When; December 3-18, 2022
Opening Reception: December 3, 2022
Where: Clark Centre for the Arts, 191 Guildwood Pkwy, Scarborough
What: Art Market (December 3, 4, 10 and 11) and Group Exhibition (December 3-18)
To Participate: Click here to register
Deadline to register: November 23, 2022
Akin is thrilled to welcome artist and community leader Tannis Nielsen as Indigenous Studio Space Advisor- leading Akin through a collaborative consultation practice in the planning and development of Indigenous community services, spaces and supports throughout our studios, programs and more. Alongside Indigenous Elder Artist in Residence Catherine Tammaro (Taǫmęˀšreˀ), Anti-oppressive Practice Consultant, Equity & Social Justice Educator Rania El Mugammar and Akin’s team, Tannis will advise on meaningful, actionable engagement with the Indigenous community while assessing needs and opportunities for the next phase of our work.
We want to hear from YOU!
As part of their role, Tannis is leading two upcoming virtual public community meetings to discuss Akin’s efforts in supporting Indigenous artists & creatives on February 13 (1-3pm) and February 16 (7-9pm). All are welcome to attend and we would love for your feedback and input. Please note that these sessions will be recorded for internal use as part of our research but not shared publicly and no content will be specifically attributed to individuals.
Image description: Tannie Nielsen standing on a ladder while working on a large-scale elaborate artwork, smiling at the camera
About Tannis:
Tannis Nielsen is a Métis Woman (of Sohto/Anishnawbe and Danish descent) with twenty years of professional experience in the arts, cultural and community sectors, and 12 years teaching practice at the post-secondary level. Tannis holds a Masters in Visual Studies Degree (M.V.S.) from the University of Toronto, an Art and Art History-Specialist Degree from U of T, as well as a Diploma in Art and Art History from Sheridan College, in Oakville, Ontario.
Tannis has served on the Aboriginal Engagement Committee at UBC-O, as a member of the Equity and Diversity Committee at OCAD-U, the Toronto District School Board, and is the past President of The Association for Native Development in the Performing and Visual Arts (A.N.D.P.V.A.), a national Native arts organization in service since 1972. She was also a member of the Toronto Native Community History Project and has assisted in organizing the last three annual “Indigenous Sovereignty Week” events in the city of Toronto. In 2012, Tannis became active on the Idle No More-Toronto organizing committee and continues to contribute towards this vital international Indigenous grassroots movement from her current location in Toronto, Ontario where she currently teaches at OCAD-U.
Accessibility:
Have a computer or mobile device? Then you're good to go! Should you have any additional accessibility accommodations, requests or ideas, please email laura@akincollective.com to discuss.Captions available on-screen. Mobile phones may require a downloadable app from Google Hangouts.
Driftwork: A Selection of Art by Akin Lakeshore Artists at the Cloverdale Common
We are pleased to announce that Driftwork, the Akin Lakeshore group exhibition at Cloverdale Common has been extended to March 29! We encourage you to stop by to check out the incredible work by our studio artists on display.
About the exhibition:
Stepping into an artist’s studio can be like walking along the shoreline. Always interesting, there is the sense of passing through a potential treasure trove of discarded or unfinished pieces, past efforts, current ideas and experiments. Occasionally one comes upon a brilliant, exceptional thing of beauty. Similarly, the development of an artistic practice takes place over a mysterious ebb and flow of vision and technical discoveries, something that can often only be understood over time. The work presented here reflects a selection of works by artists at Akin’s Lakeshore studio; works-in-progress, old pieces, and new explorations.
With the goal of building community relationships and highlighting the voices of artists living outside the downtown core, this group exhibition shares recent work from the artists working in our shared artist studios at 2970 Lakeshore Blvd West.
Exhibiting Artists:
Oksana Berda, Erin Candela, Suzette Castro, Katrina Elena, Jessica Hiemstra, Monika Mincewicz, Lauren Huffman Morris, Erin Panjer, Kerry Viggiani
Cloverdale Common Hours of Operation:
Thursdays: 11am - 6pm
Fridays: 11am - 5pm
Saturdays: 10am - 6pm
Sunday: 12pm - 5pm
Accessibility:
There are no steps to enter the building or throughout.
