NEWS and Exhibitions:

Summer 2023

The Art Tour and West Toronto Artists Art Market at the Bloor West Streetfest!

This summer, I took a short break from my psychology studies to exhibit my work at the annual local ArtTour in June and the Bloor West Streetfest in July, both with West Toronto Artists, my community arts group.

BLOOR WEST STREETFEST
SATURDAY, JULY 15, 2023

2022:

From Virtuality to Reality

I am pleased to announce that a retrospective of my work, including some newer works, will be featured at Casa, 33 Charles Street East, Toronto, from February 12 through June 12, 2022. This is indeed very exciting for me, given that due to public health restrictions, I haven’t physically exhibited my work for over 2 years. I’m delighted to collaborate with Canadian Art Concepts and in particular, artist and educator, Julia Yakobi, who will also feature some of her works at the same location. Stay tuned for details regarding the  opening reception on April 14, 2022.

2021:

Stayin Alive, Stayin Alive! Apart from a couple of online shows (for obvious reasons), not many artists were really doing much in the way of art shows. Like everyone else, I simply hunkered down with my family and watched the world with a cautious and jaded gaze, mostly trying to stay healthy and avoid getting Covid.  The long lockdowns did give me lots of time to paint, read and work on my psychology undergrad degree. Also, I was fortunate to have one of my pieces chosen again to exhibit in the 2022 Multifaith Calendar.

2020:

In September 2020, I was delighted to be invited as a vendor at Maker’s Market, located at 3124 Dundas Street West, in west Toronto’s Junction neighbourhood, famous for it’s rich railway history and quickly becoming known as one of Toronto’s “happening hoods”.  Maker’s Market, not far from my home, is a little storefront artisan market-style shop owned by Kendra Sartorelli and her husband.  The nice thing about this shop for painters like myself is that it’s okay to sell affordable reproductions of my work and merchandising such as cards, coasters and copies of my children’s book. Often, store owners selling original art don’t like to also promote reproductions in order to keep the price points higher and attract clientele with deeper pockets, but these days when artists of every discipline have to think beyond their usual creative paradigm to make a living, it’s nice to be able to sell affordable versions of one’s art.  Kendra is a talented artist herself, having graduated from OCAD University in Toronto (check out her delightful, whimsical monster paintings on her Etsy shop) and so she understands well the artist mentality and the challenge of promoting and selling one’s art.  Like most art markets, vendors pay Maker’s Market to rent display space, but they don’t pay an additional commission on top of rent, and they also get to keep 100% of their sales profit. So, it’s really up to the vendor to get the word out. However, Kendra and her team, including Emma, another OCAD alumni, have shown themselves to be fierce promoters of community arts.  It takes true grit to start a new arts business given the present situation in the world and especially the reticent economy.  Kendra and her team work tirelessly to promote their artisan vendors by hosting live and virtual events, daily posts and promotions on many social media platforms, newsletters and articles.  In addition, they  offer marketing support and promotional opportunities and also provide encouragement and guidance on how the artists can promote themselves, something that many artists grapple with.  They have created a wonderful community arts hub with some delightful, whimsical and totally unique functional gifts.  I hope you will come out and see what creativity west Toronto has to offer when you’re looking for a one of a kind gift for someone (or yourself). You’ll also have the satisfaction of knowing that you are without a doubt helping local artisans in your city continue their craft and also supporting small business. As with all shops during this time, masks and social distancing applies.   Maker’s Market is open Daily 11 am – 6 pm, 7 days a week with hours to be extended during the holiday season. Tel. (647) 804-6253 / (647) 804-MAKE / or anytime at Instagram  or FaceBook .

I am also currently undergoing a major renovation of home and studio, so check back with me in 2021 regarding the re-opening of my new fabulous, new Gallery 32 Studio. In the meantime, please meet a couple of my new studio mates, on the left is Beryl (named after one of my favourite whimsical artists, Beryl Cook), and on the right, Georgia (named after Georgia O’Keefe). These wonderful plant hangers were handmade by Toronto’s North And Ivy 

In the meantime, you can purchase originals of my work through Singulart, based in Paris, or if you’re local to Toronto, inquire with me directly.

