Upcoming events from Akin!

We have many interesting events coming up in November, we hope you can attend some or all of them! You can always visit our online calendar to see what events are coming up or sign up for our newsletter, follow us on Instagram or Facebook to get updated programming announcements!

Akin Lakeshore Studio Launch and Potluck - TONIGHT!

October 24 (tonight!) / 5-7pm / Akin Lakeshore (2970 Lakeshore Blvd W, 3rd Floor) / FREE

Akin invites fellow artists, friends and family members to celebrate the opening of our newest location Akin Lakeshore in Etobicoke! Please join us on the 3rd floor on Thursday, October 24th for food and drinks and some spooky, pre-Halloween fun. Let's get to know each other and the space! Potluck: Eat Drink & Be Merry!! Everyone is welcome and encouraged to bring some snacks or your favourite dish to the party for us to enjoy a meal together. Click here for more details.

Akin DIY Comics School November Meeting

November 4 / 7:30PM - 9:30PM / Akin St Clair, 1747 St Clair Ave West / FREE / No RSVP Necessary but you can join the Facebook Group or join the mailing list or find out more at www.akin.art/comics

The Akin Collective D.I.Y. Comics School is a group that meets the first Monday of every month with the goal of working together to provide our own continuing comics education. Everyone is welcome regardless of experience!

Taxes 101 Workshop for Artists and Creatives

November 6 / 6:00PM - 8:00PM / Toronto City Hall - Council Chambers / PWYC (suggested donation of $5 per person). Space is limited, you must register to attend: https://bit.ly/2kxmInC

This workshop will help you to be prepared for next year! Atbooks Senior Tax Preparer Tova Epp will touch on some of the most important tax topics for artists including: tax preparation, deductions, tax deadlines, HST, how to handle grants, T4s and more. The session is suitable for artists who are new to filing taxes or those who are looking for a refresher. More info here.

Xpace x Akin: Tenants' Rights Workshop

November 9 / 1:00 AM - 3:00 pm / Xpace Cultural Centre, 2-303 Lansdowne Ave, Unit 2 / FREE - you must RSVP here: https://bit.ly/2P8oOHo

Please join us for a workshop about the basics of tenant rights and affordable housing in Toronto, facilitated by lawyer Ryan Martin. Ryan will give a presentation about some general questions and inquiries regarding tenant rights, as well as advice about housing rights through his experiences as a lawyer. There will also be an opportunity for a Q&A.

Anti-Black Racism Workshop

November 20 / 6:00PM - 9:00PM / 918 Bathurst St / $45 or PWYC Option (Suggested Donation $15-$30) / Please RSVP at https://bit.ly/33RzdeF

*All proceeds from this event will be put towards the development of the Akin Studio Rent Relief Fund, providing artists short term financial aid towards their studio rent in unexpected situations or times of financial instability.

This session uses the anti-oppressive framework and an intersectional approach to explore anti-Black racism within a Canadian cultural context. Internalized, interpersonal and institutional manifestations of anti-Black racism are contextualized through the lens of intergenerational trauma, systemic barriers and monolithic narratives. The impact of anti-Black racism, as it interacts with other sites of oppression is explored through case studies, personal reflections, quantitative and qualitative data. Systemic power structures and their impact on the spiritual, emotional, physical, financial and mental well being of Black communities as well as profound institutional inequities will be introduced and contextualized. Participants will critique and problematize current models for allyship and community engagement as well as explore interpersonal interventions and systemic transformations that cultivate liberation.

Akin Summer Programming

Akin is pleased to present our July and August programming. We hope to see you at some of these events this summer! 

Pointillism at the Beach, an Afternoon with Seurat
July 14 / 12pm-2pm / $5-$10 (sliding scale) / Woodbine Beach

Calling all creatives, artists and hobbyists! Join us for some Georges Seurat style pointillism on the beach! Come meet other creatives, explore and draw beachy scenes from life with us in this fun-filled and summer space!

We will begin with some quick and expressive warm ups, moving on to more focused Summer forms and scenes and we will end the day with a free-for-all drawing period. All levels and media are welcome - no toxic materials please. Bring your own materials. 