Entrance is automated. Bathrooms are gendered (male/female). There are grab bars in the bathroom, the toilets are not raised. Complimentary stroller, walker and wheelchair available upon request at the Guest Services desk.
About Cloverdale Common:
Cloverdale Common is the designated space within Cloverdale mall created to seek the community’s feedback regarding the proposed Cloverdale Mall redevelopment. It also serves as an arts and cultural hub, providing a range of programming through Arts Etobicoke and our community partners.
The much beloved shared table top at Akin Lansdowne, studio 203
I moved to Toronto fresh out of art school. I had a degree in Illustration, a tiny bit of savings, and no knowledge whatsoever about the city or how to live in it. Navigating the art world was overwhelming - and living in Toronto was thrilling, but alien. I had trouble knowing how or where to meet new friends, not to mention colleagues and clients. I was unsure how my art fit in, which opportunities to engage with, or what resources were available. I did not feel sure of myself, and I did not feel at home.
It wasn’t until I found Akin Lansdowne that I started to thrive as an artist and feel like I was part of a real arts community. From when I joined Akin Lansdowne in 2013 until I left in 2018 I found myself connected to a group of artists and peers in ways I never expected. I not only made new friends but I also developed professional relationships - finding mentors, clients, and professional development opportunities.
Tucked away at the quiet intersection of Wade Ave and Paton Road right beside the train tracks ,I fell in love with 87 Wade Ave the first day I visited. It is an unassuming building full of character. I loved the creak of the floorboards, the smell of the wood and the coffee roasting downstairs at Alternative Grounds (another tenant that had to leave the building due to an unmanageable rent increase). I found the meandering corridors and the soaring ceilings romantic and inspiring. Within the studio space itself I felt cozy, comfortable and inspired. My studio was small, but it was all I needed to create.
My first studio space at Akin Lansdowne in 2013 - it was 36sf
I expanded my studio in 2017 to 80sf
Over time I started developing a studio practice and meeting my studio mates and getting involved with Akin events and programming. We saw so many incredible events come through our space. From intimate gatherings for artists to show and share their work, to large public parties, fun creative crafting workshops and more. Some of my favorites were the Earth Day Community Cleanup where a bunch of us gathered at the studio and then cleaned up the neighborhood, and the Akin Skillshare Series of workshops where artists and creative business owners met in the studio space to share skills and resources. I also loved it when some of us got together to paint the Akin Lansdowne Art Library and fill it with donated books.
Here are some photos I have collected over the years:
Unfortunately, like so many other creative spaces in Toronto, Akin Lansdowne will be closing it’s doors in January 2020. Gentrification has set in and the rent prices in the building have sky-rocketed. Akin cannot afford to keep renting space in the building, so Akin Lansdowne will be no more. I will forever be grateful for my time spent in that space - creating, thinking, mingling, learning, eating, laughing, listening and playing.
Thankfully Akin has worked closely with the artists to relocate them to other Akin studios - so the community has not dissolved but just dispersed to other Akin locations. Akin has many amazing locations - each with their own charm, but Akin Lansdowne will forever be my favourite and hold a special place in my heart. It was my home away from home, my workshop, my office, my peaceful place. I want to thank everyone who made Akin Lansdowne a magic place: the Akin staff, the studio mates who came and went over the years, the studio dogs who kept us company, the neighbours in the building who shared space with us, and the residents and businesses in the neighbourhood who were a part of our larger community. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart!
There will be an Akin Lansdowne Farewell Party on January 31, 2020 at from 8PM until late for those who wish to honour Akin Lansdowne’s legacy by celebrating together. Stay tuned to Akin (social media, newsletter, this blog) for more information!
About the author:
Jen Pilles is a freelance illustrator, graphic designer, plein-air painter, self-publisher, and emerging comic artist. After joining Akin in 2013 as a member she began working for them in 2015. After 3 years of experience as a studio manager at 5 of Akin’s locations (Lansdowne, King, Ossington, Richmond and MOCA) she now serves the Akin community as the Studio Operations Manager. www.jenpilles.com
There is only one month left in Year 1 of the Akin Studio Program at MOCA , a unique studio residency program in partnership with the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto Canada.
Akin is honored to continue sharing profiles of the remarkable group of artists from our inaugural cohort. We have posted profiles of some of the artists throughout the summer and will continue until mid September; you can click here to see previous posts. Today we are happy to share profiles of three of the Year 1 artists, Christian Butterfield, Jamie Ellis Pasquale and Stanzie Tooth.
