Akin Winter Gallery Crawl on Saturday February 24

Saturday, February 24 /  Meet at Koffler Gallery at 1pm - Suite 104-105, 180 Shaw Street (Artscape Youngplace) / FREE & family friendly

Akin Projects invite you to join us as we kick off our 2018 Gallery Crawl series as we spend a little bit longer visiting galleries and artist spaces in Artscape Youngplace, beginning with an exhibition tour at Koffler Centre for the Arts.

Free to attend. All are welcome, open to the public.

1. Meet at tour of Koffler Centre for the Arts at 1:00pm. (Suite 104-105, 180 Shaw Street)
2. Tour the Stairwell Galleries with Koffler Gallery
3. Curatorial tour with the South Asian Visual Arts Centre (SAVAC) and Critical Distance Centre for Curators (CDCC) (Suite 302, 180 Shaw Street).
4. Tour the 1st floor Hallway Galleries and hallway video with CDCC.

Accessibility:
Koffler Gallery and Critical Distance Centre for Curators are all located within Artscape Youngplace (180 Shaw Street). Artscape Youngplace is fully accessible by Ontario standards, with a wheelchair ramp at the 180 Shaw Street doors, an elevator servicing every floor and a fully accessible washroom on every level. The nearby 63 Ossington bus on the TTC is wheelchair accessible. More information can be found here

Please let us know of any other accessibility needs so that we can assist. Email michael@akincollective.com with advance notice and we will do our best to accommodate you! Thank you.

Unexpected Subway Living by Jordan MacLachlan of Akin Dupont at the Outsider Art Fair in New York City this weekend

Unexpected Subway Living is an exhibition of over 100 clay sculptures by Jordan MacLachlan of Akin Dupont. The exhibition will be at the Outsider Art Fair in New York City happening January 18-21, 2018 at the Metropolitan Pavilion , 125 W. 18th street, New York, NY.

Unexpected Subway Living imagines a catastrophic event that finds both humans and beasts co-habiting in the equivalent of an underground city. A place where nightmare scenarios and lullaby lyrics collide, it is a paradigm for a reality we have come to know.

Jordan Maclachlan is a storyteller describing to us what is and what could be. A self-taught sculptor, her ceramics are masterworks of detail depicting life in all its layered complexity. They suggest parallel worlds where possibilities become reality in another dimension.

She is unflinching in her narration of what she defines as the endless unexpected ways of subway living. A man wrestles with a giant rat, a woman gives birth on the white tiled floor and primates couple in complete oblivion to the swirl of quotidian chaos around them.

MacLachlan believes that where we live determines how we live. Her work is devoted to exploring the various ways to be.  She has created four environments over the last twenty years - Uncontrollable Worlds; Condo Living; Zoo Living and Unexpected Subway Living. Each one amplifies the concept and context that every action taken, every decision made ripples through the universe leading to unforeseen and often bizarre consequences.

After successful exhibits in Toronto and Quebec, the debut of the entire body of work of over 100 sculptures from Unexpected Subway Living will be for sale in a specifically designed booth measuring 42’ x 4’.  Although only recently available for purchase, Jordan MacLachlan’s work is included in private and museum collections: She will be making a rare visit from Toronto to be present at New York’s Outsider Fair to meet collectors and clients.

Exhibition Dates:
Thursday, January 18, 2018 (VIP Early Access Preview): 2:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Friday, January 19, 2018: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday, January 20, 2018: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday, January 21, 2018: 11:00 - 6:00 PM

Akin artists Sara Pearson and Kira Varvanina at the Toronto Design Offsite Festival

The 8th annual Toronto Design Offsite Festival (TO DO) has begun with over a hundred design exhibitions and events happing at all over Toronto until January 21, 2018. We invite you to check out the TO DO schedule of events and explore the festival this week. 

Don't miss 'Rugs!' featuring new work by Akin Dupont artist Sara Pearson and 'Le Grand Mobile' featuring intricately made wooden creations by Akin Dupont artist Kira Varvanina. 

MADE presents Rugs!

Prospector Rug by Sara Pearson of Akin Dupont in collaboration with designer Lis Eeuwes

Location: MADE Design, 70 Geary Avenue
Exhibition Dates: January 16-20, 2018
Opening Reception: Sat, Jan 20, 5-8PM

MADE is committed to innovative design made on a small scale in Canada to the highest quality. 

