“Perimeter” an exhibition of recent Work by Bernadette Peets at #Hashtag Gallery

“Perimeter” is an exhibition of recent work by Bernadette Peets of Akin Dupont coming soon to #Hashtag Gallery (830 Dundas St West). The show runs from March 28 - April 7, 2019.

Bernadette’s work explores the natural beauty of the Canadian landscape and the concept of ‘sharing space’. Opening Reception is March 30th from 7:00-11:30pm.

About Bernadette Peets
Bernadette is a Toronto born artist and an Akin Dupont studio member. Although she mainly uses 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 and her approach is always connected to her strong sense of design, colour and technical precision. www.bernadettepeets.com

"WOODS" by Walter Segers at SNAP Toronto 2019

“WOODS” by Akin MOCA artist Walter Segers has been selected to be auctioned off at SNAP 2019, an annual photographic fundraiser for Aids Committee Toronto (ACT) featuring a live curatorial collection and a photo competition collection.

SNAP provides patrons with an opportunity to support ACT’s programs and services, increase their awareness of HIV and AIDS, and add to their art collections. The event provides a great opportunity for both established and emerging artists to showcase their work. SNAP has raised over $2.5 million since its inception in support of the important programs and services at ACT.

You can bid on Walter’s work in the silent auction (Lot # SA46) at the event on March 21, 2019 at the Arcadian Court (8th Floor of the Simpson Tower at 401 Bay Street). There will be live and silent auctions as well as performances, food, music, drinks and dancing!

Tickets still available for the event.

About Walter Segers
Walter Segers emigrated from Belgium in 1993 and currently lives and works in Toronto. He graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design University in 2008 with honors and received OCADU’s prestigious M.C. McCain Post Graduate Photography Residency in 2009. His art practice is located at the Museum Of Contemporary Art Toronto (MOCA) through Akin studio programming. He has exhibited his photo-based works at Spin, Gallery Thirteen Thirteen, Lonsdale, The John B. Aird Gallery, Propeller, The Window Gallery YYZ, P|M Gallery and the Gladstone art hotel in Toronto. In Ontario he exhibited at Open Studio at Cambrian College in Sudbury, FHM in Cambridge, Markham Museum and Lilliput Gallery in London, ON. His work has been shown internationally at Leslie Lohman Annex Gallery in NYC, Peter Deckers in Belgium, Galerie AMU in Prague and Galerie 12 in Zlín in the Czech Republic. Segers’ work is published in ArtWindsor, muse magazine (Canadian Museums Association) as well as the online magazines Wondereur, Frank by The Genteel, and Pixie & Rotter. His photo-based works explore issues surrounding gender, sexuality, immigration and identity.
www.waltersegers.com

About ACT
ACT has been a respected leader in the fight against HIV and AIDS for over 30 years. ACT works with gay men, women and young people to increase their knowledge, skills and resilience in the face of HIV and AIDS. ACT also helps to reduce HIV transmission by working with our communities to develop information about HIV, and provides outreach and education. We also help support and train people living with HIV so that they may lead healthier, more productive lives.

With your support, ACT can continue to deliver innovative programs and services to those living with, at risk, and affected by HIV and AIDS.

ACT relies heavily on the support of its partners to carry out the important work it does in HIV prevention, outreach, education and support. ACT would be unable to continue this tradition of excellence without the generosity of individual donors, and the support we receive from corporate, foundation, and community sources. Your donations are vital in keeping the fight against HIV and AIDS alive in our communities.
www.actoronto.org

SAMARA Contemporary inaugural exhibition 'Centrepiece' opens tonight featuring work by Akin Dupont artist Luke Parnell and Akin MOCA artist David Salazar

SAMARA Contemporary, a new multi-use contemporary art space located in Kensington Market, will open to the public with its first exhibition, ‘Centrepiece’ tonight from 7-9pm. Featuring work by a variety of artists working in diverse media including sculptors Luke Parnell of Akin Dupont and David Salazar of Akin MOCA.

From the elaborate to the absurd centrepieces can direct and command attention or initiate and guide conversation. A centrepiece can exist as a concept, such as a central political or social issue in a debate. It can aesthetically unite a space, or set the tone for a soirée.

Throughout history, centrepieces have been a reflection of the times, whether they be large-scale installations of the 18th century that invoked a feeling of escape into imaginary worlds, or represent a rustic tableau, implying a contemporary preference for a more simple or eco-conscious lifestyle.