Christian Butterfield is a young Torontonian artist working on the interception of mass media and the painting of the human form. Since 2016 he has been developing a series of portraits, exploring the traditions of painting and popular culture. He uses Time magazine as a source and includes text extracts onto painted faces to comment with humour on our current society. The words in his texts are signifiers in relation to the abstraction of the human figure. Christian Butterfield is represented by Corkin Gallery.
www.corkingallery.com/artists/contemporary/christian-butterfield
Image source: https://cargocollective.com/jamieellispasquale
Born in London, England where he attended the University of Greenwich studying for a bachelors in Landscape Architecture. Now living and working in Toronto where his work shows a nod to the classical history of representational and figurative painting. He is currently working on personal projects and progression in the field of portraiture.
Working from observations of nature and my immediate environment Jamie Ellis Pasquale creates objects of fascination that reflect his emotions. Paintings that are belonging to the essence of life and the nature of pure being. Inspired by art history and the formal definitions of painting, Jamie continues to push the boundaries of painting both representational and abstract to reflect a contemporary idiom previously not seen before from a black british artist.
https://cargocollective.com/jamieellispasquale
Image source: https://www.stanzietooth.com/collection/coming-home-2018
Canadian artist Stanzie Tooth works primarily in painting, though her practice also diverges into sculpture, collage and installation. Tooth holds a BFA from the Ontario College of Art & Design (2007) and an MFA from the University of Ottawa (2015), where she was awarded an Ontario Graduate Scholarship. Stanzie was the 2015 recipient of the Joseph Plaskett Award for Painting, through which she spent time traveling and creating new work, completing residencies in Berlin and Iceland, as well as self-directed research in Greece and Italy. She has been acknowledged for her work by Canadian Art Magazine, The Toronto Star, Now Magazine and Studio Beat. Her work is included in the collections of The Royal Bank, Toronto Dominion Bank, A.T. Tolley Collection and several private collections. Stanzie Tooth currently lives in Toronto. Stanzie is represented by General Hardware Contemporary.
www.stanzietooth.com
Stay tuned next weekend as we wrap up the Akin MOCA Artist Series with our final post!
There are only two months left in Year 1 of the Akin Studio Program at MOCA , a unique studio residency program in partnership with the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto Canada.
Akin is honored to continue sharing profiles of the remarkable group of artists from our inaugural cohort. We have posted profiles over the past few weeks of some of the artists and will continue until September; you can click here to see previous posts. Today we are happy to share profiles of three of the Year 1 artists, Ghazaleh Avarzamani, Humboldt Magnussen and Adria Mirabelli.
Image source: Ghazaleh Avarzamani
Ghazaleh Avarzamani (b. 1980, Tehran) is an artist currently based in Toronto. She was trained in painting at Azad Art University, Tehran and holds a Master of Fine Arts from Central Saint Martins, London. Avarzamani’s practice examines the role of experience, memory, psychology, modern rationality and educational methodologies in the construction of knowledge. Considering a range of spaces, structures and devices for interactivity, self-development and play, her work questions the contextual biases that shape meanings and values. Exploring these concerns in relation to growth and erasure, Avarzamani aims to expose the paradoxical realities beneath the surface of society.
Her art practice encompasses a variety of forms, including sewing, needlework, patchwork, printing, ceramics and installation. This craft dimension of her work is combined with research that seeks to discover the socio-historical relevance of these disciplines, as it reflects on her own experience and larger cultural issues.
www.ghazalehavarzamani.com
www.instagram.com/ghazaleh.avarzamani
Image source: www.instagram.com/humboldtmagnussen
Humboldt Magnussen is an artist and curator from rural Saskatchewan. Magnussen holds an MFA in Interdisciplinary Studies at OCAD University focusing on performance art and masculinity studies and a BFA from Concordia University from 2011 in Studio Arts. Humboldt weaves in autobiographical elements with larger political and social context to talk about the lack of safety and protection for queer people, even in designated “Safe Spaces”. He is interested in ways to visualize complicated notions of identity and gender / sexuality which can contribute to the growing conversation on these topics in Canada.