This is the first collaboration between artist Sara Pearson and designer Liz Eeuwes. Their creation combines elements of Sara’s gemstone paintings and colour palette, with the rich texture and sculptural design.

Sara Pearson is a Toronto based interdisciplinary artist exploring the relationship between materials and the natural world, using the optical phenomena that exist within cut gemstones as inspiration in her paintings. She also works with found materials, bronze, marble, clay, cement, and terra-skin paper to compose her sculptures and installations and has shown with Project Gallery in Toronto. 

Liz Eeuwes is a materials-led designer with a focus on small batch and custom produced rugs and accessories. Working in partnership with international artisan craftsmen, her home collections marry modern designs and colour stories with the rich heritage of traditional weaving. Her past collections have included themes of placemaking, scale, and our connection to Canadian iconography.

Le Grande Mobile at Mini Mioche

Wooden mobile by Kira Varvanina

Location: Mini Mioche Store, 795 Queen Street West
Exhibition Dates: January 15-21, 2018

“Le Grand Mobile” is an artistic exploration of the idea of the “mobile” as not merely a children’s toy but a hanging artwork, which derives its movement from air or touch. “Le Grand Mobile” window installation is inspired by the sculptures of Alexander Calder – the creator of the modern mobile. Kira Varvanina's intricately made wooden creations, in particular Geometric Mobiles, are suspended from the ceiling and form discrete movable parts. The overall sculpture moves with air and motors creating a non-static presence.

Kira Varvanina is the owner and creator of Miloshka Handmade, a design brand specializing in unique lasercut nursery mobiles, clocks & wall décor. 

Town Hall on indigenous Reconciliation this Thursday

Arif Virani, Member of Pariliament for the Parkdale-High Park community in Toronto has invited the public to attend a Town Hall this Thursday January 18 at Roncesvalles United Church, 214 Wright Ave in Toronto, On from 7-9pm. 

Arif will be joined by a panel of guests to discuss an array of issues that are vital to reconciliation. Confirmed expert guest speakers include: Stacey Laforme, Chief of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation; Margaret Froh, President of the Métis Nation of Ontario; Max Fineday, Co-Executive Director of Canadian Roots and nêhiyaw (Cree) activist of the Sweetgrass First Nation; and Dr. Anna Banerji, Faculty Lead, Indigenous and Refugee Health, and  Associate Professor Pediatrics and Dalla Lana School of Public Health.

Akin Creative: Valentine Card Making Party at Farside Studio on February 6!

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. Please note this is a 19+ event. 

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!

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 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 members selected as Artist Project 2018 UNTAPPED Emerging Artists

Akin would like to Congratulate Monique Resnick of Akin Lansdowne and Kayla Polan of Akin Dupont for being selected as UNTAPPED Emerging Artists at the 2018 Artist Project Contemporary Art Fair. Monique and Kayla were selected along with 18 other artists including former Akin member Raquel De Silva. The UNTAPPED Emerging Artists Competition is a juried competition that awards 20 emerging artists from all mediums an opportunity to exhibit at a professional-level art fair for free.

UNTAPPED Emerging Artists benefit from a dedicated feature space at The Artist Project. This program aims to provide a platform for young artists to launch their artwork to a public audience, make connections within the arts industry and gain experience in the contemporary art world.

About Kayla Polan
Calgary-born, Toronto based artist Kayla Polan is a multidisciplinary artist working across traditional and new media. She graduated with Distinction from the Ontario College of Art & Design University with a BFA major in Drawing & Painting. Her practice melds feminism and popular culture to investigate contemporary ideas about sexuality, fetishism, domesticity, queer identity, autobiography, and consumer culture through painting, sculpture, printmaking, and performance. She has received multiple awards for her work, including the Spark Box Studio Emerging Artist Award. Her work has been exhibited in several group exhibitions in Canada and Europe. www.kaylapolan.com

About Monique Resnick
Monique Resnick is a visual artist based in Toronto. Her approach to art involves viewing the subject matter from a literal 20, 000 ft. Specifically she uses Google Earth imagery to assess and depict the relationship between the land and those who occupy it. By taking this approach the viewer is able to evaluate the discrepancies fuelled by conspicuous consumption. From population density to the degree of resources required to manicure lawns, she forces the viewer to acknowledge that which they may not have otherwise been exposed to. A graduate of McGill University and OCAD U, Monique has exhibited in numerous juried shows throughout Ontario. She currently maintains a studio practice at Akin Collective. www.moniqueresnick.com