Click here to register or for more information

Akin Projects at Zine Dream 12
July 21 / 10am-5pm / FREE / MOCA Toronto Canada

Akin is excited to exhibit at ZINE DREAM 12 alongside over 100 creative vendors this July. Exhibitors will be showcasing self published books, comics, music, zines, handmade crafts, prints & much more! One day only!

Click here for more information

An Index - Opening Reception
July 24 / 6pm-9pm / FREE / MOCA Toronto Canada

An Index comprises work in a variety of media from sculpture, to video, to new wall murals by the first cohort of Akin residency artists who entered the year-long studio programme in September 2018. While the participating artists’ practices range widely in terms of conceptual approach, style and media; they have also been influenced to some degree by the experience of sharing and conversing within an open-plan studio structure for the last nine months. The exhibition runs from July 25–September 8, 2019 at MOCA Toronto Canada. Join us on July 24 for the opening reception! 

Click here for more information

Akin River Launch Party + Potluck
July 25 / 4pm-10pm / FREE / Akin River

Akin invites fellow artists, friends and family members to celebrate the opening of our new 3rd floor River Studios 2 & 3 !! Please join us on the patio Thursday July 25th for food and drinks and a little summer camaraderie. Let's get to know each other and the space!

Click here for more information

There is more coming soon! Save the date for these August Events at Akin: 

August 7 - Show & Tell at Akin MOCA - 4th Floor Studios at MOCA

August 14 - Flag Book Workshop with Jessica Thalmann - Remote Gallery

August 17 - MOCA After Dark Dance Party - MOCAToronto Canada

August 22 - Akin Ossington Launch Party + Backyard BBQ - 888 Dupont St.

Akin Creative: Drumleaf and Coptic Stitch Bookbinding Workshop for Artists on July 7 at Akin King

Saturday July 7 / 1pm-4pm / Akin King - 525 King St West, third floor studio / $30 per person / All materials provided / Please register at www.universe.com/bookbinding2018

Artist Jessica Thalmann will lead this workshop with participants interested learning two unique styles of handmade books including Coptic Stitch and Drumleaf binding.

Thalmann will present a quick lecture on artists exploring unique sculptural elements in their photobooks. Participants will then be guided through the creation of two techniques. Drumleaf is a simple glued book structure that is ideal for anyone looking to make books with their own prints as the content. The structure lays flat, eliminates the need to print on the front and back of sheets, and can be created using almost any kind of paper. Coptic Stitch is a very old technique using a visible chain stitch linked across the spine and a hard cover where the entire book is sewn together with one continuous piece of thread.

This workshop is suitable for artists working in a myriad of disciplines including drawing, painting, collage, photography and interdisciplinary artists wishing to create try more complex book structures. 

All Materials are provided but students could bring some special paper for the front and back cover if they want!

About the Instructor:
Jessica Thalmann is an artist, curator and educator currently based in Toronto and New York City. She received a MFA in Advanced Photographic Studies from ICP-Bard College and a BFA in Visual Arts from York University. She has worked at the Doris McCarthy Gallery, Toronto International Film Festival, C Magazine, the Art Gallery of York University and Yossi Milo Gallery.


This event is part of Art Book Week, a week-long series of events and activities that parallels the Toronto Art Book Fair. Art Book Week 2018 takes place from July 4-11 at various locations across the city. The goal of Art Book Week is to celebrate the unique artists' book community in Toronto, as well as increase the visibility of new and exciting projects, spaces, and artists. www.torontoartbookfair.com/art-book-week-2018


Accessibility: 
The workshop will be held on this third floor at Akin King. The address is 525 King St West. The building is fully accessible with a barrier-free entrance leading to an elevator. There are no steps to get into the elevator. There is an all genders washroom with a grab-bar installed. There are no steps to get into the washroom. The door to the studio is not automated but will be propped open for this event. Please let us know of any other accessibility needs, including ASL interpretation, so that we can assist you. Please email michael@akincollective.com at least one week before the event and we will do our best to accommodate you. 