His practice is interdisciplinary in nature. Often his work is rooted in performance and includes the creation and use of elaborate masks and helmets. He utilizes elements of humour and glamour to make difficult topics more accessible and to create entry points for people to engage with the work.
www.instagram.com/humboldtmagnussen
Image source: Adria Mirabelli
Adria Mirabelli graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design in 2015 with a major in Drawing and Painting and Minor in Textiles. Having also studied at Parsons Paris her work is influenced by conceptual themes and narratives alongside art and craft processes. Adria uses a variety of media and practices to create her works, utilizing collage, drawing, textile manipulation, installation, poetry and sculpture. Her works are often autobiographical and explore themes of space + place, temporality, belonging, love, and longing. Her process involves the collection of extensive, rotational archives of physical materials including ephemera, photographs, digital images, and texts, often saved from spaces of lived experience. This ever-developing catalog serves as the inspiration and materials for her final works, which manifest in various physical and digital forms.
Adria strives to create works that explore experiences of fear, desire, and love in regard to personhood, place and nostalgia. She makes work in an effort to create spaces of connection and acceptance through moments of beauty.
Photo by Sean Patenaude
Tanya Louise Workman is a Toronto-based multi-disciplinary artist, storytelling facilitator and journalist who works with audio, images and text to unravel the relationships between voice and our embodied selves. Her photographic, multimedia and audio work has been exhibited and screened in spaces in Toronto and internationally. She holds a Bachelor of Journalism from Carleton University, a post-graduate certificate in creative writing from the Humber School for Writers and a photojournalism diploma from Loyalist College.
Through spoken word, sound, installation, images and writing, I tune in to the embodied experience. My body is a radio, both a receiver and a transmitter; I listen in to make audible, visible and tactile what the body holds – what reverberates between interior and exterior selves, between what is seen and heard.
Tanya is a candidate in the low-residency MFA program at Maine Media College + Workshops in Rockport, Maine, and is one of the artists-in-residence at the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto as part of the inaugural Akin Studio Program at MOCA. She holds a Bachelor of Journalism from Carleton University, a post-graduate certificate in creative writing from the Humber School for Writers and a photojournalism diploma from Loyalist College.
She is currently working on her first book.
You can see work by Humboldt, Adria and Tanya from now until–September 8, 2019 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto Canada (MOCA) as a part of An Index. The exhibition An Index comprises work in a variety of media from sculpture, to video, to new wall murals by the first cohort of Akin residency artists who entered the year-long studio programme in September 2018.
While the participating artists’ practices range widely in terms of conceptual approach, style and media; they have also been influenced to some degree by the experience of sharing and conversing within an open-plan studio structure for the last nine months.
We also hope you can join us for MOCA Goes Dark, an interactive art party on August 17 by the artists and curators of the exhibition An Index. Come see MOCA transformed into an interactive art party by some of Toronto’s best emerging artists.
On National Indigenous Day, Art Starts invites emerging, youth, and/or newcomer artists and people from different ethnographic communities across the city to come together and learn about the 7 Grandfather Teachings, 4 Sacred Medicines, residential schools, the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action and much more. This free event is in partnership with the Art Gallery of Ontario. Lunch is included.
There are only 60 spots available for this event. You must register to attend.
Deadline: June 21, 2019 at 11:59 p.m.
Residency Dates: January 2020 through June 2020, with extended access to Eyebeam’s shared workspace and equipment through September 2020
Located in Brooklyn, NY, Eyebeam’s flagship program, the Eyebeam Residency, is a prestigious award for those creating work which engages technology and society, through art. Residents’ projects are experimental and wildly interdisciplinary, often existing outside of more traditional structures in the fields of both art and technology. The 2020 Residency will launch as a 6 month research and experimentation-focused program for creative practitioners. The residency will be awarded to 4 individuals or collaborative projects. A stipend of $22,000 is offered to all residents.
Deadline: June 21, 2019 at 11:59 p.m.
Exhibition Dates: January 17-26, 2020
The DesignTO Festival brings people together to celebrate contemporary design across the city of Toronto. Join the Festival to become a part of an exciting network of creative people, exhibitions, events, and a captive audience of designers and design-lovers. From design talks to experimental installations to prototypes to opening parties and curated exhibitions, the Festival featured the work of over 600 artists and designers in 2019. Potential venues include spaces in the City of Toronto such as shops, galleries, studios, cafés, schools, and lobbies. There is an associated fee: $250 + HST for small businesses (including independent shops, artist-run centres, and private galleries) or $325 + HST for large businesses and institutions.