About The Artist Project
The Artist Project is a four day contemporary art fair happening at the Better Living Centre. From collectors and curators, to gallerists and designers, visitors can explore and discover works of art from over 250 top contemporary artists from Canada and abroad. This is a unique opportunity to meet and buy art directly from artists. www.theartistproject.com

SHOW SCHEDULE:
Thursday February 22: Opening Night Party  7-10 PM
Friday February 23: 11 AM-10 PM
Saturday February 24: 11 AM-8 PM
Sunday February 25 11 AM-6 PM

Akin Show and Tell 2018 Schedule

Every month Akin host’s a relaxed and fun ‘Show and Tell for Artists’ at one of the Akin Collective studios or at one of our partner organizations. 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. Our first Show and Tell of the year is a special ceramics edition happening at the Gardiner Museum on January 20 from 2-4pm.

We hope to see you at one or more of our Show and Tell events in 2018. Here is the schedule so far:

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 27 / 7-9pm / Akin Lansdowne - 87 Wade Ave, Studio 101
The February edition of the Show and Tell is happening at Akin Lansdowne in studio 101 and will hosted by Akin Studio Manager Jen Pilles. Click here to RSVP. 

THURSDAY MARCH 15 / 7-9pm / Location to be announced
This is a special Show and Tell for artist's who create merchandise! Show and share your packaging, products and displays and participate in a lively conversation about the adventure of selling your creative products in Toronto! More details to be announced. 

TUESDAY APRIL 24 / 7-9pm / Akin Sunrise - 100 Sunrise Ave, studio 106A
The April edition of the Show and Tell is happening at Akin Sunrise in studio 106A and will hosted by Akin Studio Manager Jeff Tallon. More info including guest speakers to be announced. Stay tuned! 

TUESDAY MAY 29 / 7-9pm / Akin Dupont - 1485 Dupont St, studio 204
The May edition of the Show and Tell is happening at Akin Dupont in studio 204 and will hosted by Akin Studio Manager Sara Pearson. More info to be announced. Stay tuned! 

TUESDAY JUNE 26 / 7-9pm / Akin St Clair - 1747 St Clair Ave West
The June edition of the Show and Tell is happening at Akin St Clair and will hosted by Akin Studio Manager Rachel Butler. More info to be announced. Stay tuned! 

TUESDAY JULY 31 / 7-9pm /  Akin Ossington - 888 Dupont St, studio 204
The July edition of the Show and Tell is happening at Akin Ossington in studio 204 (or weather permitting, in the backyard courtyard!) and will hosted by Akin Studio Manager Janet Hinkle. More info  to be announced. Stay tuned! 

More dates and information will be announced. For up to date details visitwww.akinprojects.org/showandtell 

Grant Writing 101 Workshop - reference document now available

Big thanks to everyone who joined us last night for the Grant Writing 101 Workshop with the Ontario Arts Council. Due to the popularity of this workshop we are now able to provide the PDF slideshow from the event to the public.  We hope to have more public workshops on Grant Writing in the future. More information will be announced on our calendar, blog, and Facebook page when available. Our thanks to the Ontario Arts Council for their support of this event and for providing the PDF file for the public. 

Embroidery 101 Workshop with Claire Davis of Akin Lansdowne - January 18

The Centre for Women & Trans People Collective at Ryerson University presents Embroidery 101, a workshop facilitated by Claire Davis of Akin Lansdowne. This even is a part of Resistance Through Community Building, an Art & Self-Care Night happening on January 18 at the Ryerson Student Centre. It will be an evening of events focusing on centering self-care and love, reclaiming our agency, and community love. Arts & Self-Care Night aims to create a space that prioritizes women and trans people’s experiences. Light snacks will be provided!

About Claire Davis
Claire is an embroider and textile artist. She is constantly taking in images from her environment and dreaming up ways to translate them into stitching. Claire draws a lot of inspiration from other femmes in her community and their interpretation of the world – Claire’s work commonly explores what it means to take up space as a queer woman, survivor and activist. 