Akin Show and Tell on June 26 at Akin St Clair

Every month Akin hosts a relaxed and fun ‘Show and Tell for Artists’ at one of the Akin Collective studios or at one of our partner organizations' locations. This is a time for Akin members and other Toronto artists to show completed works or works in progress and get friendly feedback and answers from their peers in a casual studio setting.

Feel free to bring art to share, bring a friend or two, bring snacks or drinks or just bring yourself! Come for the conversation or just to meet other artists and makers. This is FREE public event - everyone is welcome!

The June edition of the Show and Tell is happening at Akin St Clair at 1747 St Clair Ave West. 
 

Accessibility:
This building is all on one floor. Akin St. Clair Studios regrets any barrier to access. If you require more information or are concerned about accessibility barriers please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Akin St. Clair Entrance: The side door has no steps to enter. It is 46 inches wide. The front door is 35 inches wide and has one step.

Inside: When entering from the side door one enters into a hall. Most areas are flat inside. There is a step to get from the back hall to the kitchen. It is still possible to get to the kitchen without using the step by going around to the other entrance to the kitchen.

There is one all genders bathroom. There is one step to get to the bathroom. There is no alternative bathroom or alternative route to the bathroom. The bathroom door is 30 inches wide. There are no grab bars in the washroom and the toilets are not raised.

Getting here by TTC:
Akin St Clair Studios is accessible on the 512 St. Clair Streetcar Line and by bus, take either Bus 168 from Dundas West Station, or Bus 127 Spadina Station to Keele and St. Clair.

Parking:
There is a private parking lot to the west of the building. It is likely that one will find a parking spot there. If not there is residential parking on Houndslowt Heath Road and other residential streets in the area.

Introducing our Akin Vitrine Gallery artists for the month of April - Sarvenaz Rayati and Jill Smith

** Please note that both exhibitions run for the entire month of April. **

Akin Dupont Current Exhibition:

'mother / rhythm' by Jill Smith - April 2018 / May 2018

Introducing our April / May 2018 artist, Jill Smith. Jill is an Akin Dupont member, and her new work 'mother / rhythm' is on exhibition in the Akin Vitrine Galleries for the months of April and June. 
 
Transforming space into narrative, 'mother / rhythm' presents a series of bodily sculptures that come together to explore complex power-based relationships. This installation emphasizes materiality, scale, and gesture as elements that have the ability to relate to human forms and body movement. Primarily using clay and concrete, mother / rhythm demonstrates a compassionate, yet commanding relationship between ambiguous material bodies.
 
Jill Smith is an interdisciplinary artist based in Toronto, Ontario (b.1995) and recently completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honors Specialization in Studio Art) At Western University. Her most recent work explores the fragility and absurdity of the body and mind, as well as the connective possibilities of materiality. Smith has exhibited work in galleries across Ontario, such as the Artlab Gallery, Forest City Gallery, The Arts Project, Open Studio, and Earl Selkirk Gallery at ARTiculations, as well as Friends and Neighbours Gallery in Montreal, Quebec. She has recently participated in artist residency programs at Sparkbox Studio in Picton, ON (May 2017) and at AGA LAB in Amsterdam, NL (September 2017). Currently, she is a member of the AGO Youth Council, and has upcoming residencies with Graven Feather and Artscape Gibraltar.

'mother / rhythm'
mixed media
2018
dimensions available

'mother / rhythm' will be on view for the month of April in our Dupont Akin Vitrine Gallery, located in the Clock Factory Building at 1485 Dupont Street (entrance on Campbell Avenue). Find Akin Studio 215 on the second floor and follow the sign into the hallway around the corner. The building is open from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday.
 
The exhibition will then travel to the Akin St. Clair Vitrine Gallery and be on view for the month of April at 1747 St. Clair Avenue West. Gallery is street level and can be viewed at any time.
 
To contact the artist:
www.jillpaulinesmith.ca
Instagram: @very.petite
#Akinvitrine

For more information about Jill Smith and her work, follow our Instagram account @akinvitrine.

