Made In Toronto - Highlighting Local Artists and Makers: Michelle Lee and Heidi Keyes

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The words “Made In Toronto: Highlighting Local Artists and Makers” on a black banner at bottom and two cropped details of the two artists work in this blog post.

 

Welcome to the final edition of Akin’s Winter Makers Highlight series! If you still have anyone left on your holiday shopping list, then look no further - we’ve got you covered.  We’re excited to introduce you to Akin Dupont member Michelle Lee and Akin Yonge-St Clair member Heidi Keyes. They’ve got lots of exciting goodies available for purchase online and in person. Read on to find out more! 

Michelle Lee 

Michelle Lee is a Toronto-based visual artist creating works that are small and light enough to carry with you under any circumstance! Humorously, she conceptualized 'pocket works for the apocalypse', an ongoing series of paintings on hand built ceramics. The images she creates are dreamlike interpretations of places and people; each alludes to a bigger story, while exploring subtle moments of relation and transformation. The handheld size and wearable form offers a tangible connection to the body. Michelle’s studio practice is balanced by her work leading art and nature based programs at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. She received her BFA from OCAD University, and has exhibited in Ontario. Stay tuned for her participation in local art markets!

 

An image of Michelle Lee at a craft market. Michelle has brown hair with bangs, with a pink-blonde streak. She is wearing a pair of her handmade ceramic earrings. She wears a blue button down shirt and jeans. She’s standing, with one hand leaning on the table where her ceramics are displayed. There are small ceramic earrings, pendants and little blue pots. 

 

“My current process has really grown out of the desire to work with my hands in a slow and contemplative way. I’m interested in creating work that can be held and touched; that can become a part of the person who owns it. I’ve found small-scale work can invite this level of intimacy. There’s a need to approach them closely, with intention and care to really get a sense of their story. By having the pieces wearable, my work aims to connect this concept even further, having the art move with you, wherever you may go :) 

Each clay piece is hand built and intricately painted with underglazes using the tiniest brushes I can find. My go-to size for detail is ‘0000’, though I’m always on the lookout for a finer brush! All the pieces are then fired with a glossy clear glaze on top, and finished with either a chain to turn the work into a necklace or stainless steel hooks for a pair of earrings.

 

An image of a table, containing various vials of different coloured paint, and Michelle Lee’s hand holding a fine paintbrush. She’s working on two ceramic pendants, both identical, a blue, airy scene with the black outline of a person, with hair blowing in the wind, layered on top.  

 

My inspiration for the imagery initially comes from places that I’ve visited; often while out walking in nature or exploring new locations. From there, I’ll take reference photos to revisit when I'm back at my desk. Through drawing, I begin to reimagine and “deconstruct” the scene captured. I’ll pull forward certain formal elements that have caught my eye and I want to emphasize, while playing with colour and abstraction to shift the feel and composition. I like to leave hints and traces of the original subject matter, yet ultimately depict a new space open to interpretation, and where others can find their own personal connection.”

Check out Michelle’s work on her online shop www.pocketworksfortheapocalypse.com or on instagram  @mieve_lee

 

An image of Michelle Lee’s ceramic necklace called ‘Sisters” The pendant is crescent moon shaped with a chain attached on both ends. The pendant is painted with a series of lines reminiscent of a horison, with two shapes side by side, their shadows outlined with a dotted line. 

 

Heidi Keyes

Heidi is a mixed media artist residing in Toronto. She is from the Kingston area of Ontario and is part Nordic. Her practice seeks to uncover spiritual truths, which will help in creating what she has called "The Earth Idyllic". One of her influences is Swedish artist Hilma af Klint. Heidi believes that by continuously focusing on intelligent insights, wisdom and solutions and positive thoughts that we can realize a successful transition to a new Earth Idyllic.

 

An image of two paintings mounted on a wall in a living room. The painting are by Heidi Keyes. They are abstract paintings, in pinks, blues and reds. The room holds a long blue velvet couch, a circular coffee table with a vase, and some large books on the floor. 

 

“Most of my works are acrylic on canvas with various acrylic mediums. I do some works on paper. I am using a special pallet which resembles pastels and is intended to create a feeling of warmth and a frequency vibration of love. They are generated through layers of underpainting and a layering paint, the end result is a very glowy work. Spiritual truths arise during the painting process. Each piece deals with a separate aspect of human existence and provides some direction and guidance as to how we could improve.”

An image of an artwork on the wall of a home. The painting is done by Heidi Keyes, an abstract work in pinks, purples and blues. In the room is a modern style table, lamp, and stool. 

You can see Heidi’s work in an upcoming exhibition at Mit-Far Cafe at 1098 Yonge Street, at Roxborough.The exhibition runs till January 20th, 2024. @mitfarcafe.