With the rich history of display pieces in mind, Centrepiece, the inaugural exhibit at SAMARA Contemporary presents a fantasy world of curated islands, laden with enticing objects.

Participating Artists:
Shary Boyle
Cathy Daley
Kaley Flowers
Emily Jan
Kent Monkman
Julie Moon
Luke Parnell
David Salazar
Leo Scopacasa
Chason Yeboah

Exhibit opening: March 2, 7-10PM
Exhibit closes: March 24
Gallery hours: Tuesday to Sunday 11-7pm
Gallery location: 156 Augusta Ave, Toronto


About Luke Parnell:
Luke Parnell is a multidisciplinary Indigenous artist of Nisga’a and Haida descent. He is from a long line of fishermen and is Wilp Laxgiik Nisga’a. Follow Luke on Instagram at www.instagram.com/lukifer10/

About David Salazar:
David Constantino Salazar is a Toronto based sculptor who joined the Akin Studio Program at the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto Canada in September 2018. In his work he is interested in exploring the borders between necessity and excess, desires and addiction. Salazar's goal is to create work that is approachable through humour with the intent that the viewer can explore their own relationships with desire and overindulgence through his allegorical sculptures. www.davidsalazar.ca

About SAMARA Contemporary:
SAMARA Contemporary’s core mission is to embrace and support the work of national and international contemporary creators working in the field of art + design. In addition to our in-house programming, SAMARA C will work closely with exhibiting partners and guest curators to present thoughtful and engaging exhibits that will entice the art-curious and the seasoned collector alike. Located in Toronto’s historic Kensington Market neighbourhood, SAMARA C contributes to the longstanding history and bright future of the area as an innovative and inclusive hub for creative culture. www.samaracontemporary.com

Akin at the Artist Project

Akin Projects invites you to join us at the 2019 edition of Artist Project Toronto. Akin is excited to join this year's Artist Project as the non profit partner. In our booth, visitors are invited to view new work by a handful of our current members, learn more about our services and the many ways we offer support for artists.

Get your tickets here: https://theartistproject.tix123.com/?promo=AKIN
OR enter promo code 'AKIN' at checkout. Code valid until Feb. 24 at 6pm.

Show Hours:
OPENING NIGHT - Thursday, February 21, 7-11pm
Friday, February 22, 11am - 10pm
Saturday, February 23, 11am - 8pm
Sunday, February 24, 11am-6pm
*Art Chat: February 23, 3pm

This year, the Artist Project turns 12 with its most exciting show yet and we can't wait to be a part of it! From collectors and curators, to gallerists and designers, visitors can explore and discover works of art from over 300 top contemporary artists from Canada and abroad.

This year, visitors you can view and interact with new works by members of Akin's community in Akin's non profit partner booth. Artists will be on site throughout the show to discuss their work and answer your questions.

Akin Exhibiting Artists
Andrew Kennedy
Caitlin Barrie
Emily Woudenberg
Emma White
Hamid Mohammadi
Humboldt Magnussen
Jessica Thalmann
Jieun June Kim
Leone McComas
Rakefet Arieli

Art Chat at Artist Project 2019
‘What is the role of studio spaces in the artistic community’?
February 23, 3pm.
How does where you create your work impact your own personal practice and the larger Toronto art world? Join us for a conversation on the importance of building artistic community and your own space within it, featuring exhibited Akin artists Leone McComas, Jieun June Kim and Hamid Mohammadi moderated by Akin Co-Directors, artists Michael Vickers and Oliver Pauk.

About Akin:
Akin Projects is an arts programming organization and registered nonprofit established in 2015 for the purpose of providing both creative and professional development opportunities to members of Toronto’s artistic and cultural community and the public at large. We have offered services to over thousands of individuals since our inception in 2015. Our sister organization, Akin Collective, was founded in 2009 and provides affordable studio and shared workspace in a friendly atmosphere for over 300 members.

Accessibility Information:
The Artist Project is committed to excellence in serving all customers including persons with disabilities.The Better Living Centre is an accessible venue. It has a step free access to the building and is level throughout. A limited number of assisted devices are available onsite at the information desk for those who need them. Service animals are allowed into all areas of the event that are open to the public. Artist Project is happy to offer a complimentary admission pass for the support person of a person with a disability.

