Collaborative visual poetry with Artist Yannis Lobaina - A free workshop at Remote Gallery
Date: Saturday, October 07, 2023
Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond Street West, Toronto
Join artist Yannis Lobaina for this free collaborative visual poetry workshop.
Participants will work together to create a multilingual collaborative visual poetry masterpiece! This in-person gathering promises to be a unique opportunity to explore the power of words and art. Free and family-friendly!
Whether you are an experienced poet or just curious about exploring your artistic side, this event welcomes everyone.
About the artist:
Yannis Lobaina is a Cuban artist, author, filmmaker, photographer and community arts facilitator. Currently, she lives in Toronto. In her work, Yannis explores themes of immigration, diaspora, language, and motherhood. As a photographer, she focuses on minimalist storytelling photography, landscapes, patterns, sacred geometry, and pareidolias in Mother Nature. She has been recognized with several awards and grants by the TAC and OAC, which has funded her ongoing series Alive, Upside Down. Yannis has twice received the Newcomer Space Award (2020, 2022) and has been showcased at Remote Gallery (2021) and at public Library Oakwood Village Library and Arts Centre (February 2023).
Yannis is a receipient of the Newcomer Space Award, a collaboration between Akin, the Toronto Arts Foundation, and the Neighbourhood Arts Foundation.
Image Description: TheAkin logo and OCADU logo live on a purple background along with the words “Career Launcher Winner, Sara Abulkarim, Where Have You Been? Solo Art Show, August 5 & 6, 2023 at Remote Gallery”
Sara Abulkarim, Where Have You Been? August 5 & 6, 2023
August 5, 12pm-10pm
August 6, 12pm-6pm
Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W
Opening Reception: August 5, 6pm-10pm
“Where have you been?” is a solo art exhibition that takes viewers on a journey to the places I have been since having moved to Toronto in 2017.
Through a series of paintings made of acrylic and mixed media, I explore the places and spaces that have been meaningful to me in my journey of self-discovery, growth, and challenge. These places have become my home, my family, and my friends, and I invite you to explore them with me.
Come join me on August 5th and 6th at Remote Gallery in Toronto to learn about this journey of exploration and discovery as I share with you the places that have helped me find myself.
Sara Abulkarim is the 2022 recipient of the Akin x OCADU Career Launcher Award. Born in Iraq, she immigrated to Montreal in 2002, where she studied Interior Design. Following her passion, in 2017 she decided to study Fine Arts at OCAD University. Sara’s art often stems from memory and feelings. She paints moments and fragments of her life, meaningful spaces and moments that sculpted her into the person she is today. Intrigued by abstract, she loves to try new techniques and mediums to mimic her emotions through colours and gestures. Her work is characterized by vibrant colours and animated movement. Website: www.saraabulkarim.com
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts
#BringingTheArtsToLife @Canada.Council
Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W, Toronto
Image Description: A purple event poster advertising an art show. The left hand side reads “Space Award Winner Elsa Hashemi '' below the logos for Akin, Toronto Arts Foundation, and the Neighbourhood Arts Network. On the left is a greyscale photo from the video-installation, The White Cave.”
The White Cave, a Video-Installation Exhibition by Elsa Hashemi
July 21 - 27, 2023
Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W
Hours: 4 - 8pm
Opening Reception: July 21, 6 - 9pm
“Having a long day filled with a variety of feelings and emotions, we all go back to our ‘White Cave‘ which is the last and the most intimate place to finish the day... No matter how joyful, sad, confused, overwhelmed or excited we have been during the day, we share them all with our safest place...”
Elsa Hashemi is a recipient of the 2022 Space Award and a visual artist whose main focus is Photography and Calligraphy-Painting. She works as an artwork/mural-documentation photographer in Toronto and a freelance Calligrapher. In addition, she teaches visual arts to kids; and ESL & Canadian culture to adults. Her artistic practice mainly involves conceptual art, portraying concepts like Migration, Being a Woman, Immigration, and Quarantine. Through her images and calligraphy-painting art, she tells stories of people, believing that stories can tell us about the realities in life that are too complicated. She is a recipient of Toronto Arts Foundation's Newcomer Arts Award and RBC Mentorship Award. As a professional photographer, she combines deep theoretical/technical knowledge with experience documenting artworks, creating portfolios and photo books for the artists, designing brochures, and promoting products and artworks via social networks and various advertising materials. Elsa stands out in photographing events, including arts and cultural ones, meetings and gatherings, and outdoor festivals and events.
View Elsa’s website here and her Instagram here.
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts
#BringingTheArtsToLife @Canada.Council
Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W, Toronto
Image description: A colourful patterned background sits behind a large blue circle, inside of which text reads “In the Middle, July 15-16, @remotegallery, 568 Richmond St W, Toronto.” The bottom corners of the poster has the Akin logo, and the OCAD U logo, respectively.
In the Middle, a celebration of Canadian-Middle Eastern and North African Artists
July 15, 12pm-10pm
July 16, 9am-6pm
Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W
Opening Reception: July 15, 6pm-10pm
In the Middle is a celebration of the unique perspectives of Canadian-Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) artists as well as those geographically adjacent. It is an opportunity to recognize the importance of MENA and MENA-adjacent artists in the Toronto art scene and to highlight an underrepresented vision as well as recognize the diversity of MENA culture and celebrate the beauty of its art.
Eleven artists will be sharing their stories and unique experiences with the world. It’s a chance to create a dialogue about the importance of representation and inclusion in the art world and to create a space where MENA and MENA-adjacent artists can be seen, heard, and respected.
