Lyudmila Bezpala-Brown in front of new work by Irma Gutteriez
November 21, 2015 / 1 – 4 p.m.
21 Yorkville Avenue, Toronto
On Saturday, November 21st, artists, collectors and supporters of Bezpala Brown gathered to celebrate the opening of the internationally-focused gallery’s new Yorkville location. The space, which launches with an exhibition of new works by members of the gallery’s roster of permanent artists, may be one of the most relaxing spaces on the Toronto art scene. And not necessarily because of the art it showcases or the soothing vista it provides through its street-facing glass curtain wall. The gallery, which moved out of its Front Street location due to structural and environmental issues, now shares its space with a high-end sensory deprivation spa.
Guests in the north gallery
Though certainly out of the ordinary, the match may indeed make sense for the gallery’s mandate. In one sense, the combination of sensory deprivation and sensory stimulation—through the art, of course—is in some ways natural. Yet, as Director Lyudmila Bezpala-Brown described at the event, the space also matches the gallery’s forward-looking vision, which will focus on art that relates in some way to the notion of wellness, be it mental, physical or ecological. Its 2016 Contact Photography Festival exhibition, for example, will consist of photographs that document endangered northern landscapes.
Irma Gutteriez, After the Wind, oil on canvas, 120 x 120 cm
Christopher Ross, Dirty Lawn Bird, watercolour and spray paint on canvas, 3.5 x 5 ft
In the meantime, Bezpala-Brown achieves her objectives by bringing Canadian and International artists into dialogue and providing a safe space for emerging artists to show their work. Promising work by young artists, including Irma Gutteriez, Alice Zilberberg, and Christopher Ross, provide evidence that this approach may be working. Meanwhile, the gallery’s welcoming and holistic philosophy permeated the atmosphere of its launch. Attendees mingled effortlessly, enjoyed a delicious spread of wine and hors-d’oeuvres, and chatted with artists eager to discuss the intricacies of their work. It was a delightful event and Bezpala-Brown is a gracious and accommodating host. May the launch be a sign of good things to come for her and for the new gallery space.
Alice Zillberberg, Figure of Speech, inkjet on smooth pearl, 2015
Guests in the south gallery
Text and photo: Catherine MacArthur Falls
*Exhibition information: New, November 21 – December 9, 2015, 21 Yorkville Avenue, Toronto. Gallery hours: Tue – Fri, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.