Akin's Winter Art Crawl at 401 Richmond

Akin Projects invites you to join us for special tours of current creative spaces and resources in 401 Richmond- an Akin Art Crawl focused on organizations providing services and supports for artists!

Come along as creative directors, curators and staff provide special walkthroughs and tours of their current exhibits, projects and spaces.

Crawl Schedule
12:45PM - Meet at 401 Richmond Street West (northeast corner of the building)
1:00PM - Visit Vtape
1:30PM - Visit Akimbo
2:00PM - Visit GALLERY 44
2:30PM - Visit Open Studio
3:00PM - End the crawl with visit to Tangled Art + Disability

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

Any attendees who wish to explore other parts of the building after the art crawl are free to do so. Please be advised that not all areas of the building are open to the public.

Our route will take us all over 401 Richmond. Should you lose the group at any point or will be joining us late please see the directory in the lobby for each organization's location within the building.

Accessibility Information:

401 Richmond is an accessible venue. It has a step free access to the building at it's northeast entrance and each floor is level throughout. Elevators are available on site to provide access to all floors.

There are fully accessible washrooms on the 1st and 4th floors.

Please let us know of any other accessibility needs so that we can do our best to assist you. Please email janet@akincollective.com at least one week before the event and we will do our best to accommodate. Thank you!

Converging Passages: An Exhibition by Curtia Wright and David Chinyama

Converging Passages is a visual art exhibit of history, migration and the experience of two artists who are part of the African and diaspora that features work by Akin King members Curtia Wright and David Chinyama. Their work for this exhibition is centre around different time frames of colonization and each personal story shapes a passage that redefines profounds aspects of their identities, beliefs and relevance towards their cultural traditions and takes them on a journey of self searching.

Join 918 Bathurst and Muse Arts as they celebrate the immense contributions of Black Canadian artists to Toronto ’s cultural and artistic scene beginning with the opening of Converging Passages on January 31st 2019. Black History Month is a time to learn more about these Canadian stories and the many other important contributions of Black Canadians to the settlement, growth and development of Canada, and about the diversity of Black communities in Canada and their importance to the history of this country.

Converging Passages

Date: January 31st to February 15th 2019

Opening: January 31st 2019, 7-9PM

Artist Talk: February 13th 2019, 7-9PM

Location: 918 Bathurst, Toronto

Curtia Wright was born in Scarborough, Ontario. Her art practice revolves around the idea that the human body is in constant collaboration with its surroundings; often in ways that exceed the boundaries of physical reality. She creates images that exist on both analog and digital planes through their production and execution; “I believe these alternating layers of production reference the discourse between the human body and environment.” She’s  interested in the way societies perceptions of bodies, specifically black bodies, have the ability to form and deform them while changing their narratives without consent.

David Chinyama is an award-winning Zimbabwean born multi-disciplinary  Artist based in Toronto, Canada, whose work is inspired by  form, movement  and color. His work  explores subject matters often centered upon aspects of identity, political, socio-economic and religious connotations.

As storyteller, his love for the arts dates back from his childhood days in Zimbabwe, the period in which he discovered his artistic interest to create stuff. Old Illustrated picture books and comic strips, often borrowed from friends at school would fascinate and inspire him to create his  own artworks using old scrap cardboard  paper, wood charcoal and self-made natural pigments as medium. 

In Between Land an Exhibition by Jieun June Kim

Opening tomorrow, Friday, January 4th at 6PM, the latest collection of work by Akin MOCA member Jieun June Kim will be on display at North York Central Library for the month of January.

In her work, Jieun creates fantasy worlds where strangers live. This imaginary world is a peaceful and safe place for everyone. Take a sneak peak at the new collection in the video below.

Exhibition: In Between Land

Location: North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge Street, Toronto

Opening: January 4th at 6PM

Exhibition Dates: January 4-18th 2019.

Jieun June Kim (b. Seoul, Korea) is a painter and muralist who lives and works in Toronto. She studied at the Washington University in St. Louis, graduating in 2012. In her painting Kim explores different ideas of “home” using colorful patterns and dynamic natural forms. Jieun June Kim has exhibited her work at numerous art galleries in North America and S. Korea. Since moving to Canada in 2016, her works has been shown at multiple art galleries in Toronto. Also Kim has been commissioned to paint a mural for Dundas West BIA(2017).