About The Centre for Women and Trans People
The Centre for Women and Trans People is an Equity Service Centre of the Ryerson Students' Union and the Continuing Education Students' Association of Ryerson (CESAR). Their services include an extensive resource centre with books, pamphlets, videos, workshops, campaigns, events, free condoms, pads and tampons, a microwave, and above all a safe space for self-identified women to sit down and relax! Men are allowed to use our resources and take part in what we do, but must knock before entering the Centre due to the sensitivity of issues that are being discussed. 

Kwentong Bayan Collective of Akin Lansdowne present Balikbayan at the Workers Arts & Heritage Centre‎

Kwentong Bayan Collective of Akin Lansdowne presents Balikbayan at the Workers Arts & Heritage Centre‎ (WAHC) from January 24 - April 21, 2018. The exhibition Balikbayan features a visual timeline of the 150+ year history of caregiving in Canada by racialized women, and Balikbayan boxes that contain migration and labour stories. Opens to the public on January 24th, 2017. Join us for the opening reception on Friday, February 9th, 7 – 9 pm; artists will be in attendance. 

Learn more about the work of Kwentong Bayan with a slide talk and exhibition walkthrough conducted by Althea and Jo on Saturday February 10. Click here for more information. 

About the Exhibition:
In the Filipino language, “balik” means “to return” and “bayan” can mean “country, place, home, or town”.

Since the 70’s, the labour export policy of the Philippine government has forced Overseas Filipino Workers to work abroad to provide for their families. An average of 6,000 workers leave the Philippines each day. One way they maintain a connection with their loved ones is to send home balikbayan boxes home packed with items that symbolize their labour and care.

BALIKBAYAN will transform WAHC into a gathering place to listen to migrant worker stories. In a series of gatherings, workers from Hamilton and Toronto will participate in a healing soup circle, create storytelling wearables, and plant native seeds. At each gathering, folks can create their own pasalubong (gifts) to take home and share with others.

This exhibition will be accompanied by an exhibition essay by Zenee Maceda, Labour Activist and National Representative of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Canada.

The Workers Arts and Heritage Centre will also offer additional programming alongside BALIKBAYAN over the winter season, including two PA Day camps, a comic jam for ages 12 and up and much more. Click here for more information.

About the Kwentong Bayan Collective:
Kwentong Bayan is a collective of two Toronto-based artists, Althea Balmes of Akin Lansdowne and Jo SiMalaya Alcampo. Their artistic mandate is to explore a critical and intersectional approach to community-based art, labour, and education.

Althea Balmes is an artist-educator rooted in community work. She uses her strong connection to her culture and her place as a diasporic Canadian woman of colour to inspire her work and as a way to connect to others. Althea is pursuing a Master of Information degree in User Experience Design at the University of Toronto.

Jo SiMalaya Alcampo is an interdisciplinary artist whose art practice includes community storytelling, interactive installations, and electroacoustic soundscapes. Jo volunteers with Caregiver Connections, Education and Support Organization (CCESO) – an organization that support migrant caregivers and is a member of the Kapwa Collective – a mutual support group of Filipinx Canadian artists, critical thinkers, and healers bridging narratives between the Indigenous and the Diasporic.

About the Workers Art and Heritage Centre:
Founded in 1991, the Workers Arts & Heritage Centre is a national museum dedicated to celebrating the historic and contemporary cultural contributions of Canada's working people through both the arts and a wide range of interpretive exhibitions. wahc-museum.ca

Newcomer and Refugee Artist Mentorship Program - Two Info Sessions Coming Up

The Toronto Arts Council, North York Arts and UrbanArtsTO will be hosting two info sessions for the Toronto Arts Council’s Newcomer and Refugee Artist Mentorship Program. They will be talking about who is eligible to apply, how to find the right mentor for you, and how to get started on your application. Here are the session details: 

January 24 / 1 – 3 pm / Toronto Centre for the Arts, Lower Gallery (5040 Yonge Street) 

February 15 / 6-8pm / UrbanArtsTO Community Arts Council (5 Bartonville Ave East)

The program was created to provide support for newcomer and refugee artists to develop their artistic practice and support the integration and inclusion of newcomer and refugee artists to Toronto. It provides funding for newcomer and refugee professional artists to be mentored in their chosen artistic discipline. Deadline to apply is May 1st, 2018. To apply visit: www.torontoartscouncil.org/grant-programs/tac-grants/newcomers-and-refugees

Please e-mail rupal@torontoartscouncil.org to reserve your spot in either session. Include your full name, which session you would like to attend, as well as any translation services or accessibility services you require. Both venues are wheelchair accessible.

