amnna Attia 
Ayan Melikli 
Christina Hajjar 
Edriss Sydeqi 
Özge Dilan Arslan
Pamela Andonian (Ch!K P)
Qudsia Hussain 
Rabiyah Sagheer
Sara Abulkarim
Sara Ghaben

The Exhibition Is Curated By: 
Amina Boufennara 
Habiba Raouf
Sara Abulkarim

Sara Abulkarim is the 2022 recipient of the Akin x OCADU Career Launcher Award. Born in Iraq, she immigrated to Montreal in 2002, where she studied Interior Design. Following her passion, in 2017 she decided to study Fine Arts at OCAD University. Sara’s art often stems from memory and feelings. She paints moments and fragments of her life, meaningful spaces and moments that sculpted her into the person she is today. Intrigued by abstract, she loves to try new techniques and mediums to mimic her emotions through colours and gestures. Her work is characterized by vibrant colours and animated movement. Website: www.saraabulkarim.com

We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts

#BringingTheArtsToLife @Canada.Council

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Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W, Toronto

 

“Catch and Release” by Yannis Lobaina at Remote Gallery

July 6-13
Akin’s Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W

Gallery Hours: 1-7pm
Free Interactive Workshops: July 8 & 9 at 2pm

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Akin’s Remote Gallery is thrilled to welcome space award winner Yannis Lobaina to the Remote Gallery for a new photo exhibition, Catch and Release. 

Yannis’ work captures the fleeting moments and sacred geometry of Mother Nature. In Catch and Release, a series of twelve minimalist photographic narratives, Yannis explores patterns, pareidolias (faces), spirals, clouds, textures and their spiritual significance. 

Throughout the exhibition, Yannis Lobaina will be hosting a series of 2 free art-making photography workshops on Saturday, July 8 and Sunday July 9 at 2:00pm. The workshops will be a family friendly experience to explore Yannis’ artworks, and to get inspired to create their own piece of art. All the artwork produced during the workshop will become part of the online exhibit on Yannis’ website.

Yannis Lobaina is a Cuban artist, author, filmmaker, photographer and community arts facilitator. Currently, she lives in Toronto. In her work, Yannis explores themes of immigration, diaspora, language, and motherhood. As a photographer, she focuses on minimalist storytelling photography, landscapes, patterns, sacred geometry, and pareidolias in Mother Nature. She has been recognized with several awards and grants by the TAC and OAC, which has funded her ongoing series Alive, Upside Down. Yannis has twice received the Newcomer Space Award (2020, 2022) and has been showcased at Remote Gallery (2021) and at public Library Oakwood Village Library and Arts Centre(February 2023).

Thank you to the Toronto Arts Foundation, and the Neighbourhood Arts Foundation for their support. 

Find more information about Yannis’ work here.

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We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts

#BringingTheArtsToLife @Canada.Council

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Image Description: Yannis Lobania’s photograph, Fibonacci Spiral, a macro, black and white shot of a sunflower against a black background. Surrounding the image is text which reads “Fibonacci Spiral, Yannis Lobaina, digital photographs, metal wall art, landscape, 11 x 14”, 2023.” 

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Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W, Toronto

 

Resonance of a Deep Ground, Gizem Candan

June 29 - July 2
Akin’s Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W

Opening Reception:
Thursday June 29, 6-10pm

Gallery Hours:
Friday - Sunday: 12-6pm

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Akin’s Remote Gallery is proud to introduce a showcase of brand new work from Newcomer Space Award Winner Gizem Candan. Resonance of a Deep Ground features Candan’s most recent paintings of earthworms and their enigmatic habitat. 

Fresh from a painting residency at Artscape Gibraltar Point earlier in June, Candan hosted earth worm composting workshops as part of her residency. Her contemplation of earthworm ecology has resulted in a beautiful display of abstract oil paintings which draws their inspiration from our crawling friends underground and their miraculous regenerative abilities. 

Gizem Candan is a visual artist and researcher based in Toronto. She graduated with two BFAs, one in Plastic Arts and Painting and one in Graphic Design from Yeditepe University in Istanbul. She is in the process of completing her master’s in Criticism and Curatorial Practice at OCAD University. She is represented by Sivarulrasa Gallery in Almonte, ON. Her works have been exhibited in Canada and Turkey, and are held in many private collections and the Special Collections of the Toronto Reference Library. She also works at Cooper Cole Gallery as a research assistant. Her artistic practice explores the tensions and depressions between humans and their surroundings in the Anthropocene. She employs a variety of approaches in her work to emphasize "figure" as both human and more-than-human, as well as the landscape-centered scenes around it. Her main area of focus is on narrating that examines the modern human and its enigmatic potential relationship through the lens of nature. "Structure" in her paintings is visible in two distinct ways: composition and colour palette. 

Candan is a 2022 recipient of the 2022 Newcomer Space Award. Created by Akin, the Toronto Arts Foundation’s Neighbourhood Arts Network, the Newcomer Space Award provides newcomers credit for an Akin studio membership and to Akin’s Remote Gallery. This award not only provides funding and space essential for professional artists to grow their practice, but also supports artists in growing their network through the shared studio space model.

Learn more about Gizem Candan’s work at her website and on instagram.

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We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts

#BringingTheArtsToLife @Canada.Council

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Image Description: Above is a painting by Candan, an abstract oil painting of earthworms, filled with light and dark browns and rust reds. Underneath it, over a white panel, black text reads “Resonance of a Deep Ground, Gizem Candan, June 29-July 2, 2023, Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON.”