"Flight" exhibition of works by Akin King artist Clara Hirsch opening reception tomorrow!

Akin King artist Clara Hirsch would like to invite you to her upcoming solo exhibition: “Flight”. 

This series of multimedia works depicts the plight of refugees in general, and the Syrian refugee crisis in particular. The work combines photographs that Clara took in Syria, prior to the war, old maps of Europe and the Middle East, as well as images of her family as they are about to embark on their voyage to Canada as refugees.

The opening is on January 3, 2019 (TOMORROW!) from 7pm-10pm at the Gladstone Hotel (Second Floor), 1214 Queen Street W in Toronto.

The exhibit will run from January 4 - 12 from 12pm-5pm every day.

Proceeds from the exhibit will be donated to the FCJ Refugee Centre. The FCJ Refugee Centre serves refugees and others at risk due to their immigration status, and welcomes anyone asking for advice, counsel and support regarding these issues. They address systemic issues that newly arrived refugee claimants face in Canada including lack of resources, marginalization, and discrimination and advocate for them in any way necessary: assistance with paperwork, translation and interpretation, accompaniment, referral to immigration lawyers connected to our organization, orientation to local social services, skills development, and counselling to support a healthy and positive start to life in Canada.

MOCA Light Therapy Room Now Available to Members

Book your light therapy session today and beat the winter blues!

Mondays and Wednesdays: 10:30-11:30am and 11:30am-12:30pm

Exposure to light is used as a treatment for seasonal affective disorder (SAD), milder winter blues and sleep disorders. Light therapy can improve our busy lives and make us feel happier. Visit once or as often as you need. Book the room for:

• Meetings

• Book clubs

• Meditation

• Private sessions

Light Therapy reservations are only available to members. To become a member, sign up online or visit us at the Welcome Desk at the museum.

The public can access Light Therapy during regular museum hours with the exception of any reservations Mondays and Wednesdays (10:30am-12:30pm).

How to book the Light Therapy room:

• Light Therapy can be booked by MOCA Members for a 60-minute time slot at either 10:30am or 11:30am on Mondays & Wednesdays

• The room can accommodate groups of 1 – 10 visitors

• Each visitor will need a general admission ticket to enter the museum, tickets can be booked online or in-person

• Members (Access, Engage, Immerse) can access the booking form by logging into your account

Akin Vitrine Gallery + Carmina Miana

“A vision of an unrecognizable self, made of shredded glitch screens woven into coloured paper, kneeling to its past. The past is all a story. Every time it’s told it’s more real, more meaningful, but less your present life.”

Introducing our December/January artist, Akin King member, Carmina Miana. Her installation ‘Piqued/Peaked’ will be on exhibit in our Akin Vitrine Galleries located at 1485 Dupont and 1747 St. Clair Avenue West over the next two months. 

Carmina Miana is Toronto-based illustrator. Her image making has involved embroidery, quilting, weaving, and resin. Utilizing material meaning, both historical and contextual, and puns wherever applicable, Carmina’s work engages identity, memory formation and the constant presence of failure. Carmina is a graduate of OCADU’s Illustration program, receiving a Bachelor’s of Design (Bdes). She is currently the Social Media Coordinator for the Toronto School of Art. She often collaborates with artists of varying disciplines as a way to skill share and expands her visual language.

Title: Piqued/Peaked
Dimensions: 30x38x50
Medium: Paper, resin

To contact the artist:
Instagram: @meanugh
#Akinvitrine
www.carminamiana.com

Akin Collective + Akin Projects are excited to present our 2018 programming in two Vitrine Galleries located at Akin Dupont and Akin St. Clair. These miniature galleries 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.

‘Piqued/Peaked’ will be on view for the month of December 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 January at 1747 St. Clair Avenue West. Gallery is street level and can be viewed at any time.

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

Seven Sisters launches tonight!

SEVEN SISTERS is an assembly of work by Limited Nobility from the Akin Studio Program at MOCA meditating on the act of vanity. Inspired by early woman, the seven tonal mirrors invite you to participate in self-admiration and contemplate the limitless beauty of the female form.
⠀
Attend the opening tonight from 7-11pm at Ease - 1446 Dundas St W.

Works will be on display until end of December during store hours

Swash & Serif 5 opens tonight at Northern Contemporary!