Deadline: June 21, 2019 at 4 p.m.
Exhibition Dates: July 22- August 9, 2019
Impact is NPCC’s most-anticipated exhibition that fosters creativity in the artistic community. Impact 2019 aims to bring together artists practicing in diverse media and approaches (both traditional and contemporary) while showcasing artwork of the highest standard. There is an application fee for this call; the fee ranges from $25-$35 fo NPCC members or $40-$50 for non-members depending on the number of works being submitted.
Deadline: Must register online and attend the open call on Saturday, June 29, 2019, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm, at Christ Church, 155 Markham Rd, Scarborough. *First come, first seen*
StArt Youth Presenting Art (StArt YPA) is festival is looking for artists to perform and present at their 9th annual arts festival! StArt YPA is a youth-led volunteer-based initiative based in Scarborough Village that strives to provide young people with accessible arts education and outlets for self-expression, giving youth opportunities to excel in various art forms - radically enhancing creativity, and contributing to self-confidence as cultural producers in society.
Deadline: June 24, 2019 at 11:59 p.m.
The RBC Arts Access Award is presented by Neighbourhood Arts Network and RBC Foundation. It awards a total of $30,000 annually to support newcomer artists across Toronto and Toronto Greater Toronto Area. The awards range from $500 to $1500 to support costs associated with arts projects, such as artist fees, art supplies, equipment rental, space rental and food costs for a workshop or event. Additionally, awards may also support professional development, training and mentorship requests for newcomer artists looking to improve their skills regarding working in and with community.
Calling all creatives! Do you write, sketch, paint, draw, or sculpt? Make your way down to The Distillery District for THE BIG DRAW Create-A-Thon this weekend.
This is free, all ages, family event welcoming both amateur and professional artists. Join fellow creatives June 15th & 16th in capturing the charm of The Distillery District, or anything else your heart tells you to in your sketch, painting, drawing, or creative writing.
Rules and Guidelines:
1. Bring your creativity
2. Bring your materials
3. Bring your friends and family
4. HAVE FUN!
All artist participants will receive a FREE BBQ lunch!
The City believes all Torontonians should have safe, secure, affordable and well-maintained homes where they can realize their full potential. Over the next year, The City of Toronto will be working with all housing stakeholders and the public to develop a comprehensive solutions-based plan to address housing and homelessness challenges over the next decade. The public engagement process is launched and they want to hear from you!
The City is hosting an International Public Panel Discussion on Housing on June 12 2019. Panelists from Vancouver, Chicago, and Cleveland will present inspiring ideas and lessons learned on eliminating homelessness, creating mixed-income communities and boosting the supply of affordable housing in cities across North America.
Doors Open at 6:30 p.m.
Event begins at 7 p.m.
This event is open to all City of Toronto residents, however space is limited. Please RSVP through this page to secure a spot. The City will record this event and share the recording publically, through the Housing TO website (toronto.ca/housingplan).
Registration is now open, clikc this link to reserve your seat: “Inspiring Ideas for Toronto: An International Public Panel Discussion on Housing”
The City of Toronto needs your ideas and input to shape the HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan. The Plan aims to ensure that the City is taking actions to advance a housing landscape that works for all Torontonians. Your voice is important as they build this plan.
The City plays many important roles in housing: it decides what kinds of homes can be built, and where, ensures rental homes are in acceptable condition, and provides critical services to those who are struggling to find and keep a home.
This questionnaire will take approximately 10 minutes to complete.
For more information contact housingplan@toronto.ca
Arts Etobicoke’s service, ART RENTAL TORONTO (A.R.T.) is seeking new artists to apply for representation in the Art Rental & Sales Collection. They welcome all artists, using various artistic media - painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, textile arts, and sculpture. Through this service they are able to align artists with the corporate community, thus bringing business and the arts together for mutual benefit.
Artist benefits:
• Generate ongoing income from rental services
• Opportunity to increase final sales of original works and prints
• Grow your reach and collector base within the corporate community
• Deepen relationships with art dealers and investors both in and out of the creative communities of Toronto
• Opportunity to invite buyers and renters into your studio for a better understanding of you and your work. Studio visits are only offered to clients with consent of the artist.