See more of Heidi’s work on her instagram @heidi.e.keyes

 
 
 
 

Thanks so much to Heidi and Michelle for their participation! And thank you to our beautiful community of art makers and art lovers, for your support of local artists! We encourage you to shop locally and support artists with your purchases all year long!


Looking for more ways to shop locally this winter? Check out Akin’s Winter Art Map, a virtual guide connecting shoppers with local artists, stores and craft markets happening this winter.  

We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts

#BringingTheArtsToLife @Canada.Council 

Made In Toronto - Highlighting Local Artists and Makers: Janet Hinkle, Heather Stewart, and Shayla Bond

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The words “Made In Toronto: Highlighting Local Artists and Makers” on a black banner at bottom and three cropped details of the thee artists work in this blog post.

 

As we continue to highlight some of Akin’s finest artists and makers this winter season, we’re excited to bring you some toasty warm talent! Akin studio members Janet Hinkle, Heather Stewart, and Shayla Bond have gorgeous original, handmade work available this season for purchase online or in person, read on for more details. 

Janet Hinkle

Akin Yonge-St Clair member Janet Hinkle is an interdisciplinary artist with a practice rooted in both contemporary fine art and craft. With a fondness for mixing juxtaposing materials and a practice rooted in shared histories, she is driven to explore concepts involving identity. Pulling inspiration from both mid-century forms and futuristic design, her work manifests as installation, sculpture, gatherings, time-based media, and both human-food and human-flora interaction. She is also one third of studio.docx, a creative team that presents innovative contemporary art in public spaces to create unique community experiences. In addition to her creative practice, Janet Hinkle coordinates and curates art projects and artist capacity-building programs.

 

Needle Study. A photograph of a textile by Janet Hinkle, Needle Study, in a gallery. The textile is a series of cyanotype fabric with impressions of various leaves, branches and needles. These blue squares of fabric are woven together with a lighter blue-grey fabric, hung on the wall and drapes down onto the hardwood of the gallery’s hardwood floor. Photo: June Cheng

 

“This winter I am eager to explore the human-flora ecologies present in many major cities, both harmonious and dissonant. Being based in a location that is witness to dormant and dead plant life for half of the year, I am interested in working with local plants in their over-wintering forms to create new projects and programs.” 

Find more of Janet’s work on her instagram @_janethinkle_  

Catch Janet’s work in these December and January events: 

• Château d'Orquevaux Artists & Writers Residency
this December 2023

• Exhibition: Perennial Darkness, Auroral Cultural Centre,
December 2, 2023 - January 27, 2024

• Window Installation: Shifting Grounds, DesignTO Festival,
January 19-28, 2024

• Exhibition: Château, Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre
Corridor Galleries, January 27 - May 3, 2024

 

Storm Cloud. An installation inside a gallery of Janet Hinkle’s work. The white wall contains pinkish-brown foliage attached to the wall asymmetrically, surrounding an abstract image of pinks, yellows and whites. In front of the wall is a white table holding three small sculptures. Photo: June Cheng

 

Heather Stewart

Heather's artistic journey has been diverse, with studies at OCADU, NSCAD, The Academy for Realist Art, Avenue Road Art School, and a comprehensive three-year adult art program at Central Technical School.

Proficient in various mediums, including acrylic, printmaking, silk screen, and sculpture, Heather finds her artistic comfort zone in the simplicity of a pencil and the nuanced tones of watercolor. Her artwork aims to forge connections, ranging from the overt to the subtly nuanced, inviting viewers to explore the depth of emotion and expression.

A painting by Heather Stewart called Cottage Life. Rows of small cottage near the shoreline. The still blue water in the foreground reflect the cottages and sky, which is gray and blue. 

Residing and working in Toronto, Heather is an active member of Akin and The Don Valley Art Club, enriching her work with diverse perspectives and inspiration.

Find Heather’s work on her Etsy page, ArtbyHeatherStewart

Also check out Heather’s work at an exhibition on now at the Women’s Art Association

“My work is often inspired by my travels. I guide kayak trips in Georgian Bay all summer and love traveling to out of the way places. When I return to the studio I use these images as inspiration to capture the vibrancy and beauty of the places that I have been.” 

“I love creating paintings that vibrate with colour and create a feeling of space. I practice in watercolour and ink on paper as well as acrylic on canvas and wood panel. Most of my inspiration comes from my love of travel (and the fact that photos just can't capture the mood that I experience while traveling!)”

A painting by Heather Stewart called Long Drop, a small white house with a red roof sits on top of a tall cliff. The sky is a vibrant golden yellow-orange. On the bottom of the cliff is a beach with a white fence, surrounded by water. 

