Metro Toronto Convention Centre
October 23-26, 2015
On Thursday morning, October 22nd, I arrived for the media preview and was welcomed by a staff member who handed me a map and sent me on my way. In the past the prior organization had a welcoming area for media and they gave an introduction to the fair. This year we were on our own and like lost sheep wandered from booth to booth looking for signs of life. People were busy with last minute preparations or were resting up for the task at hand and the evenings opening preview.
I did stop by Mira Godard Gallery and talked briefly with Gallery Assistant and artist, John Kinsella. The gallery was excited about the fair and looking to see how some new works would fair. Senior artist Tom Forestall had joined the Gallery and now was in the company of classmates Mary Pratt and Christopher Pratt. Also they were excited to show the work of Holly Farell a self taught artist. Kinsella didn’t think there was a real competition between Art Toronto and the Feature: Contemporary Art Fair as they offered the art going public a different type of fair. Feature perhaps a little more edgy display of art while Art Toronto is offering more fine art mixed with contemporary. I talked with Kim Fullerton of Akimbo and she commented on the improved design of the fair.
The layout is more open and it is more pedestrian friendly. There are more places to get some food, coffee or a glass of wine. I talked with Mia Nielsen who was busy hammering away hanging works from the Drakes collection. I meet some media from a new CBC Arts portal at cbc.ca arts who were finding their way around the fair. I decided to return when there were more people to talk to.
Roberta and Robert Kananaj, Co-directors of Robert Kananaj Gallery
Sunday afternoon I am back and start at the Verge section and talking with Roberta and Robert from the Robert Kananaj Gallery. They were pleased this year that all the Verge Galleries were together. There was also a section dedicated to video.
I talked with Renann Isaacs from Renann Isaacs Contemporary Art in Guelph. She was especially pleased with a young artist, Brennan Stalford. As a 19 year old he went to the gallery and offered to show them his portfolio. They were busy at that moment but he returned and was offered an exhibition. The exhibit sold out. He was in his second year at OCAD U when he was offered a $100,000 scholarship to the Chicago Art School complete with a studio. The AGO bought a piece at the fair as well so everyone was happy. There regular established artists hadn’t sold as well.
Renann Isaacs from Renann Isaacs Contemporary in Guelph with Brennan Stalford’s painting
David Liss, Artistic Director and curator of MOCCA was enjoying the fair. The Copeland prints hadn’t sold as fast as hoped for but there was still 2 days left. Liss was thinking about all the work ahead with the new home of MOCCA. They will have 3 floors and 30,000 sq.ft compared to the former MOCCA space that had 11,000 sq.ft. A new CEO announced for MOCCA will help with all the work ahead of them.
David Liss, Artistic Director and curator of MOCCA
At Read Head Gallery artist member Mathew Borrett was with his print on paper “Ancient Mars”. The large print was impressive and Borrett was happy to be part of the fair. Executive Director of Open Studio, Jennifer Bhogal was pleased with the activity of the fair and pointed out artist Spring Halbut’s work “Don’t Give Me Any of Your Lip” a lithograph .
Read Head Gallery artist member, Mathew Borrett, with Ancient Mars
Executive Director of Open Studio, Jennifer Bhogal with Spring Halbut’s work Don’t Give Me Any of Your Lip
Katharine Mulherin had a rare moment of sitting and taking a brief break from the fair’s constant activity. She told me she is taking a brief hiatus from her New York Gallery and sublet the space for 8 months to another gallery. She is keeping a more active role at her Toronto gallery. She was pleased with her booth’s spot in the fair.
Katharine Mulherin, Director of Mulherin Gallery
One of the installment that caught my eye was “The Cleansing” by Tammy Salzl at dc3 Art Projects. It comments on the suburbs.
The Cleansing by Tammy Salzl at dc3 Art Projects
The TIAF (originally the Toronto International Art Fair, now Art Toronto) is 16 years old, has a good face-lift this year with its new design and continues to offer Toronto a great selection of work to see and to purchase. I had hoped to make it to the Feature: Contemporary Art Fair as well but ran out of time. Perhaps next year they might happen on different weekends so people wouldn’t have to rush to see it all. As I left and crossed the street I came across the Tom Gould’s statue seated on a bench next to the CBC offices and wondered what he might of made of the TIAF/Art Toronto. I think he would have been pleased.
Tom Gould’s statue
Text and photo: Phil Anderson