Last year, I found out that one of my pieces, “Harmony Farm” was chosen for the annual Multifaith Calendar, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This is the third time I have been fortunate enough to have had my art chosen for this colourful calendar which celebrates all faiths and features the colourful art of artists everywhere.  In hindsight, I don’t think any of us could have guessed how 2020 would begin, with a world pandemic. The theme for the 2020 calendar was “harmony”. Had we have known, perhaps it would have been a different theme altogether.

2019 Exhibitions:

On November 7-10, myself and 14 other professional artists held a pop-up exhibition in west Toronto which featured fine art in an industrial setting. The show was a great success with our group selling many originals,  and a portion of the profit being donated to Fred Victor Centre for Toronto’s homeless.  In the spirit of inclusivity, and in order to make our original art more accessible to the general public and fund raise for charity, participating artists offered individual payment plan arrangements for larger pieces. Many happy people were able to afford to purchase fantastic new art for their homes and also donate to an excellent cause that helps those who have very little means . We hope to have another pop-up show in the spring.  Stay tuned!

The Artist Project in February 2019 was a great opportunity to unveil and showcase my latest Artcycling pieces. I was pleased with the warm reception to my work, including notable comment from BlogTO as number 3 of the 35 artists to look out for, a shout out from Creative Genius Art Academy and Article in ArtToronto.ca. It was a wonderful experience and encouraged me to keep going in this sustainable direction with my art.

Interview by J.M. Green:  In September 2018 I had a wonderful conversation about  “Artcycling”  with writer/artist Julie M. Green for her column in the Whole Family Happiness Project. For more on that, click here:

New Book now available on Amazon: In 2011 my father suffered a devastating stroke and as a result, he could no longer be as actively engaged with my young son. In December I published a children’s picture book inspired by watching the changing dynamic between my father and my son, that I believe many people will relate to as family members age.  More information about the book can be found on the “Books” link of my website.

Cityline: “First Coffee”, one of my Artcycled original pieces was featured on Cityline with Tracy Moore where designer Karen Kayne talks about my approach to recycling within art.  This was an exciting development for myself and three other artists to promote the upcoming Artist Project,  and audience members received free entrance tickets. See below video.

2019 Exhibitions:

  • February 21-24, 2019, The Artist Project Better Living Centre, 195 Princes’ Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Friday May 31-Sunday June 2, 2019, The ArtTour Collective Studio Tour – I’ll be opening my private Gallery 32 Studio to the public for the entire weekend –  Friday 6-9 pm, Saturday and Sunday 11 am – 5 pm.       
  • Saturday June 23, 2019, The Solstice Summer Festival, Art Market with the Art Tour Collective, one day only and my only outdoor show of the year. 
  • Friday August 16 through September 15, 2019, Contemporary Landscapes at Winged Canvas Gallery in Markham, Ontario. I am one of three featured artists in this group show showing my new Artcycling landscape themed pieces. Opening wine and cheese reception and artist talk, from 7-9 pm. Come out and see this Art Hub of a gallery space and enjoy this free event around diverse contemporary landscape art.
  • August 21, 2019 through September 26, 2019, “Social Medium. Why Art?” Etobicoke Civic Centre Art Gallery 399 The West Mall, Etobicoke, ON
  • November 7-10, 2019,  The 501 Alliance for Art,   EXHIBITION OPENING: Thursday, Nov. 7th from 6 to 9 PM, Friday, Nov. 8 from 6 to 9 PM, Satirday, Nov. 9 from 12 to 6 PM, Sunday, Nov. 10 from 12 to 6 PM   – This is a Collective show with 15 Toronto artists in an historical industrial building in Toronto’s west end, 501 Alliance Ave.