TORONTO.- Art Toronto celebrates its 15th anniversary this October 24 to 27 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, with more than 100 select galleries and an ambitious curatorial series including large-scale installations by prominent Canadian artists including BGL, Marman & Borins and Thrush Holmes. This will be the first time several of these pieces will be shown in Canada, thanks to the combined efforts of Art Toronto, artists, galleries, and sponsors.
Feature exhibition:
BGL, Canada de Fantaisie/Canada Fancy
Art Toronto announced the inclusion of a major work by the Québec-based collective BGL (Jasmin Bilodeau, Sébastien Giguère and Nicolas Laverdière), who are Canada's representatives to the upcoming 56th Venice Biennale. Canada de Fantaisie/Canada Fancy is an urban carousel made from steel security fences suspended from a lamp post at this year's fair, which explores the concepts of control and freedom while inviting viewers to break down barriers as they climb on and enjoy the ride. Usually a tool for crowd control, in the hands of the artists the security barrier becomes a symbol of transcendence and creativity. Speaking about the piece, the artists said, "We will transform this object that was intended to reduce delinquency into something that inspires delirium."
Canada de Fantaisie/Canada Fancy is sponsored by RBC Wealth Management, and presented by Art Toronto and the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa. BGL would like to thank the Odette Sculpture Center at York University, Toronto for helping to make Canada de Fantaisie/Canada Fancy a reality.
Select feature projects:
Jennifer Marman & Daniel Borins, Pavilion of the Blind
Pavilion of the Blind is a large-scale kinetic installation, featuring a colourful array of window blinds, panels, and shades, arranging and rearranging itself into a series of constantly hanging abstract compositions. Marman & Borins are represented by Cristin Tierney, New York.
Break Room, the Art Toronto NEXT Lounge by Thrush Holmes
Canadian artist Thrush Holmes will construct Break Room, an activated construction site similar to the ones Holmes experienced while building mansions in the Muskokas, where he and fellow workers would discuss their real interests and ideals, their vulnerabilities... art, music, books, sex, existence. Thrush Holmes is represented by Mike Weiss Gallery, New York (Booth #1010).
Platform 2014 top picks:
Art Toronto's signature series of daily talks and presentations from leading art professional presented at the Art Toronto Stage.
Friday, October 24, 34pm
Collectors Speak: Christiane Fischer, President and CEO of AXA Art Americas, leads a panel discussion with established collectors David Angelo, Beverly Creed, and Alan Schwartz. Presented by AXA Art.
Friday, October 24, 4:305:30pm
BGL in conversation with Marie Fraser: Québec-based collective BGL (Jasmin Bilodeau, Sébastien Giguère and Nicolas Laverdière) joins Marie Fraser, the Curator of the 2015 Canadian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, to discuss their practice, recent work and their plans for Venice. Sponsored by RBC Wealth Management.
Saturday, October 25, 12pm
An Artist Residency on Fogo Island: Zita Cobb, Fogo Island Arts Founder and Nicolaus Schafhausen, Fogo Island Arts/Kunsthalle Wien Artistic Director, in conversation with recent Fogo Island artist-in-residence about living and working on Fogo Island, Newfoundland. Presented by Fogo Island Arts.
Power Talks
The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery collaborates with Art Toronto to present Power Talks, a series of lectures by influential art-world figures speaking in the context of Art Toronto 2014, at the Art Toronto Stage.
Friday, October 24, 6pm
Bisi Silva: "Curating Africa? The Shifting Curatorial Paradigm"
Saturday, October 25, 3pm
Saskia Bos: "Not Quite Meant for Above the Couch"
Sunday, October 26, 3pm
Haro Cumbusyan: "Private Collections in Public (Collecting Collections)"