Artist Participating:
Amina Boufennara
Amnna Attia
Ayan Melikli
Christina Hajjar
Edriss Sydeqi
Özge Dilan Arslan
Pamela Andonian (Ch!K P)
Qudsia Hussain
Rabiyah Sagheer
Sara Abulkarim
Sara Ghaben
The Exhibition Is Curated By:
Amina Boufennara
Habiba Raouf
Sara Abulkarim
Sara Abulkarim is the 2022 recipient of the Akin x OCADU Career Launcher Award. Born in Iraq, she immigrated to Montreal in 2002, where she studied Interior Design. Following her passion, in 2017 she decided to study Fine Arts at OCAD University. Sara’s art often stems from memory and feelings. She paints moments and fragments of her life, meaningful spaces and moments that sculpted her into the person she is today. Intrigued by abstract, she loves to try new techniques and mediums to mimic her emotions through colours and gestures. Her work is characterized by vibrant colours and animated movement. Website: www.saraabulkarim.com
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts
#BringingTheArtsToLife @Canada.Council
Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W, Toronto
Image Description: A purple poster advertising the art exhibition. On the right hand side is text which reads “Space Award Winner Yannis Lobaina '' with the logos for Akin, Toronto Arts Foundation and Neighbourhood Arts Network. On the right hand side is Yannis Lobania’s photograph, Fibonacci Spiral, a macro, black and white shot of a sunflower against a black background. Surrounding the image is text which reads “Catch and Release, Solo photography by Yannis Lobaina. Save the date: July 6th-13th at Remote Gallery, address 568 Richmond Street West, Toronto, ON.”
“Catch and Release” by Yannis Lobaina at Remote Gallery
July 6-13
Akin’s Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W
Gallery Hours: 1-7pm
Free Interactive Workshops: July 8 & 9 at 2pm
Akin’s Remote Gallery is thrilled to welcome space award winner Yannis Lobaina to the Remote Gallery for a new photo exhibition, Catch and Release.
Yannis’ work captures the fleeting moments and sacred geometry of Mother Nature. In Catch and Release, a series of twelve minimalist photographic narratives, Yannis explores patterns, pareidolias (faces), spirals, clouds, textures and their spiritual significance.
Throughout the exhibition, Yannis Lobaina will be hosting a series of 2 free art-making photography workshops on Saturday, July 8 and Sunday July 9 at 2:00pm. The workshops will be a family friendly experience to explore Yannis’ artworks, and to get inspired to create their own piece of art. All the artwork produced during the workshop will become part of the online exhibit on Yannis’ website.
Yannis Lobaina is a Cuban artist, author, filmmaker, photographer and community arts facilitator. Currently, she lives in Toronto. In her work, Yannis explores themes of immigration, diaspora, language, and motherhood. As a photographer, she focuses on minimalist storytelling photography, landscapes, patterns, sacred geometry, and pareidolias in Mother Nature. She has been recognized with several awards and grants by the TAC and OAC, which has funded her ongoing series Alive, Upside Down. Yannis has twice received the Newcomer Space Award (2020, 2022) and has been showcased at Remote Gallery (2021) and at public Library Oakwood Village Library and Arts Centre(February 2023).
Thank you to the Toronto Arts Foundation, and the Neighbourhood Arts Foundation for their support.
Find more information about Yannis’ work here.
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts
#BringingTheArtsToLife @Canada.Council
Image Description: Yannis Lobania’s photograph, Fibonacci Spiral, a macro, black and white shot of a sunflower against a black background. Surrounding the image is text which reads “Fibonacci Spiral, Yannis Lobaina, digital photographs, metal wall art, landscape, 11 x 14”, 2023.”
Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W, Toronto
Image Description: A purple event poster advertising an art show. The left hand side reads “Space Award Winner Gizem Candan '' below the logos for Akin, Toronto Arts Foundation, and the Neighbourhood Arts Network. On the left is a painting by Candan, an abstract oil painting of earthworms, filled with light and dark browns and rust reds. Underneath it, over a white panel, black text reads “Resonance of a Deep Ground, Gizem Candan, June 29-July 2, 2023, Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON.”
Resonance of a Deep Ground, Gizem Candan
June 29 - July 2
Akin’s Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W
Opening Reception:
Thursday June 29, 6-10pm
Gallery Hours:
Friday - Sunday: 12-6pm
Akin’s Remote Gallery is proud to introduce a showcase of brand new work from Newcomer Space Award Winner Gizem Candan. Resonance of a Deep Ground features Candan’s most recent paintings of earthworms and their enigmatic habitat.
Fresh from a painting residency at Artscape Gibraltar Point earlier in June, Candan hosted earth worm composting workshops as part of her residency. Her contemplation of earthworm ecology has resulted in a beautiful display of abstract oil paintings which draws their inspiration from our crawling friends underground and their miraculous regenerative abilities.
Gizem Candan is a visual artist and researcher based in Toronto. She graduated with two BFAs, one in Plastic Arts and Painting and one in Graphic Design from Yeditepe University in Istanbul. She is in the process of completing her master’s in Criticism and Curatorial Practice at OCAD University. She is represented by Sivarulrasa Gallery in Almonte, ON. Her works have been exhibited in Canada and Turkey, and are held in many private collections and the Special Collections of the Toronto Reference Library. She also works at Cooper Cole Gallery as a research assistant. Her artistic practice explores the tensions and depressions between humans and their surroundings in the Anthropocene. She employs a variety of approaches in her work to emphasize "figure" as both human and more-than-human, as well as the landscape-centered scenes around it. Her main area of focus is on narrating that examines the modern human and its enigmatic potential relationship through the lens of nature. "Structure" in her paintings is visible in two distinct ways: composition and colour palette.
