Monday, November 7, 2016

Art Toronto 2016

John and I have attended "Art Toronto" -- our local art fair -- for the past half dozen years.
 It is held annually in the fall at the Metro Convention Centre on Front Street West across from  the CBC  building and Simcoe Park.
 I love American Plains Indian ledger drawings
 so I was thrilled by the exquisite collection at the booth of the Donald Ellis Gallery of New York.
 Katherine Mulherin was showing the tiny super-realist paintings of Mike Bayne.
Stephen Bulger Gallery had a fabulous display of Vivien Maier's photographs. The Chicago photographer's work of the 1950's and 60's was unknown until 2005.
John and I would put her among the top dozen 20th century photographers.
 John was much taken with these photographs by Serge Tousignant at the booth of Galerie Graff of Montreal.
Paul Petro Contemporary Arts showed a marvellous mural in chalk pastel on black paper by Zachari Logan, Eunuch Tapestry 5.
The details at the bottom of the drawing reminded us of Medieval illuminations.
 Paul Petro was also showing this photograph, Moi au Louvre, 2013, by Stephen Andrews
 and a new Foil Problem by Sandy Plotnikoff. We're big fans of both artists.
 Of course the hip visitors to the art fair
 are are always a visual bonus.
 John liked this vintage Ken Lum: You Don't Love Me, 1994, while I was caught by the backpack of the young art lover.
 We both liked Bradley Wood's Shark, 2016. It reminded us somewhat of the work of Parisian artist, Jean-Phillipe Delhomme.
 Kim Dorland's Gathering, 2016. Very mysterious and intriguing!
John liked Mara Korkola's No Place 380 (Belgrade), 2016.
 Always a crowd-pleaser, Cree and Irish painter Kent Monkman, delivered once again with Miss Europe, a huge painting that sold on opening night.
 We would have happily taken home one of Gro Thorsen's Night paintings (2016)
 at the Jill George Gallery booth. Just the right size to fit into our limited wall space!
 At the Monte Clark Gallery booth John caught me getting ready to take a picture of
 Alison Yip's The Sap Tappers, 2012. Nice painting.
 Let's end with the Barbara Edwards Gallery's fabulous collection of William Kentridge drawings.
We love these wonderful, loose, drawings
on printed sheets from a old books! File under "want".
Kentridge makes drawing look easy.
OK -- we'll squeeze in one more work -- Mitch Robertson's little corner sculpture: Fig 55a, 2015, (polished steel), at the Birch Contemporary booth. See you next year!

6 comments:

  1. Thanks for the tour of the Art Show. I seem to recognize one of the hip visitors in the crowd. The drawings of the typewriters are fab!

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  2. Glad you enjoyed, Cheri. You'll remember that Kentridge also did those murals by the Tiber in Rome. Such an interesting artist! John

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  3. Great blog. I found it while looking for ledger art!

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    1. Hi Frank
      Glad to have you checking out our blog. Enjoy. Since you have an interest in ledger drawings, i can suggest that you check out my Pinerest post on the subject: https://www.pinterest.com/williamkimber/american-indian-ledger-book-drawings/
      cheers
      Bill

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  5. Always march to a different drummer like Kent Monkman!

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