To Apply:
Please provide the following to Margarita Barrientos-Macdonald at Arts Etobicoke via: artrental@artsetobicoke.com
1. Completed Artist Application Form
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. Artist’s Statement/Biography
4. jpeg of artworks (between 500 KB -1 MB at 300 dpi), 10-20 images, and PDF of Artist’s Statement, Bio/C.V. Alternatively, a weblink may be provided. *Preference in titling files: title of artwork_dimensions.jpeg (example: WhiteBirches_28x24.jpeg)
5. Corresponding catalogue, including:
a. Title
b. Medium
c. Value/Purchase Price
d. Finished size in inches – indicate if finished work is framed (framed dimensions and colour)
6. Any other information you feel would be important or helpful.
For more information or clarification, please call Margie Macdonald at: 416-622-8731 x 225 (o), 647-459-6342 (c) or email : artrental@artsetobicoke.com
Arts Etobicoke is a registered charity and all the funds from our rental and sales program support local established and emerging artists, as well as funds free educational programming for children, youth, adults, and seniors. Renting or buying from us not only positively affects your team and environment; it can change the lives of people in your community.
Top left: Akin welcomes Indigenous Elder in Residence, Catherine Tammaro. Top Right: Akin and Queers for Dinner Potluck Party. Bottom left: Artist Show and Tell at Akin Lansdowne. Bottom right: Akin staff Queer and Trans Inclusion training with Tanya Neumeyer.
Akin is pleased to announce that in collaboration with our anti-oppressive practice and meaningful inclusion consultant, Rania El Mugammar, and with generous input from our members through many conversations and through Akin's demographics and equity survey, Akin has revisited our Code of Conduct in order to create a robust, actionable and clear policy that centres the most marginalized members of our community.
Click here to read the Code of Conduct.
As a part of the new Code of Conduct we are also introducing new protocol for conflict resolution as well as a method for reporting conflicts and concerns.
We have also created a list of resources for Akin members and members of the public. This list was developed with Rania's help as well as with suggestions from the Akin community and other consultants. We hope to keep expanding this list, so please send us a message if you have a suggestion for a resource we can include.
All of these changes are a part of our ongoing effort to work towards building safer, more inclusive spaces for all of our community members. We conducted a demographics and equity survey, using Ontario Human Rights Code consistent grounds, to better understand the makeup up of our spaces, as well as the needs and experiences of our diverse community. Through this survey, and our ongoing work, we were able to identify gaps in our services and learnings, and to reaffirm our commitment to continuing the work of equity through an anti-oppressive lens.
Akin staff continue to cultivate new skills in order to support our efforts towards building better communities. To date we have received training on the following topics: Anti-Oppression for Artists and Cultural Producers, Queer and Trans Inclusion, Mental Health First Aid, Emergency First Aid and CPR, Conflict Resolution and Empathetic Communication. We will continue this training and skill development so that we may critically reflect on our work interpersonally and institutionally.
We understand that this work is very important, and that we will inevitably make mistakes, as a result, we are committed to a process of accountability and transparency. We welcome your feedback and reflections, please visit www.akincollective.com/contact to leave comments, questions, suggestions or feedback.
All of the information included in this email can be accessed on our website under the heading ‘Equity and Inclusion’.
This is the beginning of an ongoing process and these documents and resources, like all policies governing Akin’s spaces and events, are open to revisions and updates to adapt to the needs of our community and organization. The code of conduct as well as all of the policies governing Akin spaces will continue to evolve and change to adapt to the needs of our community and organization over time. We look forward to continuing this work to make Akin a safer and more inclusive space!
Many thanks to our members, consultants and everyone involved in this process so far,
Akin. Akin also appreciates the support of the Ontario Arts Council's Compass Grant Program in the development of these policies.
Image: Akin River at 7 Labatt Ave - a new Akin studio space set to open June 1, 2019
Akin is excited to announce the expansion of two existing Akin studio locations - Akin Ossington (888 Dupont St at Dupont St and Ossington Ave) and Akin River (77 River Street near Dundas St E and River St) to support the move of over 70 artists facing eviction from Akin King as development plans for the site move forward. Our new studios will open on June 1, 2019.