Candan is a 2022 recipient of the 2022 Newcomer Space Award. Created by Akin, the Toronto Arts Foundation’s Neighbourhood Arts Network, the Newcomer Space Award provides newcomers credit for an Akin studio membership and to Akin’s Remote Gallery. This award not only provides funding and space essential for professional artists to grow their practice, but also supports artists in growing their network through the shared studio space model.
Learn more about Gizem Candan’s work at her website and on instagram.
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts
#BringingTheArtsToLife @Canada.Council
Image Description: Above is a painting by Candan, an abstract oil painting of earthworms, filled with light and dark browns and rust reds. Underneath it, over a white panel, black text reads “Resonance of a Deep Ground, Gizem Candan, June 29-July 2, 2023, Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON.”
Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W, Toronto
Akin Vitrine Q&A Series: Enas Satir installation 'A state of Chaos'
Welcome to the Akin Vitrine Q&A (Question and Answers) Blog Series where we highlight the latest Akin Vitrine Gallery installation and present a recent interview with the exhibiting artist. Today’s artist is Enas Satir, whose installation ‘A State of Chaos’ is currently in the Akin Vitrine Gallery at Akin St.Clair (1747 St.Clair Ave West) until the end of June. Thanks for participating, Enas!
Please see below for Enas’s answers to the Q&A and to learn more about the exhibition. To see more of her work visit www.enassatir.com or on Instagram @enas.satir
Please see below for Enas’s answers to the Q&A and to learn more about the exhibition. To see more of her work visit www.enassatir.com or on Instagram @enas.satir
Read More
Art Exhibition by Artist Naghmeh Ghasemzadeh
June 17 - 25
Akin’s Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W
Opening Reception:
Saturday June 17: 5-7pm
Remote Gallery Hours:
Monday to Friday: 2-8pm
Saturday and Sunday: 11am-6pm
Remote Gallery is thrilled to show a new and exciting exhibition by Naghmeh Ghasemzadeh, a multi-disciplinary artist and the winner of the 2022 Space Award, presented by Akin in partnership with the Neighbourhood Arts Network. Naghmeh Ghasemzadeh, a.k.a NAG, is an Iranian born, French-Canadian artist.
Naghmeh’s work examines her own stories of immigration, cultural assimilation and uprootedness. These ideas intersect with women’s rights, gender equality and resilience. She expresses such subjects through fragmented materials and narratives that depict her endeavor to find an imaginary link between events, beings, belongings and destinies, by assembling materials that don’t usually fit together. She questions frantic consumption, accumulation and purpose by giving new life to outdated and broken things. Organic drawings and materials, medical or industrial waste are assembled in mixed media and installations, creating strange living organisms that reflect her quest to find a place and community to which she’ll finally belong.
To learn more about NAG’s work, visit www.nag-artist.com, or on instagram @nag_artist
Special thanks to Toronto Arts Foundation, Neighbourhood Arts Network and Ontario Arts Council.
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts
#BringingTheArtsToLife @Canada.Council
Image Description: A poster advertising Naghmeh Ghasemzadeh’s Upcoming Exhibition. A white background shows brown text reading “Art Exhibition, June 17-25 2023,” The left hand side shows the artist’s logo, which reads ‘NAG’, and brown text below which reads ‘Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W, Hours Monday-Friday 2-8 pm, Saturday and Sunday 11-6 pm, Opening Saturday June 17th, 2023 5-7pm. With the kind support of the Ontario Arts Council. Special thanks to the Toronto Arts Foundation, Neighbourhood Arts Network, Akin Projects and Ontario Arts Council.” The Ontario Arts Council Logo is at the bottom right corner on the poster. Above it is a multimedia image. In the center is a print-style black and white image of a person, covering their eyes and mouth with each hand. They are wearing a black shirt and have dark curly hair. Above them is the photograph of an eye, below them are collaged green leaves and dried flowers atop the image.
Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond St W, Toronto
Shard-like slivers of an image of Renato Baldin, are spread across a black background. The slivers of image show pieces of Renato’s body out of anatomical order, shirtless, including his chest, feet, face, neck and armpit. Surrounding these images, are text in blue and white, which reads “Narcissus, Art-Installation by Renato Baldin, photos by Filipe Paulo, May 25th- June 10th, Wed-Fri: 3pm-7pm Sat- Sun 1pm-6m Remote Gallery, 569 Richmond Street West." The bottom right corner displays the Akin Project’s logo and the Pride Toronto logo.
Narcissus, an installation by Renato Baldin with photographs by Filipe Paulo - Coming Soon to Remote Gallery!
The Greek myth of Narcissus tells the story of a perfect child, a gift from the gods, fated to live into old age as long as he never saw his own reflection. One day, Narcissus walked to a lake to drink, the water was perfectly still. He leaned over and saw his own reflection. Instantly, he fell in love with himself, leaned into his reflection, fell into the water and drowned.
Brazilian Artist, Curator Renato Baldin contemplates self reflection, beauty and celebrates body positivity in his newest show, Narcissus, an interactive installation set to take place as part of Pride Toronto, at Akin’s Remote Gallery, 568 Richmond Street West from May 25th to June 10th.
Baldin was taken by the myth of Narcissus, the way it introduces reflection and self admiration as a negative construct. A queer activist, Baldin knows that self love plays an essential role in the health and vitality of the queer, gender non-conforming community.
“Fighting against an oppressive environment imposed by the binary gender system, we, as queer people, forget to love ourselves as we are,” Baldin says. “We all have beauty, we are all connected, we can be stronger if we stand together as a cohesive body, working as a community.”