Shayla Bond

Shayla Bond is a Toronto-based process artist recognized for her interesting use of sewn fabrics, quilting and weaving techniques. Her work explores themes of perfectionism, control, and obsession, communicated through colour, precision, and repetition.

A believer in the intimate tradition of crafting her own materials, she also experiments with oil mixing using natural pigments along with paper making. By presenting kindred compositions across diverse mediums, she invites viewers to explore the distinct qualities of each to deepen appreciation of craft.

At the heart of her practice lies a dedication to closing the gap between historic and contemporary making. The old crafts are preserved in her body of work where the echoes of the past harmonize with the cadence of the present. 

 

Framework for feeling. An image of one of Shayla Bond’s textiles, mounted inside a thin wooden frame on a white wall, this fabric is filled with small squares of white interspersed with various coloured squares, mostly in reds, purples and oranges. 

 

“Primarily textile based, I use fabric and thread to create intricately sewn panels based on computer-generated compositions. My aim with these pieces is to cross pollinate quilting with conventional stretched art, to move the quilt from the floor to wall while mastering precision and control over the materials. 

I am also the proud owner of ESBE, an artisanal quilt brand where art meets utility through a modern perspective. Embracing traditional techniques, every quilt is meticulously handcrafted by myself, and is both flawlessly detailed and uniquely imperfect.”

Shaya’s work can be purchased on her Etsy store FurnAlleyGifts or through her artisanal quilt brand ESBE  at esbestudio.com

 

Briar quilt fields. An image of one of Shayla Bond’s quilts, blue and white divided into four asymmetrical sections, placed in a field of trees and wildflowers. In the foreground are yellow goldenrod, and lush green foliage all around. 

 

A huge thank you to Janet, Heather and Shayla for participating, we are your biggest fans! We’ll be bringing you more artist highlights in the coming days, so stay tuned!


Looking for more ways to shop locally this winter? Check out Akin’s Winter Art Map, a virtual guide connecting shoppers with local artists, stores and craft markets happening this winter.  

We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts

#BringingTheArtsToLife @Canada.Council 

Made In Toronto - Highlighting Local Artists and Makers: Vera Ka-Bo Tse, Mark Buck, and Ellis Ricketts

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The words “Made In Toronto: Highlighting Local Artists and Makers” on a black banner at bottom and three cropped details of the thee artists work in this blog post.

 

As winter approaches, it's the perfect time to celebrate the craftsmanship of Akin’s fantastic artists and makers. Whether you're on the lookout for unique gifts or something to bring warmth to your own home with one-of-a-kind pieces, we’re proud to bring you some of our studio Member's fantastic talents. Read on to find out more about the work artist Vera Ka-Bo Tse, painter Mark Buck, and illustrator Ellis Ricketts have available this season! 

Vera Ka-Bo Tse

Akin Yonge-St Clair Member Vera Ka-Bo Tse is a Canadian artist who was born in Hong Kong whose work attempts to create an imaginary world which acts as a reminder of one’s origins and natural place of birth which poses questions about our existence and memory of where we came from. The objects represent a state of meditation to connect humans to their origins and earth with principles of wellness and sustainability to remind us that we all come from the same beginning and share commonality in birth, life and death like water flows. Vera Ka-Bo Tse creates work in a meditative state in which she recalls her birth origins in Hong Kong. Her memories are translated into a narrative mythology with iconography and shapes inspired by the Canadian landscape and my internal expression of a calm meditative shapes.

 

A close up of an arrangement of prints by Vera Ka-Bo Tse on a table with a white tablecloth. The prints are of abstract paintings printed and lined by white mattes arranged in three rows. On the right side, there’s a information poster, with the title “sustainable market art + design. At the edge of the arrangement are small prints with the S’MAD logo on them. 

 

Vera Ka-Bo Tse’s work explores the intersection of art and contemporary design combining techniques of traditional craft using materials like ceramics and metal and paint which create a dialogue that challenges traditional notions of craft and design, beauty, materiality by juxtaposing different media which are like yin and yang to create tension of expression. She coined the artist manifesto Mosaicismal-ism. Mosaicism is the genetic act of combining two or more different genes that produce a mutation that is a hybrid of evolution. Mutations are changes in the DNA sequence involving small parts or fragments of genes that recombine to form new combinations with new functions. Design and Art can be sub-divided into sub-categories that are from various sub-divisions of training and education that can be combined into infinite combinations of mutations deriving from the original pure disciplines to create something new that could not have existed before.

Find more of Vera’s work on instagram @smad.artdesign and on her website www.mosaicismalism.com

 

Am image of Vera Ka-Bo Tse’s sculptures arranges on a table. Large blue-green sculptures are spread around the table with smaller gold sculptures.  The table is covered with a blue tablecloth. 