Swash & Serif is an annual typography and lettering exhibition showcasing the art of lettering and type design from Toronto and around the world. It has been running since 2014, and has shown the work of over 100 artists. It is the only show of it’s kind in Toronto. Swash & Serif is run by the Toronto Design Directory, and was developed originally in partnership with Ligatures.

This year’s show features work by many talented artists and creators including designer Emily Woudenberg (Strike Design Studio) from the Akin Studio Program at MOCA.

SHOW HOURS:
Opening Night: Thursday November 22, 7pm

Friday Nov 23, 11am – 5pm

Saturday Nov 24, 11am – 5pm

Tuesday Nov 27, 11am – 5pm

Wednesday Nov 28, 11am – 5pm

LOCATION:
Northern Contemporary Gallery, 1266 Queen St. W., Toronto

Akin artists at Edition 2018

October 26–28, 2018
Metro Toronto Convention Centre
Admission is free

Akin Projects is thrilled to be selling works by many of our talented studio artists at the 3e Edition Toronto International Art Book Fair. Artists from Akin King, Dupont, Lansdowne, and MOCA will be presenting a diverse collection of editioned prints, 3D art multiples, printed totebags and scarves, artist books, zines and other collectables.

Participating artists for 2018 :

Adria Mirabelli, Laura Kay Keeling, Loretta Mui, Lily Kim, Liliana Vera, Mark Liam Smith, Mia Zhou, Monique Resnick, Rebekah Andrade, Natalie Waddell, Erin Candela, Rebeccah Houston,

Edition, unique in its scope and contemporary approach, celebrates the idea of the “Multiple” and limited edition art productions. It is hosted annually in tandem with Art Toronto , Canada’s largest International art fair. Officially labelled a ‘‘book fair’’, Edition is dedicated to the promotion of art book publishing and all forms of art works created in limited edition format, which opens the door to exploratory ventures and mediums. The concept champions forward-thinking projects by artists, publishers, galleries, and organizations who share a similar mission to advance and strengthen Canadian and International art book initiatives. Vendors at the fair represent a diverse cross-section of mediums and interests, as well as a wide range of locales spanning Ontario, Canada, and Internationally.

Artists Rebeccah Houston (left) and Natalie Waddell (above) work in clay and will be contributing ceramic multiples to the show.

Edition is a fantastic place to find original prints like this poster-sized Risograph by Loretta Mui. Loretta is also bringing several sets of zines and t-shirts in original designs.

HOURS:
October 25, 2018  6–10pm
October 26, 2018  12–8pm
October 27, 2018  12–8pm
October 28, 2018  12–6pm

editiontoronto.com

arttoronto.com

akincollective.com
akinprojects.org

Limited edition archival giclee print (right) by Mark Liam Smith 2018.

VISION: Exploring the Unconscious Mind →

VISION is a multi-disciplinary visual and media arts collaboration exploring the unconscious mind's ability to blend possible with the impossible. VISION is an institutionalized opportunity reclaimed to carve necessary space for the nuanced expression of black artists and celebrates our ability to create unique cultural landscapes when shared dreams manifest into places of belonging. 

When: September 27th-30th

Opening Reception: September 27th, 7-11PM

Panel Discussion: TBA

Where: The White House Studio Project, 277 Augusta Avenue, Toronto

Accessibility: Access to gallery floor is limited to a flight of stairs and thus not fully accessible.

Featurning artists Charmain Lurch of Akin Sunrise, Curtia Wright of Akin King, DREEEM, and James Hewitt. Curated by Leone McComas of Akin MOCA.

This exhibition is part of "In Space", a curatorial series focused on the experiences of disenfranchised peoples within social, political and physical spaces. Organized by The White House, "In Space" was conceived of by Sandra J. Manilla and co-produced by Nathaniel Addison, Stephanie Avery, and Leone McComas.

Panel Discussion (TBA)

A roundtable of black creatives will discuss the role of space in the legitimization of their work and the expectations attached to institutionalized recognition – considering how we can re-claim these opportunities to represent the diverse POC creativity. Details to be announced.

VISION is funded and made possible by Toronto Art Council, Canada Council of the Arts, and is sponsored by Wysp Creative (wysp.ca). Thank you! 

Must See Weekend Events - September 22 + 23

Weekends often tend to be chock full of events, errands, brunch dates and sleeping in and it can be difficult to remember all the wonderful things that are happening in this bustling city of ours. That being said, we have compiled a list of must see events that are happening this weekend in Toronto. See below for details.