By relocating Akin King artists in this way, Akin can again keep studio communities intact along with the friendships and collaborations that make them so important. Instead of facing eviction alone, artists can move with us as a unit - maintaining a practice in an affordable space as part of an active, vibrant and supportive artistic community in downtown Toronto.
The eviction from Akin King did not come as a surprise- we are thankful for the time we have had there and are proud of the community that has grown and flourished. In February 2018 Akin began leasing space from Allied Properties REIT that would otherwise have been unused during the period before demolition, enabling Akin to create social and economic value from buildings that would otherwise remain vacant. Leasing of dormant space like this with ‘meanwhile leases’ has effectively supported artists for years and allows Akin to continue offering studio rentals to artists across the city.
Akin would like to thank Allied Properties REIT for having us as tenants on King St West, as well as TAS for their continued collaboration with us on the new and existing spaces at Akin River and Akin Ossington.
This exciting expansion will increase Akin’s size to approximately 40,000 sqft of studio space serving nearly 350 artists, enabling us to address the ever-increasing scarcity of affordable workspace in our city.
Studio rentals start as low as $70/month and Akin's new studios are easily accessible by subway, streetcar, bus, bike, or car. Studio rentals are month-to-month and include 24/7 access to the studios, taxes, insurance, wifi, access to communal working areas as well as storage, kitchen, and bathroom.
Studio tours are by appointment only. For more information, pricing inquiries, to book a tour or to share ideas, please get in touch:
CONTACT:
Jen Pilles
info@akincollective.com
Akin Dupont ceramicists Karolina-Anna Hanja, Laura DeGroot, Loren Kaplan, and Bettina Rouble (Awesome Fortress Goods) invite you to their studio sale this Saturday May 4th from 11am-5pm. Don't miss this chance to pick up some handmade ceramic art and objects by these talented artists!
The Deadline for Applications to the Akin Studio Program at MOCA Year 2 is fast approaching! Artists of all skill-levels are invited to apply - get your applications in by March 31, 2019 at 5:00pm!
The Akin Studio Program is a unique and publicly open opportunity for art practitioners, curators and writers (hereafter referred to as artists) to lease shared studio space within The Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto Canada (MOCA) at 158 Sterling Road in Toronto. In addition to a one year studio space rental, selected artists will be immersed within a community of peers, offering various opportunities for engagement. Studio members will be encouraged to develop and expand their individual practices while playing a role in the artistic community within the museum itself. This Program is open to students, emerging and professional art practitioners, curators and writers living in Toronto.
Studio Rental Year 2 Program Start Date: October 1, 2019
Studio Rental Year 2 Program End Date: September 31, 2020
MOCA Toronto is a fully physically accessible venue.
Visit www.akin.art/mocacall2019 for full application details.
Airsa: Professional Development for New Canadians in the Arts seeks nominations to the board of Directors in support of their mission to enhance the professional lives of New Canadian artists, with mentorship from former newcomers with lived experience and success in the arts and creative sectors.
Airsa is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing New Canadians with professional development in the arts and creative sectors. Since 2015, Airsa’s programming has provided training to newcomers from all artistic disciplines and traditions through peer mentorship, cross-sector networking, access to studio space and public events. Airsa means ‘Rainbow’ in the ancient Persian Language, reflecting the belief that cultural pluralism and a diversity of perspectives enriches our quality of life. www.arisa.org
“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
Every month Akin hosts a relaxed and fun ‘Show and Tell for Artists’ at one of the Akin Collective studios or at one of our partner organizations' locations. This is a time for Akin members and other Toronto artists to show completed works or works in progress and get friendly feedback and answers from their peers in a casual studio setting.
Feel free to bring art to share, bring a friend or two, bring snacks or drinks or just bring yourself! Come for the conversation or just to meet other artists and makers. This is FREE public event - everyone is welcome!
The June edition of the Show and Tell is happening at Akin St Clair at 1747 St Clair Ave West.
Accessibility:
This building is all on one floor. Akin St. Clair Studios regrets any barrier to access. If you require more information or are concerned about accessibility barriers please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Akin St. Clair Entrance: The side door has no steps to enter. It is 46 inches wide. The front door is 35 inches wide and has one step.