The result will be an interactive photo mosaic of non-conforming bodies; wrinkles, muscle, skin tone, gender nonconformity, all united together in one brilliant image. Participants will be able to take photos with their phones and use a printer within the gallery to add to the installation. Viewers are also encouraged to participate before the show on Instagram, (@renato.baldin) where he’ll bring questions, themes and reflections, inviting people to interact.
Narcissus reflects on toxic masculinity, homophobia, fragility and freedom in the form of a broken mirror whose shards reveal the diversity of queer bodies. The exhibit will include images by Filipe Paulo, an acclaimed Toronto based photographer and filmmaker.
Renato Baldin is a Toronto-based multidisciplinary artist, curator, and activist from Brazil. His work focuses on immersive art installations, influenced by his background in Architecture and Human Rights. His art installations include visual statements inspired by Queer studies, Anthropology, Psychology, and Social reflections. They are experiential and invite people to reflect on our world together.
He has curated and designed over 15 exhibitions; has worked for high-tech museums like the Football Museum and Portuguese Language Museum; and is a co-founder and key organizer of the Sao Paulo LGBT Pride Parade, the largest pride event in the world with over 3.5 million participants.
Filipe Paulo is a photographer based in Toronto. His work blurs the lines of queer boudoir by exploring themes of repressed identity, sensuality, isolation and the search for the tangible in a digital world. Taking gay stereotypes, adding a wink and a bit of tenderness Filipe aims to titillate but more importantly to make the viewer feel something.
Filipe's instagram account @inappropriate.touching was started in 2019 as a venue to display his work and has grown to over 5,000 followers. He has a bachelors degree in Film Studies from Toronto Metro University and his final year queer themed short film, Porcaria, premiered at the 1994 Toronto International Film Festival and has played in numerous film festivals around the world.
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts
#BringingTheArtsToLife @Canada.Council
Exhibition Details:
Dates: May 25 – Jun 10
Times:
Wed - Fri from 3pm - 7pm
Sat - Sun from 1pm -6pm
Location:
Remote Gallery (568 Richmond St West), Toronto
Narcissus at Remote Gallery is an
Official Affiliate Event of Pride Toronto 2023!
Akin Member Highlight - Kyle Yip’s RENAISSANCE SHOW at Collision Gallery
Long-time Akin Member Kyle Yip has a new and exciting solo exhibition that starts tomorrow! Be sure to swing by for the exhibition, drop in to enjoy the Opening Night celebration, or register for the Sound Bath Meditation to get the most out of this immersive show at Collision Gallery!
RENAISSANCE SHOW runs from April 18th to May 12th, 2023 at Collision Gallery (Commerce Court South, 30 Wellington St, Unit G114) with an Opening Reception on Saturday April 22 from 6-9pm and a Sound Bath Meditation with The SoundBody Collective on Saturday April 29th, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Exhibition Hours:
Tuesday to Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Image Description: On the left hand side are the Akin and Artist Project logos. On the right is a photo, a crowd of people stand in a broad, bright room lined with booths separated by white partition walls displaying paintings and colorful ceramics. A blue and yellow banner stands in the middle of the room which reads ‘Art Walks’.
Akin at The Artist Project - April 13 to 16
Get ready for the highly-anticipated return of The Artist Project at the Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place, from April 13th to 16th! Featuring over 250 independent artists, including several Akin members, this event promises to be a celebration of creativity, inspiration, and connection.
The Opening Night Preview is on April 13th from 6-10pm, it will include a fashion show from Fashion Art Toronto, Aura photography, Tarot Card reading, and a live DJ set. Experience a stimulating environment designed to ignite enriching conversations and foster a personal connection with art.
The Akin booth will be showcasing the talented works of members of the Akin Studio Program at Auto BLDG: Amada Estabillo, Jason Bomers, Tiana Robinson, Erin McCluskey, Emily MacClennan, Mel Hayes, Felicia Cirstea, Maren Boedeker, Hamid Mohammadi, Linds Miyo and Chico Togni. Find us at booth 1009 near the Untapped Emerging Artist section (featuring Akin’s very own, Sabrina Pinksen)!
Another interesting exhibit will be the OCAD U Career Launcher Initiative, where Vladimir Kanic, the recipient of the Artist Project 2023 Career Launcher, will present Garden of Waves, as part of his ongoing body of work with algae for the 2023 fair.
Image Description: Miles Ingrassia at the Artist Project 2022. Miles is standing in front of his paintings which are displayed on a white wall surrounding him. Miles has a tshirt on and a hat and glasses and is smiling slightly at the camera.
While you are there, don’t forget to look for Akin members and alumni at their very own booths and say hello! Akin members exhibiting include Miles Ingrassia (booth 122), Carolina Reis (booth 108), Jen Arron (booth I6), Natalie Plociennik (booth 236) and Zoe Bridgeman (booth 926) and many Akin alumni will be among the exhibiting artists as well!
Click here to get your tickets. See you there!
Accessibility Information:
The Better Living Centre has 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. The Artist Project is happy to offer a complimentary admission pass for the support person of a person with a disability.
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
#BringingTheArtsToLife @CanadaCouncil
Image description: a collage of images from this blog post with the blog Title overtop in black writing.
Upcoming: Four Exhibitions Featuring Akin Members
Calling all art lovers and Akin community supporters! Be sure not to miss these upcoming exhibitions from our beloved Akin-folk as they showcase exciting new work.