---

Akin St Clair Current Exhibition:

'The Embrace' by Sarvenaz Rayati - April 2018

Introducing our April 2018 Akin St Clair Vitrine Gallery artist, Sarvenaz Rayati. Sarvenaz is a multidisciplinary artist and an Akin Lansdowne studio member, . Her new installation 'The Embrace' will be on exhibition at the Akin St Clair Vitrine Gallery. Her work discusses ones love or longing for nature, particular mountains and trees.

'The Embrace'
mixed media
2018
dimensions available
 
The Embrace will be on view for the month of April in our Akin St. Clair Vitrine Gallery at 1747 St. Clair Avenue West. Gallery is street level and can be viewed at any time.
 
To contact the artist:
www.sarvenaz-rayati.com
Instagram: @sarvenaz_ray
#Akinvitrine

Akin Creative: Introduction to Embroidery Workshop on April 4 at Toronto School of Art

Wednesday, April 4 / 6:30pm-9pm / Toronto School of Art 980 Dufferin St - Studio 19 / Limited seating - $25/person - all materials included - Register to attend at  www.universe.com/embroidery2018

Join embroidery artist Claire Davis to learn the basics of embroidery and some historical context on this feminist practise.

In this workshop, we'll be talking about exploring gender through art and reclaiming women's crafts as fine art mediums. We will become familiarized with beginner stitching techniques and some embroidery favourites, like sewing three-dimensional roses.

You will be provided with fabric, a hoop, needle and embroidery floss to get started. Inspiration pieces to be used as designs will be provided but attendees are also welcome to customize designs or go their own path.

Claire is a self-taught embroidery and textile artist that uses fabric, sewing and dye to visualize lived experiences of femme queerness, survivorship and activism. Claire's interest in embroidery started as an affordable way to make gifts for loved ones -- as she fell in love with the care required to stitch an image together millimeters at a time, embroidery became Claire's chosen medium. Claire is constantly taking in her environment and translating it to stitching. Incorporating found items, dyes and salvaged fabrics into her work builds context and sentimental relevance to pieces.

Land Acknowledgement: Toronto is in the 'Dish With One Spoon Territory’. The Dish With One Spoon is a treaty between the Anishinaabe, Mississaugas and Haudenosaunee that bound them to share the territory and protect the land. Subsequent Indigenous Nations and peoples, Europeans and all newcomers have been invited into this treaty in the spirit of peace, friendship and respect. Please Acknowledge that this workshop is taking place on stolen land.

Transphobia, homophobia, misogyny, ableism, fatphobia, racism or oppressive behaviour of any kind will not be tolerated. Attendees are expected to uphold these expectations and an Akin staff member will be present to mediate topics of discussion that are problematic and/or intolerant of our inherent values.

Accessibility:
Toronto School of Art is located on the 2nd floor. We regret TSA is not currently wheelchair accessible. When you arrive at TSA’s entrance at the north side of the building, there are 7 steps into the building. Inside, there are 6 steps with a handrail leading to the flight of stairs to the 2nd floor. The flight of stairs is equipped with handrails and contains: 15 steps, a landing, 6 steps, a landing, 6 steps leading to the TSA hallway entrance. Total: 40 steps. Please note: there is no onsite parking but folks may be dropped off at the TSA entrance (vehicles may enter via gate off Dufferin St.). There are 2 gender neutral single-stall washrooms, and 2 multi-stall washrooms to choose from.

Akin Creative: Card Making Party at Farside Studio

Wednesday December 6 / 6-9pm drop-in / Ages 19+ / Farside Studio (enter through Farside) 600 Gerrard St East / Pay-What-You-Can (suggested $5 per card)

Akin Projects and Farside Studio are excited to present this casual, drop-in crafting party! Join us in the studio and make a card for your best friend, neighbour, significant other, worst enemy or a complete stranger! All materials are provided. 

You will be provided with one card per PWYC donation (donations go to Akin Projects, registered not-for-profit arts organization). The cards are made of heavy-duty hemp card stock, cut and scored to make a 4”x6” card. Each card comes with a brightly-colored 4”x6” envelope. You can decorate the card and envelope however you wish!