Inside: When entering from the side door one enters into a hall. Most areas are flat inside. There is a step to get from the back hall to the kitchen. It is still possible to get to the kitchen without using the step by going around to the other entrance to the kitchen.
There is one all genders bathroom. There is one step to get to the bathroom. There is no alternative bathroom or alternative route to the bathroom. The bathroom door is 30 inches wide. There are no grab bars in the washroom and the toilets are not raised.
Getting here by TTC:
Akin St Clair Studios is accessible on the 512 St. Clair Streetcar Line and by bus, take either Bus 168 from Dundas West Station, or Bus 127 Spadina Station to Keele and St. Clair.
Parking:
There is a private parking lot to the west of the building. It is likely that one will find a parking spot there. If not there is residential parking on Houndslowt Heath Road and other residential streets in the area.
** Please note that both exhibitions run for the entire month of April. **
Introducing our April / May 2018 artist, Jill Smith. Jill is an Akin Dupont member, and her new work 'mother / rhythm' is on exhibition in the Akin Vitrine Galleries for the months of April and June.
Transforming space into narrative, 'mother / rhythm' presents a series of bodily sculptures that come together to explore complex power-based relationships. This installation emphasizes materiality, scale, and gesture as elements that have the ability to relate to human forms and body movement. Primarily using clay and concrete, mother / rhythm demonstrates a compassionate, yet commanding relationship between ambiguous material bodies.
Jill Smith is an interdisciplinary artist based in Toronto, Ontario (b.1995) and recently completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honors Specialization in Studio Art) At Western University. Her most recent work explores the fragility and absurdity of the body and mind, as well as the connective possibilities of materiality. Smith has exhibited work in galleries across Ontario, such as the Artlab Gallery, Forest City Gallery, The Arts Project, Open Studio, and Earl Selkirk Gallery at ARTiculations, as well as Friends and Neighbours Gallery in Montreal, Quebec. She has recently participated in artist residency programs at Sparkbox Studio in Picton, ON (May 2017) and at AGA LAB in Amsterdam, NL (September 2017). Currently, she is a member of the AGO Youth Council, and has upcoming residencies with Graven Feather and Artscape Gibraltar.
'mother / rhythm'
mixed media
2018
dimensions available
'mother / rhythm' will be on view for the month of April in our Dupont Akin Vitrine Gallery, located in the Clock Factory Building at 1485 Dupont Street (entrance on Campbell Avenue). Find Akin Studio 215 on the second floor and follow the sign into the hallway around the corner. The building is open from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday.
The exhibition will then travel to the Akin St. Clair Vitrine Gallery and be on view for the month of April at 1747 St. Clair Avenue West. Gallery is street level and can be viewed at any time.
To contact the artist:
www.jillpaulinesmith.ca
Instagram: @very.petite
#Akinvitrine
For more information about Jill Smith and her work, follow our Instagram account @akinvitrine.
Introducing our April 2018 Akin St Clair Vitrine Gallery artist, Sarvenaz Rayati. Sarvenaz is a multidisciplinary artist and an Akin Lansdowne studio member, . Her new installation 'The Embrace' will be on exhibition at the Akin St Clair Vitrine Gallery. Her work discusses ones love or longing for nature, particular mountains and trees.
'The Embrace'
mixed media
2018
dimensions available
The Embrace will be on view for the month of April in our Akin St. Clair Vitrine Gallery at 1747 St. Clair Avenue West. Gallery is street level and can be viewed at any time.
To contact the artist:
www.sarvenaz-rayati.com
Instagram: @sarvenaz_ray
#Akinvitrine
Haunted and Healing is a collection of ghost paintings and collage poems by Foot-to-Face of Akin Lansdowne at Queen's Shop Hair Salon (near Dufferin Station). The show runs now until April 28. You are invited to the reception on Thursday April 12 from 7-9pm.
Foot-to-Face (Julianne Ess) is a multimedia artist and storyteller who uses her art practice to document processes of transformation and cycles of apocalypse. Her art is about doing the visceral, imaginative and embodied work of exploring and healing our fears around change, the unknown, and our capacity for intimacy. She makes zines, collages, mixtapes, and stop-motion animations, and she draws with ink, watercolours, and acrylic paint pens. Originally from Winnipeg, she’s currently based in Toronto and has done a few stints creating and exhibiting in Edinburgh. www.instagram.com/foottoface
