Quiet Vignettes, Anahita Azrahimi Presented with DesginTO

“I feel like I am trying to gently nudge these fragments to come together - a reflection of my inner world at the moment.”

— Anahita Azrahimi on 'Quiet Vignettes'

quiet vignettes
Jan 17 – Jan 26 2020

A collaboration between a collage artist and a floral designer, ‘quiet vignettes’ combines both practices to create a subtle — almost evanescent — experience of a balance and poised marriage of two art forms. Both artists have responded to the other in a mirrored reaction to their work. The first, a series of understated folds and creases that evoke a sense of quiet energy. The second, a presentation of evocative foliage. Though different, the pieces mix and meld into a balanced and graceful dance. The result is an intimate spatial installation. One that nudges you to slow down and pay attention — and to reflect the unassuming authority of a unique and unexpected bond.

Anahita Azrahimi, an Akin Lansdowne alum, is a collage artist and cultural producer. In her role as the Executive & Creative Director of Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, Canada’s largest contemporary outdoor art fair since 1961, Azrahimi thrives in making joy of art and direct engagement with artists accessible to all public. Azrahimi is equally passionate about creating her own moments of art.

“The works that I have created for this show are subtle collages of folds and creases that evoke a quiet movement and energy. There is a simplicity and understated quality in these works that I find deeply gratifying and calming. Fine hand-sewn stitches have replaced my previous drawings. I feel like I am trying to gently nudge these fragments to come together - a reflection of my inner world at the moment.

I have invited Lauren Wilson of Timberlost Designs to mirror the works with evocative and poetic foliage vignettes. Lauren’s creations are soulful and deep. We will create a subtle — almost evanescent — experience of a balanced and poised marriage of our practices. With this intimate spatial installation, the vision is to create a moment that nudges you to slow down and pay attention — and to reflect the unassuming authority of a unique and unexpected bond.” - Anahita Azrahimi

Call for Submissions - Feminist Art Festival

Feminist Art Festival

Date: March 2020

Location: OCAD University, Toronto, Canada

Deadline: September 1, 2019

Feminist Art Collective (FAC) is a Toronto-based organization that brings together artists, academics, and activists to consider feminist issues through art and dialogue. We are currently accepting submissions for our March 2020 exhibition and conference.

If you are an emerging, established, and/or community artist that addresses intersectional social justice feminist themes in your work, we want to hear from you!

We encourage submissions from First Nations, Inuit, and Métis artists to further the discussion around recommendations in the recently released Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls report in Canada.

We are committed to creating an event that is diverse and reflective of all our communities and we are actively encouraging artists who experience multiple forms of oppression to submit. We strongly encourage Artists with Disabilities, Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, Two Spirit Folks, Queer, Trans and Non-Binary/Gender Nonconforming people to apply.

FAC Vision

Feminist Art Collective (FAC) aims to showcase like-minded, multi-disciplinary art including visual art, film, theatre arts, music, dance, design, spoken word and literature. We will create a space that is celebratory, positive, intellectually engaging and provocative. We are committed to this space being trans-inclusive, anti-racist, and intersectional. Furthermore, by providing an opportunity for feminist artists to meet and share their work, we believe we can provide opportunities for networking and future artistic collaboration that can inspire social change and empowerment. We have the vision that the ripple effect from this type of artistic sharing and learning can provoke positive transformations in both our communities and our minds.

Call for Submissions: Exhibit in the Toronto Design Offsite Festival →

The Toronto Design Offsite Festival has just announced their annual call for submissions for the 2019 edition of the festival. There are a number of ways to get involved. Present an independent project, submit to one of the Festival’s curated exhibitions or half-day symposium, or be a Host Venue. 

Join the Festival to become a part of an exciting network of creative people, exhibitions, events, and a captive audience of designers and design-lovers. Last year we had 100+ events and exhibitions across the city, 140K+ visitors, 95+ million press impressions, and 500+ million total brand impressions. From design talks to experimental installations to prototypes to opening parties and curated exhibitions, the Festival featured the work of over 800 artists and designers.


