Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes
Photo: Katherine Porter
Ross Bell, Strip Cube, 2009-11. Georgia Scherman Projects. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes
The 12th Toronto International Art Fair got off to a great start last evening (Thursday, Oct. 27) with the fundraiser gala for the AGO. The Art Gallery of Ontario in turn used the monies raised to add several pieces to its collection. All the galleries I talked to seemed to be thrilled at the success already of the Fair. Gallery owner Carrie Secrist of the Carrie Secrist Gallery of Chicago said it was their first time at the fair and they had already sold over thirty small works . This was her first Toronto Fair and she has done many other art fairs and was pleased with the Toronto response to her artists.
Angelo Musco at Carrie Secrist Gallery, Chicago. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes
One of the unique offerings this year is the addition of the Next booths. These are for smaller up and coming galleries with works priced lower and artists who had not established themselves. Most of these young galleries were from Quebec and Toronto and paid roughly $6000 to get their booth. Artist Charlie Jones from L.A. has some colourful works in the exhibition. The printing making gallery, Open Studio was at the fair as was The Red Head Gallery a Toronto Co-op gallery. MOCCA had sold out their Ed Burtynsky Print Edition (sold all 25 prints) Dryland Farming #13 as a benefit for MOCCA Programming. Canadian Art Magazine’s Editor, Richard Rhodes had curated three special exhibitions for the Fair. The works will be changed in the space over a period of a day or two.
Ed Burtynsky, Dryland Farming #13 Print Edition (sold all 25 prints)
Another addition this year is a video screening room with 15 Canadian and international video titles being screened continuously in a loop. With the expansion of the actual space on the floor of the Convention centre (they have now section C as well as A & B) this allowed the Fair to display sculpture & installation in their OPEN SPACE section. Most of the works are from Toronto galleries but this is a great addition as well to the Fair. The Art Game by Kent Monkman is part installation part performance with a little tongue in cheek look at the art world. It was definitely worth waiting to catch this performance. There is so much to see you need more than a few hours to take it all in.
Kent Monkman, The Art Game. Photo: Katherine Porter
Director of the Fair, Linel Rebenchuk had reason to be happy with the opening success of the Fair. Wear some comfortable shoes and prepare to be amazed.
Director of the Fair, Linel Rebenchuk. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes
Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes
Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes
Derek Liddington, ( Part of Open Space ) Daniel Faria Gallery, Toronto. Photo:Phil Anderson
Solo Artist Project: Larry Kagan at Lonsdale Gallery, Toronto. Photo:Phil Anderson
Andrew Smith, Galerie Dominique Bouffard, Montreal. Photo:Phil Anderson
Andy Warhol, BMW M1, 1979. BMW Art Car. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes
Chuck Close, Roy, 2009; Alex, 1992. Galerie De Bellefeuille, Westmount. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes
Evan Penny, Old Self, Variation #2, 2011. TrépanierBaer Gallery, Calgary. Photo: Katherine Porter
Julie Blackmon at Catherine Edelman Gallery, Chicago
Left: John Massey, Casa 1, Malaparte, 2010/11. Georgia Scherman Projects, Toronto. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes
Markus Linnenbrink, EVERYWHEREALLTHETIMEEVERYTHING, 2009. ftc. Berlin.Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes
Kathy Kissik, Chaos in London, 2008. The Elaine Fleck Gallery, Toronto. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes
Dean Project, New York. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes
Solo Artist Project: Attila Richard Lukacs, Installation. Windsor Gallery, Vancouver. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes
418 Contemporary Art Gallery, Bucharest, Romania.Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes
Jonathan Cooper, London UK. Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes
Mike Weiss Gallery, Kim Dorland,Cabin, 2009-2011, New York. Photo: Katherine Porter
The Collage workshop. Photo: Katherine Porter
Art Gallery of York University. Photo: Katherine Porter
Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes
Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes
Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes
Photo: Mauricio Contreras-Paredes
Text: Phil Anderson