These shows are featuring Akin Members Erin Candela, Jason Bomers, Kyle Yip, Rosemary Miguez, Cath Turl & Jeanette McLachlin as well as Akin Board of Directors member Kristina McMullin.
Image description: Mosaic tiles showing a tiger with wide eyes, biting into the neck of a sheep against a background of black tile. On the far left side of the mosaic, a tree with white buds lays in the background behind the tiger’s tail.
Other Tigers - group show and Grand Opening of The Lost and Found Project Space - featuring Akin Members and Akin alumni.
Opening of a brand new gallery and community space, The Lost & Found, run by Ceramicist Nurielle Stern. This new project space is now accepting submissions from independent curators, artist-curators, and organizations, educational institutions, and commercial galleries. They aim to provide exhibition opportunities for emerging and established contemporary artists working in any medium.
This inaugural exhibition is featuring Akin studio artists Erin Candela and Jason Bomers, along with former Akin members David Salazar and Helen Liene Dreifelds, and many more!
Opening reception: April 15, 7:00 to 11:00 pm
Exhibition dates: April 15 - May 7, 2023
Exhibition hours: Except for the opening, the exhibtion will be open by appointment.
Location: The Lost and Found, 420 Queen St E Toronto
More details about the show including a full list of partcipating artists here
Image description: grey banner with black geometric shapes on it and the exhibition details which are included in this blog post written in a wavy font.
RENAISSANCE SHOW - a solo exhibition by Akin Waterfront member Kyle Yip
Image description: A photograph of Kyle Yip standing in front of a pink, geometric backdrop. Kyle is wearing a black t-shirt splattered with paint and green pants. His arms are folded, he has short black hair and a slight smile.
Kyle Yip's trans-disciplinary practice integrates eastern and western recovery-based approaches derived from gnosis and neuroscience. It plays with the new fixities of identity politics drawn from the colour-field of pop physics, combining euclidean and sacred geometry with vexillology. Some of these practices include art therapy, dreamwork, as well as meditation, reiki, and esoteric cosmological rituals that unsettle mainstream norms in contemporary art. His work addresses an urgent need in the art industry to merge explorations between personal development and avant-gardist aesthetics. This exhibition is generously supported by Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival.
Opening Reception: April 22, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Exhibition dates: April 18 - May 12, 2023
Exhibition Hours:
Tue - Fri, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sat, 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Location: Collision Gallery, 30 Wellington St W Unit G114, Toronto
Special event - Sound Bath Meditation: with The SoundBody Collective on April 29, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Get tickets here.
More details about the show here
Cripping Masculinity: Designing Fashion Utopias
Image Description: A graphic icon featuring black and white photographs of four items of clothing. The clothing is surrounded by a sulfur coloured graphic brush stroke. The background of the graphic is hot pink.
Cripping Masculinity: Designing Fashion Utopias is a journey into the fashion worldbuilding of Disabled, Deaf, and Mad-identified men and masculine people. This exhibition showcases a selection of the everyday clothing and re-made garments from participants in Cripping Masculinity. The clothing and stories highlight the fashion imagination and wisdom that comes from the experiences of disabled masculinities, demonstrating how closing off access to prevailing systems of fashion and masculinity opens up alternatives that foster belonging, creativity, and desire for disability.
The Cripping Masculinity team is made up of researchers, designers, and activists based at Toronto Metropolitan University in Toronto, the University of Alberta in Edmonton and Parsons School of Design in New York. The team includes Akin’s Board of Directors member Kristina McMullin.
Exhibition dates: On now until May 12, 2023
Exhibition hours: Wed - Sat, 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location: Tangled Art + Disability, 401 Richmond St W S-124, Toronto
Special event - FAT Fashion Show: April 29, 2023, Urban Space Gallery, Urban Space Gallery 401 Richmond St W S-124, Toronto
More details about the show here
Visually Speaking, a group exhibition - featuring Akin members Rosemary Miguez, Cath Turl & Jeanette McLachlin
Official Opening: April 5 from 5:00 - 8:00 pm
Exhibition dates: April 4 - 9, 2023
Exhibition hours:
Tues & Sun: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm,
Wed - Sat: 12:00 pm - 8:00pm,
Artist talks daily at 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm.
Location: Show Gallery, 978 Queen St W. Toronto
Special Event - Poetry Workshops: Friday & Saturday at 2:00 pm.
Sign up by texting 1-204-299-3904
More details about the show here
Image Description: an event poster listing the event title, artist names, and exhibition details which are all included in this blog post. The background of the poster is a light purpole colour and there are photographs on the poster showing different artworks including paintings and sculptures.
Image Description: The title of the blog “Artist Opportunities Round -Up”. Image of an alleyway banner in top left corner. Image of people at an outdoor arts festival in the top right corner. Image of a person pinning drawings to a board in the bottom image. The full size versions and descriptions of these images are in the blog.
Artist Opportunities Round-Up: Residencies, Exhibitions, Art Crawls & More!
As the spring approaches, we’ve rounded up some fresh new opportunities for artists. These opportunities come with deadlines in April through August. Best of luck!
MOTHRA: Artist-Parent Project
Deadline: April 10th, 2023 (to apply for the July 4-17th residency)
Description: In 2023 MOTHRA will be offering four artist-parent, child-inclusive, artist residencies at Artscape Gibraltar Point.