The Newcomer and Refugee Artist Mentorship program is open only to professional artists who arrived in Canada after January 1, 2011 and who live in the City of Toronto.

Come Up to my Room at the Gladstone featuring artists An Dy and Kendra Yee of Akin Dupont

Come Up to My Room (CUTMR) is the Gladstone Hotel’s annual 4-day alternative design exhibition happening this year on January 18-21. There will be art, design, installations and events happening in all areas of the hotel curated by Jana Macalik and Christophe Jivraj with Lukus Toane featuring dozens of artists including An Dy and Kendra Yee of Akin Dupont.

Each year CUTMR provides artists and designers the opportunity to take risks, to push their ideas, to evoke meaning not just function. The event was conceived in 2004 as a vehicle for experimentation and interaction within the fields of art and design. Acting as counterpoint to the Interior Design Show and giving rise to the more recent Toronto Design Offsite Festival, CUTMR has since become a cornerstone of the Toronto alternative design scene.

This year, CUTMR 2018 explores how people interact with art and design. Is it a shared experience mediated by an artist or designer? Or is it an individual response triggered by personal experience? Or is it all of the above? We hope you decide to check out the event and investigate for yourself! Don't forget to to visit the second floor where Akin artist's An Dy and Kendra Yee will be showing work in the north corridor, and in room 214. 

AN DY | 2ND FLOOR NORTH CORRIDOR: 

'These Pixels are TOO sweet' by An Dy

An Dy is putting Pixels on trial, calling on a variety of media to challenge and affirm the way we consume art and media. Imagery will include motifs taken from virtual interfaces such as the adobe suite programs, and contrast them with traditional forms such as the human figure. Allowing for a slower way to interpret these spaces, An Dy's work postures as stand in’s for the stimulation we receive through our screens at a time where we are both consumed by social media and alienated from it. 

An Dy is a Toronto born artist, graduated from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in April 2017 with a BFA. These Pixels are Too Sweet explores the language of painting as a way to reflect the oversaturated experience he had growing up navigating the structures of the digital world.

SISTER CO-RESISTER | ROOM 214:

Sister Co-Resister is Pamila Matharu, Karen Azoulay, Nedda Baba, Yan Wen Chang, Marianne Ibrahim, Zahra Komeylian, Maanii Oakes, Kalpna Patel, and Akin Dupont artist Kendra Yee.

This project is a marker for the absence of intersectional feminisms’ in contemporary visual culture. It sets out to examine the labour around making and holding space - an often-repeated evocation in contemporary artistic and social discourse. In the art historical canon, the feminine has been relegated to interior, domestic spaces for the past two centuries. The social parallel has been to isolate feminist discourse within biological, ethnic, and class-bound markers. While the experiences of institutionalized misogyny and erasure, the women, femmes, two-spirit, and gender non-conforming artists in this installation intersect- profound discontinuities and contentious disagreements abound. The language of solidarity between these intersections is very much a work in progress- with approximate markers holding space for terms that can encompass the vastness of a marginalized existence. The result is a space in permanent flux- containing the messy shards and jagged edges of solidarity in a state of continual evolution. Shattered nerves, furtive pride, salvaged homelands, nostalgia and itinerant spaces of care populate this room. Its inhabitants are late-invited guests, squatters even, at a conversation whose terms have been pre-defined. They speak in languages that have been misappropriated and distorted, vulnerable to misinterpretation and co-optation. Their loud din echoes in passages and labyrinthine hallways, leading to a protected space where their incitements can breathe. 

KENDRA YEE is a Toronto-based artist and designer. She focuses on recreating the speculative world that exists within her head, combining these landscapes with cultural elements discovered throughout local neighbourhoods. 