Photo via Canzine.

Canzine

Date: September 22 - 1-7PM (SATURDAY ONLY)

Location: Art Gallery of Ontario, Weston Family Learning Centre

Canada’s largest festival of zines and underground culture returns to the Art Gallery of Ontario this fall. The Canzine Festival of Zines and Underground Culture was first held in Toronto in 1995. Since its inception, Canzine has displayed thousands of zines and small press works and hosted hundreds of writers and performers. Canzine is the place to check out zines and small press works from over 200 artists, writers and vendors. This years event features a number of Akin artists including: Jen Pilles, Julianne Ess, Enrique V Gaudite, Christopher Green, and more!

Canzine is organized by Broken Pencil: The Magazine of Zine Culture and the Independent Arts, and presented in collaboration with the Art Gallery of Ontario.

An artist in her booth at the 2017 Queen West Art Crawl.

Queen West Art Crawl

Date: September 22 + 23

Special Event: Art After Dark presented by QWAC occurs on September 22 from 6-11PM.

Location: Trinity Bellwoods Park

The Queen West Art Crawl (QWAC) is a charitable organization designed to celebrate and promote the art, culture and diversity of Queen West in Toronto. The cornerstone of QWAC is the Outdoor Art Exhibition in beautiful Trinity Bellwoods Park in September, which draws over 60,000 visitors annually. The Art Exhibition features a juried selection of the province’s best artists and artisans, and also showcases a Kids Zone, Performance Zone and Toronto’s best food vendors. This year’s event features Akin artists Andrea Bailey of Lansdowne Studios and more!

House of Vans: Toronto

Date: September 22 + 23

Location: The Bentway, 250 Fort York Blvd.

The House of Vans is where “off the wall” lives. It’s a place where imagination lets loose over concrete bowls, art installations, workshops and concert stages, inspiring every person who runs, rolls, or stomps through its door. Located in Brooklyn, New York, Chicago, Illinois and Waterloo, London, as well as pop-ups around the world, the House of Vans is home to the creativity that moves us. This year’s Toronto event features live pottery wheel workshops by Akin Ossington member Leora Israel.

People & Trees

Date: September 22 - 30

Location: Dentonia Park, 80 Thyra Avenue, Toronto.

People & Trees is an art installation by Akin Lansdowne member Sarvenaz Rayati about the life of trees. Sarvenaz Rayati is a multidisciplinary artist now based in Toronto. She received her BA in painting and BA in visual communication from art university in Tehran. She has exhibited her work internationally and Since moving to Toronto she has been part of different art projects.

About Arts in the Parks:
Arts in the Parks brings free, family-friendly arts events and activities to a park near you. Think theatre performances, dance classes, workshops, movies, festivals and more, right in your backyard!

MOCA Toronto International Grand Opening

Date: September 22 + 23

Location: 158 Sterling Road, Toronto

Visit the new MOCA Toronto, a place of conversation, exchange and exploration where visitors of all ages and backgrounds can be part of a global creative moment. We welcome you a fully programmed building that features work by world-renowned Canadian and international artists, exploring the themes of our time. Featuring the Akin Studio Program on the 4th floor. Drop by the 4th floor to view working artist studios and learn more about Akin’s studios and ongoing programming.

Botanical Drift by Cynthia O'Brien →

“I believe when working with clay that there is a conversation between myself and the material that has lead to a lasting relationship.”

— Cynthia O'Brien

Close up of Cynthia O’Brien’s 2008 installation at the Ottawa City Hall Gallery. This installation explored the identification and acceptance of our fleeting existence. Learn more here.

Botanical Drift is an accumulated knowledge of what Cynthia O’Brien has experienced, all the plants within their natural environments either in Australia, Quebec or in her own backyard. The real plants were sketched in clay, perfected and then pushed further, to create her own real but not real plants, greatly influenced by the working of her own hands.

O’Brien sees these plants as a “moment in time” that is fully understood. Each plant perfectly clear in its purpose in nature and in the narration of a persons mind. A moment latter, everything changes, the sun moves behind a cloud or a persons awareness wonders. These plants are her way of looking at time, life and love.

Botanical Drift

Location: ARTiculations, 2928 Dundas Street, West, Toronto.

