At Face Value / Station Independent Projects

This is my second time attending an art show by Station Independent Projects and both times I was blown away by the variety, passion, and vision of the artists. Face Value is a show that focuses on people. It brings the phrase “not everything is as it seems” to life by exploring deeper facial expressions and further challenging the traditional meaning of portraiture. The exhibition evokes raw emotions and examines perspectives based on something deeper that what we can see on the surface.

Installation view of At Face Value

Claudine Anrather has a strong sense of justice for those wronged in life. The women depicted in these images are transwomen who were murdered. They are surrounded by calla lilies which represent the death, rebirth, and also a touch of sexuality. Iris Santos, age 22, Marquiisha Lawrence, age 28, Brooklyn Deshuna age 20, and Nina Pop, age 28—all lost their lives tragically. Anrather’s pieces serve not only to protest against violence but to represent these women’s life by depicting their beauty and showing the cruelty of homophobia, racism, and transphobia that ended their lives prematurely. The portraits are also a beautiful tribute to these women. These pieces speak of a place where raw fear is everyday reality. Each of these women had hope in their eyes for a brighter future but unfortunately, they never had a chance to fulfill it. The message of these paintings is touching and terrorizing at the same time.

Claudine Anrather, Marquiisha Lawrence, age 28, (top left) Iris Santos, age 22, (bottom left) and Brooklyn Deshuna age 20 (right), each 2021, oil on board, 11 x 16 inches

D. Dominick Lombardi‘s Triptych is a delicate semi-abstract piece depicting time in order to show the aging process up to 96 years. He has a talent for ink-based work that is visually progressing into a chaotic composition. Rather than showing who he is at the moment, Lombardi is pushing past the surface and even trying to predict the future, showing his ability to grow and how he has changed over time. It is an inspiring and thought-provoking artwork that encourages you meditate about our journey as people.

D. Dominick Lombardi, Triptych (L-R) D-25-21 (Self-Portrait at 17), 2021, D-20-21 (Self-Portrait at 35) and D-21-21 (Self-Portrait at 96) each 2021, permanent ink on acid free paper, 17 x 14 inches

Andrew Owen AO1 has a talent for creating Photo-cubic Tableaux. These works are composed of many photographic prints, each individually shot and printed at life-size scale. They were taken when Owen worked with Fashion Art Toronto. The artist presents compositions with a profusion of angles, views, locations, diversity of ethnicities, sexualities, personas, genders, and ranges of moods. He captures moments in the lives of various individuals at different times and places and then creates a new reality for them. His unique works are beautiful and speak about diversity, giving the viewer something more than just a portrait. The real message is to love people no matter who they are or how they look. It is a powerful narrative that inspires people to keep an open mind and challenges them to push past society’s stereotypes and accept everyone for who they are.

Andrew Owen AO1, United Diversity V (Feat.Winnie Harlow), 2013, 16 x 20 inches

Marcy Brafman uses bright colours and flashy techniques to create graffiti-like images depicting mysterious personas. Her paintings consist of characters from American pop culture such as Medusa. With vibrant colours and rapid/chaotic brushstrokes, she evokes emotions not typically associated with the characters at hand. Brafman respects the original characters but doesn’t hesitate to make them her own. Her work is chaotic, but more than just lines and patches on a canvas. It captures elegance and beauty.

Marcy Brafman, Medusa after Caravaggio, oil enamel & ink on canvas, (top left), Ugly Duckling Pieta, 2018, oil enamel and spray paint on canvas (top right) and Bazooka Joe Signet Ring, Xylene and oil paint on canvas (bottom), each 24 x 24 inches

It is impossible to cover all the amazing artworks in this exhibition. I still want to mention a few other artists. Dana Nehdaran and Arlene Rush have similar approaches in their depiction of themselves from different perspectives. Noah Becker, Shantel Miller and Amy Hill explore portraiture as well, but stick to a much more traditional style.

Noah Becker, Three Figures, 2023, oil on canvas, 24 x 18 inches (left) and Amy Hill, Woman in Orange Jean Jacket, 2016, oil on wood, 9 x 12 inches (right)

Ruben Natal-San Miguel’s photographs display his subjects in a documentary-style setting. Sam Jackson references the UK punk and fetish scenes by creating traditional portraits, adorned with gestural symbols.

Ruben Natal-San Miguel, Beauty Make Up Check (Jennifer) Crotona Park, The Bronx, NYC, 2019, Framed dye sublimation print on aluminum, 12 x 12 inches

Chambliss Giobbi and Pierre St-Jacques select outside sources to create unique types of portraiture. Each piece in this show represents a new form of inspiration as they all have unique stories, worth looking at and thinking about.

Installation view of At Face Value

Station Independent Projects is a space for artist advocacy, specializing in discovering and showcasing new and up-and-coming artists. They give these artists a safe space to expand and grow. Leah Oates and Robert Curcio are doing something amazing for the artists involved. If you love artwork with deeper meanings and diversity be sure to attend this show.

Cassandra Johnson

Images are courtesy of Station Independent Projects

*Exhibition information: At Face Value / group exhibition, July 5 – 27, 2024, Station Independent Projects, 220 Geary Avenue, #2B, Toronto. Gallery hours: Thurs – Sun 1 – 6 pm.