Surface Tension

Surface Tension is a provocation to explore the forces at work on water, both real and conceptual.

Exploring the theme of water from material, aesthetic, cultural, political, poetic, and ecological perspectives, Surface Tension seeks to engage a range of topics integral to thinking about water in its broadest senses. 

Deadline: all submissions are due Friday, September 21, 2018 by 11:59pm EST.

Click here to learn more and submit your work.


Work/Life

Work/Life is an annual exhibition organized by the Toronto Design Offsite Festival in partnership with Umbra. A dozen new prototypes by Canadian designers are shown each year at the Umbra Store during the Festival.

Work/Life invites Canadian designers to design a product for innovative houseware and workware that consider opportunities for multiple functions, storage, space efficiency, personalization, dual utility, entertaining, and other hybrid and micro-living concerns.

Deadline: all submissions are due Friday, September 21, 2018 by 11:59pm EST.

Click here to learn more and submit your work.


Design Unseen

Design is commonly defined as a methodical approach to the solution of a problem—yet there is no universal system for achieving a design solution. This exhibition aims to expose unseen creative processes, while asserting the value of design, which are often discounted in a culture that gives precedence to the end result. It asks whether process is as critical (if not more so) than a design in its final form.

Deadline: all submissions are due Friday, September 21, 2018 by 11:59pm EST.

Click here to learn more and submit your work.


TO DO Talks Symposium: Unlocking the Future of Work

What about humans in the future of work?

TO DO Talks Symposium seeks designers and thinkers to give presentations that inspire. Talks may be about current research or case studies, new products or technologies, spaces or experiences, speculative design or strategies, or new processes or policies. We welcome diverse perspectives and responses to the theme of the future of work with a specific emphasis on values, ethics, education, access, and inclusion.

Deadline: all submissions are due Friday, September 21, 2018 by 11:59pm EST.

Click here to learn more and submit your talk proposal.


2019 Exhibitor Registration

Independently-produced events, exhibitions, and window installations are integral to the Festival’s structure. We welcome all who want to present, discuss, demonstrate, or exhibit design in any field and/or related disciplines. 

Early Bird Registration Deadline: Friday, August 31, 2018 by 11:59pm EST.

Click here to learn more and register as an exhibitor.

Call for Host Venues

If you have a venue you’d like to have activated with a window installation, event, or exhibition, we want to hear from you! Potential venues include spaces in the City of Toronto such as shops, galleries, studios, cafés, schools, and cinemas.

Deadline: all submissions are due Friday, June 22, 2018 by 11:59pm EST.

The Toronto Design Offsite Festival (TO DO) brings people together to celebrate contemporary design across the city January 18-27, 2019.

New Works by Akin Member, Kyle Yip, at NUIT ROSE Festival →

NUIT ROSE is back for its fifth annual festival of queer art and performance this week. Taking the theme Unbound, this year’s festival features art that crosses borders, both real and imagined. The 2018 festival takes place over five nights in June, with programming across Toronto neighbourhoods, including West Queen West, University & College, and the Church-Wellesley Village.

This year's festival features the work of Akin Ossington member, Kyle Yip, among many other creatives. Kyle Yip also known as Discrete, is a Toronto based multimedia artist, DJ, producer and label owner of Savvy Records. He is known not only for his Juno Award Nominated full-length album, but also his remixes for international artists such as Brabe, Society of Silence and many more.

Find his work this week at the following NUIT ROSE events:

NUIT ROSE - Opening Night & Group Exhibition

Wednesday, June 13th, 7:00 – 10:00 pm

NUIT ROSE x Tapette Pop-up Art Party

Thursday, June 14th, 10:00 pm - 2:00 am

Super Wonder Gallery

Friday, June 15th, 1:00 pm - 2:00 am