Date: September 18th - October 28th 2018

Reception: September 20th 2018, 7-9PM

O’Brien’s studies include a BFA from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, plus a year at the University of Colorado, USA. She lives and works in Ottawa and is an active member of the arts community through the Blink Collective, 260 Fingers, teaching in local community centres and at The Perley and Rideau Veteran’s Health Centre. O’Brien is recognized by her peers through the Explore and Create Program Grant (Canada Council for the Arts), Helen Copeland Memorial Award (Craft Ontario), Creation Grants (City of Ottawa) and a Mid-Career Artist Award (Ottawa Arts Council). She has participated in numerous artist residencies including Medalta, Alberta; Vallauris, France; TANKS Arts Centre, Australia; Watershed, USA; Ayatana Artists’ Research Program; CPAWS-OV Dumoine River Art Camp, Quebec and 2018 MASS MoCA. O’Brien’s work is in the collection of the Taipei County Yingge Ceramics Museum, Taiwan, the Canada Council Art Bank and the City of Ottawa.

Inside Insight at Gallery 1313 →

Inside Insight
Featuring Lina Faroussi, Irit Epstein, Elham Hazfi

Exhibition: Sept. 12 – Sept. 23
Opening reception: Thursday, Sept. 13, 6:30–10 pm
Gallery 1313, Toronto

Three women artists from diverse backgrounds who uprooted themselves from their respective homes share their experiences of transition and change. The artists portray different perspectives of being in a new environment: the gateway to hidden worlds; a trail of images representing a nomadic journey; and how internal channels are developed by the challenges of change.

The artwork does not tell a story, but encourages imagination and involvement, providing the viewer with an intangible, emotional experience. Since transition and change are a universal occurrence, the work invites the viewer to step away from their familiar environment and see the human experience with a new point of view.


Lina Faroussi was born and raised in Syria, then moved to Egypt to continue her bachelor degree in commerce. Lina’s passion for art began at an early age. She studied visual art during her years in Egypt, Dubai, and in Toronto, where she has lived since 2008. She continued to work on her dream of becoming a visual artist, exhibiting in many different group and solo shows throughout the Middle East, Europe, Canada, and the United States. During the past few years, she has received multiple art awards in Canada and abroad.
lina.faroussi@gmail.com
www.linaartgallery.com

Irit Epstein was born in Israel. She relocated to Toronto in 2010. She studied fine arts for five years at the Academy of Art (HDK) in Berlin, Germany, receiving a Masters of Fine Arts. Additionally, Irit completed a Masters degree in Art Therapy at New York University. She has exhibited her work in numerous solo and group exhibitions in Israel, Germany, Italy, Mexico, USA, and Canada.
iriteps@gmail.com
www.iritepstein.com

Elham Hazfi was born in Tehran, Iran. She migrated to Toronto, Canada in 1998. Her background is in science with a Masters degree in molecular science from Ryerson University. Elham is a self-trained artist. She has had several group and solo exhibitions in Toronto. Her paintings have been selected to be exhibited in several art festivals. She currently works at her studio in Toronto.
ehazfi@gmail.com
www.elhamhazfi.com

FLOURISHING: SOMEHOW WE STAY ATTUNED →

FLOURISHING: SOMEHOW WE STAY ATTUNED evokes new dynamics of the disabled experience in its attempts to re-world the narratives of non-normative futures of embodiment. As our world experiences drastic social and ethical changes we find ourselves facing a staggering amount of information. Therefore, we must look to the people who are attuned to these shifts; the artists and activists who represent the worlds in which they exist. Each artist’s lived experiences ground the starting point from which they explore their own interpretation of flourishing.

SOMEHOW WE STAY ATTUNED is an inquiry into the depths of how we navigate our bodies. The three featured artists do not present simple answers but rather, transform the gallery into a forum unfolding debate - within themselves, with each other, and with the audience.

FEATURED ARTISTS

Peter Owusu-Ansah, Sarah Ferguson, and Salima Punjani

COMMUNITY SESSION WITH PETER OWUSU-ANSAH
September 15, 12:00 - 2:00 pm: Tangled Art Gallery
Join Peter as he talks to the community about his art practice and techniques. Peter will also discuss the broader topic of flourishing as it relates to this exhibition and his work in general. 