Decorating supplies will be provided including:

- a variety of coloured and patterned paper
- pencil crayons, markers and pens
- watercolour paints and brushes
- spirograph
- stamps and ink
- stickers
- stencils
- scissors
- glue
- glitter, beads, ribbon and more!

Feel free to bring additional supplies!

After you make your card, you are invited to write a letter in it at Farside’s monthly letter-writing event: ‘Post Box’ taking place in the main space. Supplies are provided by donation and include stamps, stickers, inks, scissors, glue,and embellishments.

Feel free to drop in anytime between 6-9pm and enjoy both events!

Accessibility
Farside is on the ground floor. It has step free access through main entrance. The walkway through the bar is narrow and can be crowded. The doors are not automated. There are two ground level accessible gender-neutral washroom. There are no grab bars in the washroom and the toilets are not raised. The floor is at ground level throughout the bar and studio. 

Getting There
Farside is located at 600 Gerrard St E. There are 3 streetcar routes that have stops at the closest major intersection. The 505 the 504 and the 506, at Broadview Ave and Gerrard St E. There are bike lanes on some of the major roads in the area. However cycling on Gerrard St. E. can be unpleasant due to narrow lanes. We ask that you exercise caution and do not drink and drive. Please walk, take the TTC or take a taxi/uber if you plan to drink.

About Akin Projects
Akin Projects is an arts programming organization and registered nonprofit established for the purpose of providing both creative and professional development opportunities to members of Toronto’s artistic and cultural community. Akin Creative is an initiative of Akin Projects that offers creative workshops and events for everyone to enjoy regardless of their artistic experience or abilities. Programming includes a monthly Show & Tell event for artist, free gallery and museum tours, hands-on workshops and educational experiences.

www.akinprojects.org

About Farside and Farside Studio
Farside is a cozy living-room style bar in East Chinatown that makes space for creativity, engages community and encourage communication between neighbours. 

Farside Studio is an art studio and shared workspace that hosts workshops and community events. The Farside Artist in Residence program is a self-directed program which provides free short-term studio space for artists and creative types who want to focus on their work, or explore new ideas with a focus on community engagement. 

www.farsideto.com

Akin Fall Gallery Crawl - Saturday September 16!

We're back! Akin Fall Gallery Crawl!

Akin Projects invites you to join us for free guided tours of the current exhibitions at some of Toronto's best and brightest galleries and artist run centres in the West End.

Come along as gallery directors and staff provide special walk throughs of their current shows, and answer your questions! 

*accessibility information about each venue at the bottom of this post.

1. Meet at Division Gallery at 1pm (45 Ernest Ave, Toronto) 

2. Visit Mercer Union, a centre for contemporary art

3. Visit Daniel Faria Gallery

4. Visit Clint Roenisch Gallery

5. Visit Gallery TPW

6. Visit XPACE Cultural Centre


Free to attend. All are welcome, open to the public. The more the merrier!

Accessibility Information:

1. Division Gallery has step free access to main entrance. If it is difficult to enter through the door there's a garage door. The door is not automated. All public areas are level. There is a ground level accessible washroom. There are no grab bars in bathroom. The toilet is not raised.

2. Daniel Faria Gallery has step free access to main entrance though there is a small lip. If it is difficult to enter through the door there's a garage door. The door is not automated. Almost all public areas are level. There is a ground level washroom. It is not designed for wheelchairs and may not be wide enough for some wheelchairs to turn around. There are no grab bars in bathroom. The toilet is not raised.

3. Clint Roesnisch has step free access to main entrance though there is a small lip. If it is difficult to enter through the door there's a garage door. The door is not automated. All public areas are level.

4. Gallery TPW has step free access and a ramp to the main entrance. The door is not automated but can propped open. All public areas are level, and there is a ground level accessible washroom with grab bars.

5. XPACE Cultural Centre has step free access to main entrance. The door is not automated. Almost all public areas are level. There is a ground level accessible washroom with a grab bar. The toilet is not raised.