 

Vera Ka-Bo Tse’s work can be found at the S’mad Holiday Market held at Malvern Town Centre December 9th, 31 Tapscott Rd., Scarborough, from 11am to 5pm. Be sure to check out this event hosted by Councillor Jamaal Myers – City of Toronto, where Vera is organizing a Q & A with one of the original members of the Guild Inn History - Guild Inn Estate to discuss the history of art and craft in Scarborough and the connection to Cedar Ridge Creative Centre to connect the past to the future.

For more information visit @smad.artdesign

 

An image of Vera Ka-Bo Tse’s table at an outdoor art fair in summer. A table displayed with prints of abstract painting in oranges, greens and blues, and an arrangement of ceramics, yellow and green sculptures.  

 

Ellis Ricketts

Akin Dupont Member Ellis Ricketts is a painter, illustrator, and mixed media artist who lives and works in Toronto as a concept and graphic artist in the film industry. He's a graduate of Humber College for 3D Animation and sometimes uses 3D arts in creating creative environments and textures. Every chance he has, he puts towards creating art for work and entertainment.

 

An image of Ellis Rickett’s standing beside his painting with this hands folded together. He wears a black and white printed baseball cap, wears circular rimmed glasses and a black, white and red printed shirt. His painting, propped on a table, is a lush, psychedelic looking gardenscape, primarily in green with flowers in purple, red and orange. 

 
 

Ellis Rickett’s painting Legacy Warrior, two antique war helmets  reminiscent of the Trojan era, well worn and slashed, sit amidst a background of red, blue and yellow abstraction.

 

Ellis Ricketts' main media is traditional pen and ink, or digital illustration but is pursuing a career in painting larger scale pieces. Currently, he is dabbling with acrylics on canvas and wood but is still experimenting with different materials like metals and plastics.

View Ellis’ work on his Instagram @paperscarifications and his work can be purchased on his website: www.ellisricketts.com/shop

 

Ellis Rickett’s ink drawing on natural textured paper of an army tank with heads of cars, guns and army equipment piled on top of it. 

 

Mark Buck 

Akin Dupont Member Mark Buck is a Toronto born artist who has been involved in the art business for over 40 years. After managing two Toronto art galleries he taught secondary high school students visual art, Photoshop, and photography for 19 years. Mark has been a member of Akin  Dupont since 2016. His premiere exhibition was held at Youngplace Artscape from June 4- 16 2018. Mark's multilayered 3D kinetic acrylic paintings called "Mondragams" were featured at the 61st Toronto Outdoor Art Fair from July 10-17 2022. Mark’s acrylic paintings, Mondragams and Mixed Media 

 

Mondragam #4. An image of Mark Buck’s work, Mondragam #4 Colour Wave #1. A bright work with 3D squares of various depths arranged in a symmetrical way. The squares are primarily red, yellow, green, brown and blue 

 

Lost Ankh. Mark Buck’s work, Lost Ankh. A collage of texture and shape, including  letters, mountains, an eye, and various textures and prints arranged in squares to appear woven together 

Paperworks are being offered at 50% OFF during his annual Winter Sale (until December 31 2023).  Studio visits are by appointment only. No obligation in-home or business visits within the Toronto (GTA) area are welcome. 

Mark's ARTALOG (Art Catalog) pays homage to his/Canada's first digital art gallery. His artwork is three-dimension. It is sculptural. Mark combines his love of art, culture and teaching by featuring the Bauhaus Colour and Shape Design in his artwork. Mark's acrylic paintings sometimes represent his favourite artists such as : Agam, Haring, Lichtenstein, Mondrian, and Picasso. 

Mark’s work can be purchased on his website www.markbuck.art

Check out Mark’s BLOG on “How To Buy Artwork”

Hey! Who Ya Lookin’ At? An image of artist Mark Buck’s collage, Hey! Who Ya Lookin’ At?  Three collaged figures are in the image, on the left hand side, a the figure has blonde hair, one eye and lips. In the middle, a figure wears a hair, and a button down shirt, suit jacket and tie. The third figure, on the right side of the picture has voluptuous blonde hair and white and blue spotted skin. A speech bubble above their head reads “Hey! Who Ya Lookin’ At?” 

A huge thank you to Vera, Ellis and Mark for participation. Stay tuned for more maker highlights coming to you throughout the month. 


Looking for more ways to shop locally this winter? Check out Akin’s Winter Art Map, a virtual guide connecting shoppers with local artists, stores and craft markets happening this winter.  

We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts

#BringingTheArtsToLife @Canada.Council