Find more details about the MOTHRA: Artist-Parent Project here
Image Description: A concrete alleyway facing a white building with a painted mural on it. The mural has a black background, with white clouds moving across the center, and a portrait of a woman with long black hair looking off into the distance. On the left side of the mural, words written in stylized cursive read “looking towards a better future”. On the right side, the text continues, saying “the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
Call for Mural Proposals: “Just Us” Art Project 2023
Deadline: August 15th, 2023
This call invites concepts from street, mural and graffiti artists and artist collectives committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and inspiring positive change through who they are and the work they create. Project proposals should speak to historic and current social issues and movements within Black and Indigenous communities and equity deserving groups and the importance, benefits, and opportunities to build a better future through inclusion, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
Find more details about the Call for Mural Proposals here
The Salt Spring National Art Prize
Deadline: May 31st, 2023
The Salt Spring National Art Prize (SSNAP) is a biennial juried open competition focused on Canadian contemporary visual arts. Approximately fifty finalists are selected for the exhibition by an independent national jury. We invite all Canadian artists whose work exemplifies originality, quality, integrity, and creativity to submit work for consideration.
Find more details about the The Salt Spring National Art Prize here
Image description: A busy crowd of people stand in a laneway lined with white tents at the outdoor Queen West Art Crawl. There are bright green trees in the background. Some artwork can be seen on display inside the tents.
Call for Artists and Artisans: 2023 Queen West Art Crawl Festival
Deadline: May 31st, 2023
The Queen West Art Crawl (QWAC) is a charitable corporation that drives a number of initiatives publicly benefiting artists and residents of Toronto through art, music, and multiculturalism, including a two-day multidisciplinary arts festival stretching along Queen Street West from Bathurst to Roncesvalles in Trinity Bellwoods Park in September of each year. With attendance at 20-25k, the Queen West Art Crawl has developed over the years into an inclusive arts and multicultural festival, while staying centered around its annual outdoor art exhibition.
Find more details about the 2023 Queen West Art Crawl Festival here
2023 Annual International Mail-In Art Exhibition
Deadline: April 30th 2023
The Federation of Canadian Artists is providing this opportunity for artists from all over the world to exhibit for minimal cost and a chance to win prizes for their art. This year’s theme is ‘Recovery’ Submissions must be no bigger than 8" x 10" or 10" x 8" and must be unframed. Substrates can be no deeper than 4mm deep. We frame successfully juried pieces at our gallery.
Find more details about the 2023 Annual International Mail-In Art Exhibition here
14th Annual Contemporary Juried Art Exhibition
2023 Kirkland Lake Contemporary Art
Deadline: June 1st , 2023
The Museum of Northern History and the Contemporary Art Committee will host the 14th Annual Contemporary Art Exhibition. Artists at all stages in their career are eligible and all disciplines are welcome. Theme: “Mystique & Reality”
Find more details about the Kirkland Lake Contemporary Art Juried Art Exhibition here
Image Description: In the foreground a person watches another, smiling in a black hoodie, pins a paper drawing to a white wall, alongside a series of drawings already pinned side by side. One of the drawings reads “Freedom”, while another contains stylized figure sketches.
Call for Facilitators of Creative Content: Nia Centre
Deadline: June 6, 2023
Interested in facilitating art-based workshops for youth and young creatives?
The Nia Centre is looking for enthusiastic Art Facilitators to facilitate art-based workshops for our Beyond the Books: School Engagement Program. Looking for facilitators that can lead workshops across the following art mediums:
Film
Animation
Mural Design
Photography
Creative Writing
Dance (with a focus on Afro Caribbean and hip hop dance)
Theatre, Acting and Performance
As workshops will be held in person at the physical location of the school, facilitators must be available to commute to schools across the Greater Toronto Area. Short-listed applicants will be contacted for a brief virtual Facilitator Show & Share.
Find more details about the Call for Facilitators of Creative Content at the Nia Centre here
Image Descriptions: Text that reads “From Here to Wear” and three event posters from the event series with event information written on them and various graphics on plain backgrounds including a hand, the planet earth with rooths coming out of it, and a planet in a repeated pattern in a swoop shape.
From Here to Wear community events with Akin alumni Norwin Anne on March 18 & 25
This month you can join Akin Studio alumni Norwin Anne at two free community drop-in events entitled 'From Here to Wear'. Each event offers an inclusive community space where curious, like-minded people can swap and repair clothing while also learning more about "textile waste".
This initiative aims to raise more awareness on the problems surrounding the management of “textile waste” and to help prevent them from being disposed of improperly. These events create a circular closed loop system for clothing that people no longer want, while promoting a reuse and “waste not, want not” mentality. It’s a fun alternative to shopping and an engaging way to upgrade your wardrobe — a conscious practice on how to be more intentional with the clothes you wear.
March 18
12pm-5pm at St Matthew’s Clubhouse, 450 Broadview Avenue, Toronto.
Click here for full event details or to register.
Presented in partnership with East End Arts
March 25
12pm-5pm at stackt Market - STUDIO 28, Bathurst Street Toronto.
Click here for full event details or to register.
Presented in partnership with stackt Market.
Images above: Black and white event posters with text that describes the event details that are in this blog post. The first poster has a white background, the centre is a black and white circular drawing of people, animals, landscapes, and various symbols. The second poster has a dark background and the image on the poster features a repeated image of a planet that creates a curving shape across the image.
About Norwin Anne
Norwin Anne is a Filipinx multidisciplinary artist / designer, (re)maker and eco-culture communicator. They studied Fashion Techniques and Design at George Brown College with a waste conscious approach and slow fashion mentality. Primarily working with secondhand materials, they started focusing on textile waste as a research study during school which evolved into learning more about waste generally to understand its environmental impacts and beyond. They want to continue developing their ideas and merge their knowledge of fashion with other subjects by creating wearable art and installations to visually translate complex topics through culture jamming. They always prioritize working with used objects and discarded materials. They’re dedicated to creating conceptual and functional things from what’s seen as useless. It initiates this challenge of exploring different alternatives and they try their best to avoid using new items as much as possible.
