This Saturday a local newspaper featured an article of how the Toronto arts and cultural scene is experiencing a crisis and how Torontonians need to appreciate the artists in their city. It referred to the receivership of Artscape, the loss of sponsorship from the Contact Photography Festival and TIFF, as well troubles with artist run centre Open Studio and the Hot Docs Festival. Post pandemic has not been easy for art organizations.
This year’s Artist Project seemed to have no shortage of art sales, as I learned from talking to about 40 of the 250 some independent artists attending. Indeed, the crowds were thick with visitors who were there to purchase.
Installation view of the Artist Project with visitors
Artist, Omar Saenz was experiencing his second year at the Project and was happy with the response from visitors to his work. The first year was a little rushed as he found out he was accepted and had to travel from Mexico to put things together.
Omar Saenz in front of his paintings
Mallory Tolcher from Guelph had an eye-popping installation with basketball hoops with crocheted nets. Looked like it would have had an interesting statement installing in a modern household.
Installation by Mallory Tolcher
Sanghoon Kang was very excited to participate for the first year and had several sales as well as interest in his other works. He studied architecture in Korea and ran a Gallery in Paris. It was easy to see the influences of architecture in his style and what would draw a collector to his work.
Sanghoon Kang in his booth
With Kate Maura we discussed the difference between art buyers in the USA and Toronto. She had sold several works here and was pleased. She also participates in art fairs in Miami and New York. Katherine Curci’s charcoal drawings looked almost like photographs, very well crafted and impressive. In fact, many of the artists who had been in previous Artist Projects thought that the overall quality of work was improved from other years and sales and buyer enthusiasm was higher as well.
Kate Maura in front of her works
Katherine Curci with her drawings
There were a number of installations spread throughout the Project which added to the experience, making it more than just a commercial fair. Zoey Zoric’s sculptural installation, Terms of Service Agreement, is a testament to our preoccupation with consumerism with its tower of discarded iPhones – a technical waste land of sorts. Lindsay-Ann Chilcott’s installation, Artificial Appetite, using repurposed landfill items to create mouth watering cakes and pastries, also addresses our ‘consumer appetite’.
Lindsay-Ann Chilcott’s installation, Artificial Appetite
OCADU graduate, Ethan Platt had just sold several large works and was beaming. It was his first year at the Project. I talked to Cruz, an artist who in her work uses printing on fabric. She had been a portrait photographer and was somewhat overwhelmed with all the attention she got at the Project – in a good way of course.
Ethan Platt with his work
Cruz in her booth
I talked with Luc Tessier from Quebec whose colourful works received more attention this year. He had participated with the Project in previous years and now his style was changing into more 3-dimensional. He was selling plenty of artwork.
Luc Tessier and his work
Porcelain artist Tanya Besedina was happy with the Gala evening and the Saturday crowds. Daniel St. Amant had sold two large works, paintings of moose. He said he also enjoyed the opportunity to meet other artists at the Project. Carrie Perreault was pleased with her installation and the response it gathered.
Tanya Besedina in front of her work
Daniel St. Amant in his booth
Carrie Perreault with her installation
Sandy Middleton’s photo encaustic paper sculpture was surrounded by interested visitors. Sandra Tarantino was exhibiting with her partner Ross Bonfanti, both coming from the AWOL Gallery Collective and both veterans of many fairs. She had plenty of red dots as did painter Audrey Smith. I chatted with photographer artist Dzesika Devic who was satisfied with this years Project.
Sandy Middleton with her works
Audrey Smith with her portraits
Sandra Tarantino surrounded by her sculptures
Dzesika Devic in her booth
I stopped by Tony Taylor and his fun art booth of animal characters. I enjoy his humor.
Tony Taylor in his booth
There were only a few artists who were not happy with the placement of their booth or complained about communication breakdowns with organizers. No doubt not an easy task keeping 250 artists happy.
One of my last stops was by photo-based artist Janne Reuss who had also sold several works and was thrilled with the enthusiasm of the crowds. She explained she had recently lost her father, a Mexican artist and she though he would be proud of her now, and indeed I think he would be.
Janne Reuss in front of her photographs
The Artist Project was a resounding success this year acclaimed by participants and visitors alike. The Toronto public seem to be embracing and supporting the arts community just when it needs it the most. Kudos to organizers for another year.
Text and photo: Phil Anderson
*Artist Project, April 11 – 14, 2024, Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place, 195 Princes’ Blvd, Toronto. Hours: April 11, 12 & 13, 12 – 8 pm, April 14, 12 – 6 pm.