EXHIBITION HOURS:
THURS, JAN 18: 7-10PM
FRI, JAN 19: 11AM - 10PM
SAT, JAN 20: 11AM - 10PM + Opening Reception 7-10PM
(after 6pm, entry is dependent on capacity - online ticket holders who arrive after this time may not get in if venue is already full)
SUN, JAN 21: 11AM - 5PM

SPECIAL EVENTS:
THURS, JAN 18 | EXHIBITION PREVIEW | 7-10PM
FRI, JAN 19 | STUDENT DAY - $5 STUDENT TICKETS WITH VALID STUDENT ID ONLY
SAT, JAN 20 | OPENING RECEPTION | 7-10PM
SAT, JAN 20 | LOVE DESIGN PARTY | 10PM - LATE
SUN, JAN 21 | TSA IDEAS FORUM | 1-3PM

'Pretty Bird' by Chris Harms at the Akin Vitrine Galleries

Akin Collective + Akin Projects are excited to present our 2018 programming in two Vitrine Galleries, one a recent addition to our St. Clair studios and our original location at our Dupont studios. These miniature galleries will feature the diverse talent of our members with travelling installations rotating each month. Each artist will be featured for the first month at Dupont and second month at St. Clair. For more information about our artists and our programming, join us on Instagram @akinvitrine.

We are excited to welcome the new year by featuring new work by returning artist, Chris Harms! 

Chris is a self taught artist living and working in Toronto. He is an Akin Dupont member whose artwork explores the relationship between our city’s constant state of construction and its citizens. Chris creates vibrant sculptures with plexiglass, objects seen and unseen, that shape our world and envision the future.

Venturing into the bizarre and humorous, this installation, ‘Pretty Bird’ combines two mundane objects, made with a minimal aesthetic, to create a playful, laughable environment. 

‘Pretty Bird' 
Plexiglass, found materials
Variable Dimensions

Exhibition runs for the month of January 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.

‘Pretty Bird’ will then travel to the Akin St. Clair Vitrine Gallery and be on view for the month of February at 1747 St. Clair Avenue West. Gallery is street level and can be viewed at any time.

To contact the artist: chrshrms@me.com
www.chris-harms.com
Instagram: @chrshrms

Akin & Queers for Dinner Potluck Party on January 26 at Akin Lansdowne

January 26 / 6:30-8:30pm/ Akin Lansdowne, 87 Wade Avenue
PWYC (Suggested Donation $5 to help defray costs) / Please RSVP to let us know you're coming at www.queersfordinner.com/january-26-2018.html

Bring your appetite, creative side, and a tasty vegetarian dish to share and join Akin and Queers for Dinner for an evening of comfort food, great conversation and a special art-making collage activity. All are welcome - bring friends and some tasty treats! Vegetarian soup, bread and some yummy mac and cheese will be provided.

For accessibility information about the event location and photos of the space, please visit www.akincollective.com/lansdowne

Please let us know of any other accessibility needs so that we can assist you. Email michael@akincollective.com with advance notice and we will do our best to accommodate you! Thank you. 

About Queers for Dinner
Queers For Dinner - Foodie Events for LGBTQ people and Allies is a social community which aims to bring LGBTQ people and their allies together to enjoy great food and meet new friends in a small group setting. Queers for Dinner organizes the meals and invites guests to sign-up and write a little bit about themselves to share with other diners. Each event will have a host to help guests break the ice, and keep the space welcoming.
For more information please visit www.QueersforDinner.com

About Akin
Akin is an arts organization that provides affordable studio and shared workspace to nearly 300 artists and creatives in 16 studios across 7 locations as well as free and low cost creative and professional development opportunities to Toronto’s cultural community and the general public.
For more information please visit www.akin.art

Storefront Gallery on the Danforth: Rebekah Andrade

Akin Dufferin member Rebekah Andrade has enough work to fill a small store. And so she has. Filling it with her paintings in a last-minute turn of events, she has transformed the empty storefront, formerly a shoestore at 348 Danforth Ave, into a small gallery full of bright beautiful art for the next ten days. 

The venue, owned by Thomas Walsh a local businessman, was only going to be empty for a short period but within a matter of days Rebekah had a working title (taken from a recent piece in the show) and complete collection ready. '' It was a challenge'', she says, ''but I'm so happy I did it!'' Rebekah says the titles of her paintings arise from a self-reflective and humorous take on life, with pieces like We Drank We Laughed and So Tender And Delicate. 

Coming from Northern BC, Rebekah Andrade finished her BA at Emily Carr in 2012 and has since exhibited across Canada and internationally. Her most recent formal exhibition, a group show, is still up at Sussex Contemporary in Ottawa. Check out her pop-up featuring IT WAS NEVER ABOUT YOU and chat with Rebekah until January 31, most days (except christmas) 11-7 pm at 348 Danforth Ave. 