Norwin is an Akin Studio alumni from Akin Lansdowne and Akin King.
Image Description: A wide banner image with some colourful pencil crayons in the bacground and text with the event title, date and time. At the bottom are logos for Toronto Art Foundation, Neighborhood Arts Network, Akin and Cobella Financial
Making a Living Making Art: Taxes for Artists - a free virtual workshop on March 28
Tax season can be a stressful and confusing time for artists. Join us on March 28th at 5:30 pm for a free virtual workshop that will help you get prepared!
Do you have questions about tax preparation, deductions, tax deadlines, HST, how to report grants, or file T4s? Shantae Cunningham, Founder & Senior Associate of Cobella Financial, will discuss some of the most important tax topics for artists. The session is suitable for artists who are new to filing taxes or those who are looking for a refresher. The presentation will show real life examples, and a Q+A will follow. Participants are encouraged to send along questions in advance for review, to erin@akincollective.com
This webinar is free and open to the public. Closed captioning and ASL Interpretation will be provided. The event will not be recorded, but slides may be shared with registered attendees following the event, by request.
Update March 14: This workshop is now sold out - you can sign up on the registration page to be added to a waiting list.
Click the button below to register:
About the facilitator:
Shantae Cunningham is a Seneca College graduate and is an Accounting and Bookkeeping expert with 7 years in the industry. She has worked within many industries to help them scale and grow their company from Marketing and PR to E-Commerce and service-based industries. She works with individuals and companies from freelancers to small and medium sized businesses. With uncompromising attention to detail, Shantae uses her passion for both personal and professional finance to support these businesses. Since 2018, Shantae has worked as an Independent Bookkeeper at her own boutique firm, Cobella Financial. She is analytical, experienced and known as a savvy Accountant. Her personality and business acumen sets her apart. She has volunteered with organizations such as Woodgreen Community Centre to provide tax prep services helping those in all tax situations.
This workshop is presented in collaboration between Toronto Arts Foundation’s Neighborhood Arts Network and Akin, and is in partnership with Neighborhood Arts Network’s Newcomer Spotlight program supported by RBC.
Image Description: A greyscale photograph of artist Faisal Karadsheh. He is smiling at the camera. There are paintings in the background.
Artist Faisal Karadsheh featured this Saturday at the Deep Wireless Festival of Radio & Transmission Art
This Saturday, March 4th, artist (and Akin Member) Faisal Karadsheh will be presenting his work ‘to be heard (soundwalk’in_2021)’ as part of New Adventures in Sound Art (NAISA)’s annual Deep Wireless festival.
This work includes all three audio pieces from Faisal’s soundwalk project which were produced in 2021 using personal recordings of street protests in Toronto, each responding to national and/or international events. By visiting each of the three locations in the sound walk, the listener may consider how bodies connect, congregate and organize themselves together.
In the soundwalk project the process of concentrating or suppressing “voices of protest”, as suggested by Hito Steyerl, is being explored formally. The site is composed of three distinct locations within a very specific region in Toronto. The three protests transpired at varying times during 2021, yet seem to align across a section of the city. The abstracted sound works examine the process of documenting and formally articulating protests, in connection to its position within the urban fabric and sonic landscape of the city.
Image Description: The Deep Wireless logo which includes a cartoon drawing of a radio and the words ‘DEEP Wireless”
Deep Wireless Festival of Radio and Transmission Art
The 22nd annual edition of the Deep Wireless Festival of Radio & Transmission Art is presented on the theme Remote Connections with and exhibitions, performances, artist talks, an online compilation and radio programs being transmitted from and hosted at the NAISA North Media Arts Centre in South River.
Three works from the Deep Wireless 17 Radio Art Compilation Album will be included in this in-person and online hybrid event on the theme Remote Connections. Join in person for multichannel listening or connect online with your headphones.
What: Remote Connections Concert
When: Saturday March 4, 2023, 7:00 pm
Where: Online, and/or in-person at NAISA North Media Arts Centre in South River, Ontario
To register: click here the cost is $12 per person
“Radio over its history has built societal connections across multiple and remote locations. Radio Art evolved by way of artists and writers across many disciplines adding their diverse approaches to the way time, space and content could be re-imagined over the airwaves and later over digital streaming formats. The content in this year’s festival adds to that tradition with stories told through digital interactivity, round table discussions, documentaries, interactive art, poetry and sound art on the theme Remote Connections.”
About the artist
Faisal Karadsheh is an Akin staff member and an Akin Studio member. He is an emerging Jordanian-Palestinian multidisciplinary artist, who has exhibited work in Jordan, Lebanon and Canada. Although his work does not necessarily depict a personal narrative, lived experiences emerge as thematic starting points throughout the art-making process. Once completed, these individualized fragments in time may instigate a wider dialogue within disparate communities about tradition, the body, ecologies, and how we define ourselves as moving beings. His oeuvre continually explores in-between spaces, where interior and exterior modalities can exist as one. By attempting to search for this mode of hybridized representation, different mediums unravel interrelated narratives, or imagined histories, revolving around the self and its ties to the body. As a result, these formal investigations into spatial possibilities always seem to be contingent on a somatic subject's perceptions, as the producer or constructor of reality. Choosing a medium to express these sentiments requires openness, which leads to a myriad of forms. Learn more about Faisal and his work at faisalkaradsheh.myportfolio.com
Image Description: A long pink rectangle banner features a white and black cloud graphic, where is written The Mindful Artist. A photo of Erica Gittens, a black woman with curly long hair in a white sweater is on the right side of the banner, next to text that reads Wed Feb 22 6pm and 'Virtual Workshop with Erica Gittens'. Below that in the right bottom corner a black AURA logo is placed, and a black Akin logo is on the upper left corner with 'zoom event' written in black next to it.
