Ghostmoth by Claire Correia

Want to add some art viewing to your solstice? Check out our Vitrine Gallery featuring Ghostmoth by Claire Correia (@claire.correia)!

Correia writes, "Although giant cecropia moths still thrive in the woods of Ontario, and I look for them all the time, I’ve only ever seen one. In this artwork, a life-sized silver wire-formed cecropia moth resting on a radiant green leaf mandala forms a symbol of these reclusive and seldom-seen forest creatures.

Presenting the moth as a ghostly form both implies its elusive nature, and also suggests its vulnerability, as the important wild places where these creatures live are threatened by both climate change and blind commercial development.

I’m concerned about longevity in all of my pieces, hoping that the artwork will exist for longer than my lifespan. Many hours are spent on invisible but really important research and process experimentation, on behalf of that poor future conservator who may have to deal with the things I’ve put into the world! Making that piece was like making a magic spell; it felt as though the work was opening doors."

Check it out till January 30th!

Sarah Letovsky's 'I Like For You to be Still' →

Project Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of new paintings by Sarah Letovsky of Akin Dupont.

In this series of work, Letovsky's reverence for the portrait evolves to encompass more of the figure and spatial context; in doing so, evoking a sense of intimacy, hinting at spaces of belonging and familiarity such as bedrooms and living rooms. The paintings are reminiscent of selfies; a camera is never directly featured but implied, and raises questions about who the image is for, and by. The work invites the viewer to consider the self-photograph as a contradiction and an equilibrium in which the private becomes public, a work of both intimacy and exhibitionism.

The title of the show is a reference to Pablo Neruda's poem of the same name, in which Neruda describes the quintessential female muse – still and silent, an object of desire set apart to gaze upon:

I like for you to be still: it is as though you were absent,
and you hear me from far away and my voice does not
touch you.
It seems as though your eyes had flown away
and it seems that a kiss had sealed your mouth.

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Opening Reception: Sept 6th, 6:00-9:00pm
Exhibition Dates: Sept 6-Sept 30, 2018
Location: Project Gallery, 1210 Dundas Street East

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Letovsky's subjects challenge this narrative; they are both confrontational and inviting, a director in their own representation. Their image is a performance, and we are invited to view the subject and their body through a negotiation of the self. It also invites us to consider the particularly gendered discussion of self-documentation. As Anne Burns discusses in Self(ie)-Discipline, "the gendering of selfies and the prevalent assumption that they act as proof of narcissism limit how women’s personal photography is socially valued... selfishness is a particularly barbed insult when directed at women, as it references the subject’s transgression of the norm of feminine self-sacrifice". 

Letovsky also takes inspiration from her love of prose and poetry, in particular, stories of the interior lives of women and girls, and their private narratives of love, joy, anger, grief, self-pity, and insecurity operating beneath the surface. In these paintings, Letovsky’s subjects are caught in an ambiguous and mundane moment; they seem observant, sexual, uncertain, and sometimes indifferent or bored - belying a rich interior complexity.

Sarah Letovsky lives and works in Toronto, Canada. She graduated from the University of King's College in Halifax in 2009 where she studied literature and film. She completed her BFA at OCAD University in 2014 in Drawing and Painting and was the recipient of the Mrs. W.O. Forsyth Award for Excellence in Painting. Her first solo exhibition with Project Gallery, Girls Girls Girls, opened in 2016. Most recently Letovsky exhibited in the group show "Today's Paper" at Angell Gallery in Toronto.

Project is a commercial art gallery in Toronto that exhibits a critical selection of artists, whose work reflects new and innovative developments in contemporary art. It is located at 1210 Dundas Street East, in the heart of Leslieville with accompanying studios overlooking the Don Valley in Riverside.

Akin Vitrine Gallery + Kate Drwecka →

We are very excited to present new work by Akin St. Clair member, Kate Drwecka in our Vitrine Galleries for the months of May and June! 

Her installation is based on her most recent project, Becoming: a 31 page printed horror comic, the first in a series of mini comics exploring horror’s ability to process real trauma through representation. The original pages measure roughly 16.75" x 21.25", and the final product is a mini-comic that is 5.5" x 8.5". This installation features some of the original pages, and a recreation of the iconic mirror and monster from the comic. 

Becoming is a story of repression, denial of self, and how that presents itself in our lives. Laila is a woman who lives alone with her past, haunted by a ghastly figure living in her mirror. The reflection calls to Laila's unacknowledged history, begging her to confront her denied history. As Laila continues to refuse her past, the figure in the mirror grows stronger, to eventually manifest outside the mirror. 

Kate Drwecka is a freelance cartoonist/illustrator working and living in Toronto. She grew up in the cold climates of Canada, and studied at the School of Visual Arts in NY. As a small child, Kate wanted to grow up and become Freddie Mercury. She still does.

Currently Kate is working on a series about an all-girl supernatural detective agency, and a series of horror comics. Kate is an original member of the Akin Comic Club and has recently helped organize the Akin Comic Day event. A one-day celebration of comic books, comic making and comic artists! 

Becoming will be on view for the month of May in our Dupont Akin Vitrine Gallery, located in the Clock Factory Building at 1485 Dupont Street (entrance on Campbell Avenue). Find Akin Studio 215 on the second floor and follow the sign into the hallway around the corner. The building is open from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday.

The exhibition will then travel to the Akin St. Clair Vitrine Gallery and be on view for the month of June at 1747 St. Clair Avenue West. Gallery is street level and can be viewed at any time.

Luvsuone of Akin St Clair and Javid Jah present "OPENING" at Hashtag Gallery

To open is to create opportunity - to manifest new pathways for growth and transformation.

Akin St Clair artist Luvsumone has collaborated with street artist Javid Jah on an exhibition of new artwork using modified discarded steel corrugate from shipping containers as the canvas to create a conversation about spiritual openness. The images depicted on these discarded pieces play with our perceptions of individual sacred space - meditative spatial manifestations originating from various spiritual traditions.

OPENING launches tomorrow night with a reception starting at 6pm at Hashtag Gallery and runs until February 18, 2018. 

You can follow the artists Instagram for sneak peek videos, and progress shots of their work for the show:  Luvsumone @luvsumone  /  Javid @javid_jah

Art Documentation now available at Akin!

Akin Lansdowne is happy to offer documentation services for creative people needing high resolution and clear images of their artwork.

Jessica Thalmann has expertise in documenting 2D (paintings, works on paper) and 3D artwork (sculpture, glass, ceramics, jewelry etc)!

Rate:
Akin Member Rate: $25 per hour plus expenses*
General Public Rate: $30 per hour plus expenses*
*rental of any specialized gear or lighting equipment

Depending on the amount/size of work to be documented, a documentation session will take 1-4 hours to shoot and an additional 1-2 hours of editing.

Final Output
Online: low resolution, 72dpi, JPEG (suitable for web presentation, slide shows, competition submissions entries)Print: high resolution, 300 dpi, TIFF (suitable for capturing works with critical detail and printing)