Adios Amigos – Farewell to 101 / Yumart is moving

A small space beside a yoga studio at Adelaide and Spadina, Yumart is nonetheless brightly lit and not crowded. Coincidentally or intentionally, most works are on smaller scales, which accommodates the space. However, it makes sense that Yumart is now moving to a bigger space – 401 Richmond St West, B-20 – since it’s been successful and is ready for new challenges.

Yumart Gallery director, Yvonne Whelan

What’s interesting is Yumart’s decision to group certain paintings together, whether done by the same artist or not. This type of curation, combined with the numbering of the paintings, establishes a smooth visual flow that will begin and end at the door.

After the ceremonial cutting of the brie cheese, I start my visual adventure. A lot of the works in Adios Amigos – Farewell to 101 are dynamic abstract paintings that are spontaneous and kinetic. Robert Chandler’s “Lost House” is a small red square painting that, even though there are so many perfect lines, looks unstable. The white rectangle made up of thin lines in the center constantly moves the painting, shaking away the balance from the solid colours and composition of the background. A perfect mix of painterly strokes with solid colour blocks and lines. 

Robert Chandler, Lost House, 2008, acrylic on canvas, 20″ x 20″

While Joe Rosenblatt’s works are individually interesting as well, more interesting is the relationship between these two drawings, 6 years apart. Both “Forest Birds” and “Snake” depict the same thing: birds. Yet, it’s apparent that a lot has changed within the years. Even the style of the signature has changed, with the 2009 version being quite fast and carefree, and the 2003 signature looking neurotic and unsure. In 2009, the birds have colour, they fly around joyfully, and the paper is flawlessly crisp. In 2003, the birds are erratic and violent, attacking and eating the snake. The paper looks rather unkempt as well. The shaky and unstable movements of the hand in 2003 has turned swift and smooth. It’s almost as if within 6 years, Rosenblatt has found peace of mind and comfort. 

Joe Rosenblatt, Forest Birds, 2009, ink on paper, 8 1/4″ x 11 1/2″

Across Rosenblatt are Deirdre Tara Whelan’s works, which feature red circles on a solid blue background with other white and blue mark-making. “Parapet” and “Glowrs” both have great potential. However, some aspects from respective paintings could amalgamate to make one great one. This is because some of the marks come off as after-thought, such as the painterly dark blue and white lines. The strong sinuous red marks with the dynamic blue background and painted-over textures in “Parapet” compliment the minimalist yet kinetic composition of “Glowrs”. 

Deirdre Tara Whelan, Parapet, 2014, acrylic on canvas, 24″ x 18″

At the end of the flow of paintings are two comic book style illustrations by a.k.a. yum. They’re from a project wherein two artists both created drawings based on shared themes. Amongst the themes were “Mars Bar” and “Space Cowboy”. Featured in the show are “Liberty or Death” and “In the Nick of Time”. They are striking, graphic, and rough. The arrangement of different textures are quite amazing, especially where the solid blocks of marker – not so solid that you could still see the overlaps – are juxtaposed with points and dialogue blocks. It’s a good way to end this visual adventure.

a.k.a yum, Liberty or Death, 2014, ink on paper, 14″ x 11″ (left) and In the Nick of Time, 2014, ink on paper, 14″ x 11″ (right)

With a bigger space and better location Yumart gallery will be able to bring in more audiences and more works, but hopefully the atmosphere will stay the same. The inviting, bright, and comfortable place where you’re welcome to stay as long as you want to – just what a commercial gallery should strive for.

Text and photo: Sunny Kim

*Exhibition information: July 30 – August 8, 2015, 101 Spadina Avenue, Suite 210, Toronto. Hours: Wed – Sat 12 – 6 p.m. Yumart will reopen in its new location, 401 Richmond Street West, B-20 on September 12, 2015.