The Mindful Artist: Virtual workshop with Erica Gittens - Feb 22 at 6pm
Calling all artists... this workshop is for you!
Hosted by Erica Gittens from AURA BODY+HOME, this two-hour workshop will feature a series of short lectures followed by mindful activities to integrate into your everyday life as an artist. Themes include grounding through meditation, unlocking creativity, practices to help relieve stress and tension, creating personal affirmations, and more to support your creative and personal journey. Dedicate space and time for reflection (bring a pen and notebook) and movement (standing or seated).
Erica (she/her) is a Toronto-based mindfulness artist and founder of AURA BODY+HOME for Mindfulness, Meditation, and Yoga. Through movement and stillness, Erica creates imaginative, mindful experiences to support the connection of mind and body as an act of self-love.
This event is hosted online and is free for Akin members, with a pay-what-you-can option for non-members. All are welcome! Participants must register through the ticket selections on this site, and links to join the workshop will be sent the day of the event.
Accessibility: This online workshop includes guided physical movements that are optional for all participants. Please note that a waiver is sent to all ticket-holders through the sign-up process. For any questions please send a message to Erin at erin@akincollective.com. There will not be an ASL interpreter at this event, but Closed Captioning is possible. Please send a note regarding any accessibility concerns in advance and we'll do our best to make things work!
You can follow Erica online at @aurabodyandhome or check out her website at www.aurabodyandhome.com. This is an Akin x AURA collaboration.
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
@CanadaCouncil #BringingTheArtsToLife
Tonight! Artist Q&A with Wandy Cheng, Theresa Hopkins & Jennie Town!
Our Scarborough Highlights artist Art Talk is tonight (Feb 6) at 6pm on Instagram Live.
Learn more about the three artists below, and join them online this evening for the conversation! Questions and thoughts are welcome during the event through the live "chat" option, and by messaging erin@akincollective.com in advance. This event will take place through Akin's @akinprojects Instagram Feed. To join, please follow @akinprojects and be on Instagram at 6pm!
Jennie Town is a Scarborough-based Canadian multi media artist and Indigenous Knowledge Keeper living and working in the Guildwood community for over 56 years and counting. Drawing from her experience and learnings as an Afro-Indigenous creator and teacher, Jennie's practice has covered a wealth of mediums from ceramics, jewelry and painting to beading, leatherwork, drum-making, and a variety of craft techniques that frequently use gathered and naturally-sourced materials. A great believer in sharing the creative process and nourishing the experiences of others Jennie's role as an artist extends into community engagement through workshops, guided walks and local events. Follow Jennie on Instagram at @foreverjenniedesigns
Wandy Cheng (she/her) is a multidisciplinary illustrator from Hong Kong whose work embodies contrasting textures and repeated patterns through various creative outputs, including ceramics, paper-cut and public art. She helps local businesses create a memorable presence in their communities by simplifying conceptual ideas into vibrant visuals — an illustrator illustrating illustrations. Her work is inspired by memories of lived experiences, architectures, and environments. In recent years, her illustration can be seen both on the streets of the city and within the pages of international publications. Follow Wandy on Instagram @wandy_cheng
Theresa Hopkins is a black multidisciplinary artist and arts organizer living and working in Toronto. Her work focuses on themes surrounding identity, emotion and her interactions with the world as a black woman. Using colourful, tactile materials and subject matter, her work draws on nostalgia juxtaposed with heavy, mature themes. She has shown her work at 8-11 gallery, The Whitehouse Studio Project, Whippersnapper, The Plumb gallery and most recently a solo exhibition at The Remote Gallery. Follow Theresa on Instagram @thopkinsart
Image Descriptions: 1. Beaded earrings made by Jennie Town are hanging on the edge of a clear glass jar in front of a purple background. The earrings feature many beads with angular patterns with beaded tassels hanging from the ends. 2. A mural painted by Wandy Cheng using blue, green, white and pink colors depicting an environment centered around a waterfall leading to a lake, with plants and animals in the surroundings. 3. A painting by Theresa Hopkins hanging on a wall and brightly lit. In the painting the artist sits at a poker table in a luxury casino. She is surrounded by cartoon characters. In front of her are a stack of chips and 3 tarot cards.
Artist Talk! Theresa Hopkins, Wandy Cheng and Jennie Town - Feb 6 at 6pm
Artist Talk and Q&A: FREE
February 6th at 6pm: ONLINE through Instagram 'Live'
Please join us online on Monday February 6th for a special Artist Q&A with Scarborough Highlights artists Theresa Hopkins, Wandy Cheng and Jennie Town, who were featured participants in Akin's recent Winter Exhibition and Market at the Clark Centre for the Arts in Scarborough. Among other things, we'll be asking what it means to be an artist from Scarborough? What kinds of experiences do artists face when practicing outside the downtown core? How can cities and organizations better support artists facing different barriers of access and opportunity?
This event will take place through Akin's @akinprojects Instagram Feed. To join, please follow @akinprojects and be on Instagram at 6pm on February 6th 2023! Questions and thoughts are welcome during and before the event through the live "chat" option, and by messaging erin@akincollective.com in advance.
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
@CanadaCouncil #BringingTheArtsToLife