Artwork by Akin Ossington Artist Amy McNeill at Volta Espresso until December 31

Amy McNeill is a Toronto-based artist who just recently went full-time when she joined Akin Ossington in August with her company Little Potje Ceramics. Amy is a ceramic artist but writes and creates paintings as well. Limited edition signed prints, original paintings and a limited selection of Little Potje Ceramics are now available for sale at Volta Espresso until Dec. 31, 2017. 

Volta Espresso
Open everyday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
866 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON M5R 3G3

Amy is motivated strongly by her personal experience of losing loved ones who made their livings as makers. Every pot, bowl and vessel she throws is dedicated to her family who raised her to have a strong work ethic and dedication to quality craftsmanship. 

In her fine art, Amy meditates on issues of fertility and reproduction. Trying to decipher what it means to be human rather than female, she's found that it's an identity mixture hard to separate and isolate at the best of times. 

Amy also enjoys writing arts and life pieces for news outlets, and working with small businesses as a copywriter and content strategist. She spends her spare time sailing, skiing and making terrible jokes at which her friends and family rarely laugh.

Grant Writing 101 Workshop with the Ontario Arts Council

January 11 / 6:30-8:30pm / Committee Room 2, Second Floor East Side, Toronto City Hall - 100 Queen Street West

PWYC (Suggested Donation $5 to help defray Akin’s costs) / Please RSVP at www.universe.com/grantwriting

Join Akin and the Ontario Arts Council to learn how to learn more about how to get grants from the people that give them! Tickets are selling out fast so reserve your seat online today! 

Writing grants is a significant part of many artist's careers- so let's learn how to do it properly! This interactive workshop will explore the process of planning, writing and submitting grant proposals to different governing bodies. As a major funder themselves, the Ontario Arts Council provides clear examples of the grant writing process and the various the dos and don'ts of everything from creating your budget to organizing your support material and work plan. Following this, there will be an extensive Q&A period.

Toronto City Hall is fully wheelchair accessible. Please let us know of any other accessibility needs so that we can assist you. Email michael@akincollective.com by January 3, 2018 and we will do our best to accommodate you! Thank you. 

About the Presenter:
Maya Bedward is a filmmaker, arts educator and community-engaged artist from Toronto, ON. She is also the Information Services Coordinator at the Ontario Arts Council, where she helps artists and arts professionals navigate OAC’s many funding programs.

"All Are Welcome” by Akin Dupont member Bernadette Peets in the Akin Vitrine Gallery

Introducing our Akin Vitrine Gallery December exhibition, “All Are Welcome” by Akin Dupont member, Bernadette Peets.

“I have been thinking a lot about how recent immigrants and in particular refugees who come to Canada feel about us, this country and in particular what their experience is of our landscapes. 

Is Canadian society the open, warm and friendly culture that we like to think it is for these newcomers? Is our pristine landscape available to them? Does it represent a refuge or is it viewed as threatening due to its vastness and unknown dangers?

I often use wild animals in my shadow boxes to represent the vulnerability of the human characters in the narrative. In this case, the deer with the bullseye carries the symbol of the 'hunted' while at the same time acting as a warning to these individuals. The orange screen across the front is meant to slightly obscure the scene so that the viewer must look even closer to be able to see it completely. The screen says "All Are Welcome" but also acts as a barrier or an enclosure reminiscent of a refugee camp. The scenes on the side walls remind us of the origins of the travellers and the reflective surface creates a way for all of the scenes and characters to merge.

I think that we still need to go some distance in our understanding of how these newcomers may be feeling in their new reality and how we might bridge the gap between viewing them as 'other' and more as part of our communities.” 

Bernadette was born in Toronto where she currently lives and works. Her studio is in the Akin Collective at 1485 Dupont Street. She graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design in 1996 where she majored in Drawing, Painting and Art History. She lived in Florence Italy for two years (1987–88 & 1994–95) where she continued to study Art History and develop her craft as a painter.

She has explored many themes over the past 20 years of her art practice and while she has mainly used painting as her medium she has also included three dimensional installation work as well as other pictorial devices that include shadow boxes, photographs, drawing and printmaking.

Her subjects of interest have been rooted in her political, social and aesthetic ideals. Whether she is using her work as a platform for a discussion on topics as diverse as the female body image to issues relating to the Indigenous Nations in Canada, her approach is always connected to her strong sense of design, colour and technical precision.