ARTIST TALK WITH SALIMA PUNJANI, SARAH FERGUSON, PETER OWUSU-ANSAH
September 22, 2:00 - 4:00 pm: Tangled Art Gallery
Join the artists as they explore the techniques, backgrounds, and subjects employed to create these incredible exhibitions. 

SECOND SATURDAY SOCIAL 
October 13, 2 pm - 4 pm: Tangled Art Gallery 
Tangled hosts social events on the second Saturday of the month centering the interests of our Blind and low vision communities. Second Saturday Socials include live description tours, interactive experiences, and artists sharing insights into their creative process.

To RSVP to October’s Second Saturday Social, please call or email Kristina McMullin at: 647-725-5066 or kristina@tangledarts.org

Sarah Letovsky's 'I Like For You to be Still' →

Project Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of new paintings by Sarah Letovsky of Akin Dupont.

In this series of work, Letovsky's reverence for the portrait evolves to encompass more of the figure and spatial context; in doing so, evoking a sense of intimacy, hinting at spaces of belonging and familiarity such as bedrooms and living rooms. The paintings are reminiscent of selfies; a camera is never directly featured but implied, and raises questions about who the image is for, and by. The work invites the viewer to consider the self-photograph as a contradiction and an equilibrium in which the private becomes public, a work of both intimacy and exhibitionism.

The title of the show is a reference to Pablo Neruda's poem of the same name, in which Neruda describes the quintessential female muse – still and silent, an object of desire set apart to gaze upon:

I like for you to be still: it is as though you were absent,
and you hear me from far away and my voice does not
touch you.
It seems as though your eyes had flown away
and it seems that a kiss had sealed your mouth.

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Opening Reception: Sept 6th, 6:00-9:00pm
Exhibition Dates: Sept 6-Sept 30, 2018
Location: Project Gallery, 1210 Dundas Street East

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Letovsky's subjects challenge this narrative; they are both confrontational and inviting, a director in their own representation. Their image is a performance, and we are invited to view the subject and their body through a negotiation of the self. It also invites us to consider the particularly gendered discussion of self-documentation. As Anne Burns discusses in Self(ie)-Discipline, "the gendering of selfies and the prevalent assumption that they act as proof of narcissism limit how women’s personal photography is socially valued... selfishness is a particularly barbed insult when directed at women, as it references the subject’s transgression of the norm of feminine self-sacrifice". 

Letovsky also takes inspiration from her love of prose and poetry, in particular, stories of the interior lives of women and girls, and their private narratives of love, joy, anger, grief, self-pity, and insecurity operating beneath the surface. In these paintings, Letovsky’s subjects are caught in an ambiguous and mundane moment; they seem observant, sexual, uncertain, and sometimes indifferent or bored - belying a rich interior complexity.

Sarah Letovsky lives and works in Toronto, Canada. She graduated from the University of King's College in Halifax in 2009 where she studied literature and film. She completed her BFA at OCAD University in 2014 in Drawing and Painting and was the recipient of the Mrs. W.O. Forsyth Award for Excellence in Painting. Her first solo exhibition with Project Gallery, Girls Girls Girls, opened in 2016. Most recently Letovsky exhibited in the group show "Today's Paper" at Angell Gallery in Toronto.

Project is a commercial art gallery in Toronto that exhibits a critical selection of artists, whose work reflects new and innovative developments in contemporary art. It is located at 1210 Dundas Street East, in the heart of Leslieville with accompanying studios overlooking the Don Valley in Riverside.

where now? Documentary Series on view at Sunrise Studios →

where now? is a narrative-driven documentary series about place-making in a rapidly gentrifying Toronto, brought to you by sisterhood media.

In an unprecedented moment of Torontonian fame, where now? expounds on what the city and its residents truly stand to gain — and, of course, lose — in its climb to a become an internationally-recognized cultural hub. who reaps the benefits? and who is its first casualty?

where now? is directed by Amani Bin Shikhan, a writer, editor and researcher, among other things. In her work, Shikhan aims to frame and re-frame questions of tradition and movement through the lens of black cultural expressions and their multidisciplinary histories. She loves this city more than she should and is deep-in-her-bones tired of condos. she doesn’t want to leave.

Produced by sisterhood media, a platform dedicated to creating and curating content for folks on the margins. They produce multimedia works focusing on identity and community. where now? is one of these projects.

View where now? at Akin Sunrise  (100 Sunrise Avenue) until August 12th. 11AM to 6PM daily.