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Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W, Toronto

 

Art Exhibition by Artist Naghmeh Ghasemzadeh

June 17 - 25  
Akin’s Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W

Opening Reception:
Saturday June 17: 5-7pm

Remote Gallery Hours:
Monday to Friday: 2-8pm
Saturday and Sunday: 11am-6pm

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Remote Gallery is thrilled to show a new and exciting exhibition by Naghmeh Ghasemzadeh, a multi-disciplinary artist and the winner of the 2022 Space Award, presented by Akin in partnership with the Neighbourhood Arts Network. Naghmeh Ghasemzadeh, a.k.a NAG, is an Iranian born, French-Canadian artist. 

Naghmeh’s work examines her own stories of immigration, cultural assimilation and uprootedness. These ideas intersect with women’s rights, gender equality and resilience. She expresses such subjects through fragmented materials and narratives that depict her endeavor to find an imaginary link between events, beings, belongings and destinies, by assembling materials that don’t usually fit together. She questions frantic consumption, accumulation and purpose by giving new life to outdated and broken things. Organic drawings and materials, medical or industrial waste are assembled in mixed media and installations, creating strange living organisms that reflect her quest to find a place and community to which she’ll finally belong.

To learn more about NAG’s work, visit www.nag-artist.com, or on instagram @nag_artist

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Special thanks to Toronto Arts Foundation, Neighbourhood Arts Network and Ontario Arts Council. 

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We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts

#BringingTheArtsToLife @Canada.Council

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Image Description: A poster advertising Naghmeh Ghasemzadeh’s Upcoming Exhibition.  A white background shows brown text reading “Art Exhibition, June 17-25 2023,” The left hand side shows the artist’s logo, which reads ‘NAG’, and brown text below which reads ‘Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W, Hours Monday-Friday 2-8 pm, Saturday and Sunday 11-6 pm, Opening Saturday June 17th, 2023 5-7pm. With the kind support of the Ontario Arts Council. Special thanks to the Toronto Arts Foundation, Neighbourhood Arts Network, Akin Projects and Ontario Arts Council.” The Ontario Arts Council Logo is at the bottom right corner on the poster.  Above it is a multimedia image. In the center is a print-style black and white image of a person, covering their eyes and mouth with each hand. They are wearing a black shirt and have dark curly hair. Above them is the photograph of an eye, below them are collaged green leaves and dried flowers atop the image.

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Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W, Toronto

 

Narcissus, an installation by Renato Baldin with photographs by Filipe Paulo - Coming Soon to Remote Gallery!

The Greek myth of Narcissus tells the story of a perfect child, a gift from the gods, fated to live into old age as long as he never saw his own reflection. One day, Narcissus walked to a lake to drink, the water was perfectly still. He leaned over and saw his own reflection. Instantly, he fell in love with himself, leaned into his reflection, fell into the water and drowned. 

Brazilian Artist, Curator Renato Baldin contemplates self reflection, beauty and celebrates body positivity in his newest show, Narcissus, an interactive installation set to take place as part of Pride Toronto, at Akin’s Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond Street West from May 25th to June 10th.

Baldin was taken by the myth of Narcissus, the way it introduces reflection and self admiration as a negative construct. A queer activist, Baldin knows that self love plays an essential role in the health and vitality of the queer,  gender non-conforming community. 

“Fighting against an oppressive environment imposed by the binary gender system, we, as queer people, forget to love ourselves as we are,” Baldin says. “We all have beauty, we are all connected, we can be stronger if we stand together as a cohesive body, working as a community.”

The result will be an interactive photo mosaic of non-conforming bodies; wrinkles, muscle, skin tone, gender nonconformity, all united together in one brilliant image. Participants will be able to take photos with their phones and use a printer within the gallery to add to the installation.  Viewers are also encouraged to participate before the show on Instagram, (@renato.baldin) where he’ll bring questions, themes and reflections, inviting people to interact. 

Narcissus reflects on toxic masculinity, homophobia, fragility and freedom in the form of a broken mirror whose shards reveal the diversity of queer bodies. The exhibit will include images by Filipe Paulo, an acclaimed Toronto based photographer and filmmaker.

Renato Baldin is a Toronto-based multidisciplinary artist, curator, and activist from Brazil. His work focuses on immersive art installations, influenced by his background in Architecture and Human Rights.  His art installations include visual statements inspired by Queer studies, Anthropology, Psychology, and Social reflections. They are experiential and invite people to reflect on our world together.

He has curated and designed over 15 exhibitions; has worked for high-tech museums like the Football Museum and Portuguese Language Museum; and is a co-founder and key organizer of the Sao Paulo LGBT Pride Parade, the largest pride event in the world with over 3.5 million participants.

Filipe Paulo is a photographer based in Toronto. His work blurs the lines of queer boudoir by exploring themes of repressed identity, sensuality, isolation and the search for the tangible in a digital world. Taking gay stereotypes, adding a wink and a bit of tenderness Filipe aims to titillate but more importantly to make the viewer feel something.

Filipe's instagram account @inappropriate.touching was started in 2019 as a venue to display his work and has grown to over 5,000 followers. He has a bachelors degree in Film Studies from Toronto Metro University and his final year queer themed short film, Porcaria, premiered at the 1994 Toronto International Film Festival and has played in numerous film festivals around the world.

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We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts

#BringingTheArtsToLife @Canada.Council

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Exhibition Details:

Dates: May 25 – Jun 10

Times: 
Wed - Fri from 3pm - 7pm
Sat - Sun from 1pm -6pm

Location: 
Remote Gallery (568 Richmond St West), Toronto

Narcissus at Remote Gallery is an
Official Affiliate Event of Pride Toronto 2023!