Craft is important to her as an effective means of communication. She believes that having a high quality of execution in her work facilitates a more effective communication of her intent.

‘All Are Welcome' 
Mixed Media
Variable Dimensions

The Akin Vitrine Gallery is located at 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 Friday, or to arrange a viewing outside of those hours please contact the artist: bernadettepeets1@gmail.com

www.bernadettepeets.com
Instagram: @b_peets
#AkinVitrine

You're Invited to the Akin Holiday Party & Open House!

Akin invites you to join us on Saturday December 16 at Akin Lansdowne for an afternoon of good cheer at the Akin Holiday Party! We want to celebrate with you! Everyone is welcome!

In 2017 Akin collaborated with some amazing partners, and opened four new studio locations and welcomed many more artists to the studios. This party is a celebration for members from all seven Akin studios, as well as our neighbors, community partners, friends and family and anyone interested in celebrating with us! 

Studio 101 will be open from 12-5pm. Come and stay for a while. Mingle, enjoy the pot luck and browse the market featuring art and objects by Akin members! 

Dress festive, fun or fancy! Children of all ages welcome, but please no pets. Non-alcoholic drinks will be provided but feel free to BYOB. Food and snacks for the pot luck are welcome! Please provide labels for any common allergens. 

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

Getting there:
By TTC:
Akin Lansdowne is walking distance from Lansdowne Subway Station and is accessible by the Bloor­/Danforth subway line (Line 2) and the 47 Lansdowne Bus.

By car:
There is no reserved onsite parking but there is street parking on Wade Ave, Paton Road, and Lansdowne Ave - please check the street signs for hours. For after hours parking there is a Green P lot located at 695 Lansdowne Ave.

Accessibility:
Akin Lansdowne is not currently wheelchair accessible. Akin regrets this barrier to access.

When you arrive at Akin Lansdowne's entrance at the north side of the building, there are 6 steps into the building to access studio 101. There are two steps into the main floor gender-neutral washroom. There are no grab bars in the washroom and the toilets are not raised. The washroom on the second floor is level.

Ceramics Show & Tell at the Gardiner Museum

Akin Projects is excited to present special ceramics edition of the ‘Show & Tell’ for artists at The Gardiner Museum led by artist and Akin Studio Manager, Erin Candela.

Informative, supportive and fun—this is a time for artists to show completed works or works in progress and get friendly feedback and answers from their peers in a casual (this time a museum!) setting. Feel free to bring art to share, bring a friend or two or just bring yourself. Come for the conversation about art, or just to meet other artists and makers.

Attendance is free, but please register to attend: 

This is a free program part of Ceramic Change: How to Make It, a one day workshop intensive for emerging artists and makers in the expanded field of ceramics in conjunction with the exhibition Steven Heinemann: Culture & Nature, This one-day workshop intensive will focus on the nuts and bolts of professional survival and enabling skilled connections. From building your own DIY wooden kiln to local clay harvesting, these presentations, workshops, and conversations will dig deep into what it means to pursue a sustainable maker practice in Toronto today.

About the Gardiner Museum:
The Gardiner Museum is Canada's national ceramics museum. It was founded by George and Helen Gardiner in 1984 to house their collection of ceramic art. Its permanent collection of over 2,900 pieces, includes works from the Ancient Americas, Italian Renaissance, English Delftware, Chinese and Japanese porcelain, European porcelain, and a contemporary gallery. In addition to the permanent collections, the museum mounts three temporary exhibitions per year as well as a variety of community programming. For more information visit www.gardinermuseum.on.ca

Getting There:
Subway/Bus: From Bloor-Danforth Line — St. George Station is the closest fully accessible stop to the Gardiner’s main entrance. Take elevators to street level at the Bloor Street and Bedford Road entrance. Go south on Bedford to Bloor. Then east along Bloor to Queen's Park. The Gardiner is just south of Bloor on the east side of Queen's Park. From Yonge-University Subway Line — Museum Station is the closest subway stop to the Gardiner's main entrance. This stop is not wheelchair accessible.

Accessibility: 
The Gardiner Museum is fully wheelchair accessible. The wheelchair ramp is located on the south side of the entrance. Click here for more accessibility information.  Please let us know of any other accessibility needs so that we can assist you. Email michael@akincollective.comat least one week before the event and we will do our best to accommodate you. Thank you.