July 4, 5 & 6, 2014
Nathan Phillips Square
Hours: Fri – Sat 10:30 – 7:30, Sun 10:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Once again it is time to check out the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition. The three hundred and fifty artists seem to all be happy about the great weather. This year’s exhibition is a little tighter partly due to construction at Nathan Phillips Square. Every year is seems to get a little smaller and I talked to the new Executive Director, Mark Temple, about this. It seems that the City wants reign in the TOAE keeping them off the grass (so to speak) and not allowing as many artists as they used to on the perimeter sides of the two towers of City Hall. One side was always relegated to student participants but there were fewer student booths this year and as Mark Temple said fewer had applied.
Artist, Harry Enchin
Painter, Thelia Sanders Shelton
Artist, Susan Gale
Although it has not been officially announced yet, in 2015 TOAE will move to Queen’s Park and will happen earlier in June 12, 13 & 14, because the Pan Am Games will be using the square as a cultural hub. Mark Temple said that it had been suggested that earlier dates might work better and that they will likely accommodate more participating artists at Queen’s Park, perhaps over four hundred. At one time TOAE boosted having 500 participant artists. One artist I talked with said that fewer artists could mean more sales, having less competition. TOAE is slated to return to Nathan Phillips Square in 2016 but it will perhaps depend on how things work out at Queen’sPark.
Executive Director of TOAE, Mark Temple
Artists I talked to seemed apprehensive about the move worried it might not attract as large a crowd being a little removed from the core downtown. Others worried about the grass since if it did rain it would not be as good as the concrete of the square. Queen’s Park does offer more shade but then it might be harder to view the art works as well. We will have to find out next year how everyone feels about the move. I remember when the dates of TOAE changed due to the garbage strike and it happened in September and that change didn’t fair so well.
Artist, Tara Sameshima
Painter, Matthew Tarini
Photographer, Stephen Cooper
Acting Mayor, Norm Kelly got into the act during a media scrum with an artist and a bird puppet. There was some discussion about how the photo op should play out. The artist suggested they walk around TOAE but try to avoid the quacks in the side walk. Norm Kelly suggested they walk around in search of some guy named Art as isn’t art supposed to be at TOAE. I left before finding out how all this went. Perhaps just as well.
Acting Mayor, Norm Kelly with bird puppet and artist
ARTNOW added some curated performance, installations and sculptures for visitors. A few people seemed quite pleased with the sculptures on site.
The Lines by Mark Prier
All the artists were pleased with this year’s good weather, good crowds and some sales. Judges, Lee Petrie and Gary Michael Dault made their rounds to the booths. There are prizes valued at a total of $25.000 awarded to different categories. I talked with several happy Montreal artists who were thrilled to be in this year’s exhibit.
Judges, Lee Petrie and Gary Michael Dault
Montreal Artist, Pascal Normand
The public, I saw, seemed quite engaged and talking to the artists about their work. The artists in turn were happy to share stories about their art works and art practise. With promises of continuing good weather everyone seemed to be in a good mood and TOAE will have continued success as artists keep to help make Toronto a unique place to celebrate the arts.
Text and photo: Phil Anderson