Akin Show & Tell #54 / Akin Sunrise Studio Launch!

*free for all and open to the public*

On the last Wednesday of every month Akin host’s a relaxed and fun ‘Show and Tell for Artists’ at one of the Akin Collective studios. This is a time for Akin members and other Toronto artists to show completed works or works in progress and get friendly feedback and answers from their peers in a casual studio setting.

This special edition of the Akin Show & Tell will be the first event at our new location at 100 Sunrise Avenue! Join us to celebrate the launch of our new studios and event space!

Feel free to bring art to share, bring a friend or two, bring snacks or drinks or just bring yourself! Come for the conversation or just to meet people and hang out.

This month we are meeting at Akin Sunrise - 100 Sunrise Ave - Studio 106A
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to get in touch! See you there!

www.akinprojects.com
www.akincollective.com

Forge Professional Workshop Series Free Legal Advice for Artists

As a professional artist, dealing with legal issues can be confusing. When is a lawyer necessary? How do protect my images? Is this contract binding? Is this agreement fair?

In this workshop participants will discuss the various legal concerns or issues artists and creatives should be informed about - ranging from copyrights, consignments, trademarks, patents, agreements and more.

After providing advice on each of these topics, Matthew Wiens and the Pro Bono Ontario team will offer specific advice to participants about any questions or concerns they may have and help you get find free legal help.

Please register to attend at www.universe.com/legaladvice
$10 Suggested Donation

Have something you'd like to make sure is discussed in the presentation? Email michael@akincollective.com and let us know!

www.akinprojects.org
www.probonoontario.org

Akin Vitrine Gallery March installation - 'Light Bath' by Adria Mirabelli of Akin Dupont

New work from Akin Dupont member, Adria Mirabelli launches on March 1 in the Akin Vitrine Gallery. Her installation seeks to be a space of visual escape and an affirmation of the importance of self-care.

'Light Bath'
Hand cut vinyl, hardware, LED lights
dimensions variable

This exhibition runs March 1-31 at the Akin Vitrine Gallery.

On view 24/7, time is an entity of interest inside a vitrine space. The vitrine offers a brief escape into another world- one whose welcome extends as long as the viewer chooses to stand in front of it. Winter can feel long and relentless and it is during these months that we often consider time with a heightened awareness. The days are shorter, and we desperately try to hold onto the light that leaves us. Cut from white vinyl, sprawling floral drawings fill the vitrine space with motifs of St. Johns wort, lavender flowers, wild roses, peonies and hemp leaves which are often regarded for their healing properties in combatting anxiety, depression and restlessness. The drawings are projected with soft beams of coloured light, which are controlled on site through Adria’s iPhone, changing in colour throughout the month.

About the Artist:
Adria Mirabelli graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design in 2015 with a major in Drawing and Painting and minor in Fibre. Having also studied at Parsons Paris, her work is influenced by craft and design processes. Her practice is driven by an experimental approach to mark-making whereby she integrates textile manipulation processes with drawing to create large scale works on silk, felt, vinyl and paper. Adria has created site specific installations at Gallery 1313, Xpace Cultural Centre, Artscape Youngplace, the Artist Project 2017 and was a resident at The Roundtable Residency in 2015. She lives and works in Toronto.

The Akin Vitrine Gallery is located at 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 Friday, or to arrange a viewing outside of those hours please contact the artist: adria.mirabelli@gmail.com

www.adriamirabelli.com
Instagram: @adriamirabelli
#AkinVitrine

Far Away, So Close / Azadeh Elmizadeh solo exhibition at 26 Art Space

A collection of new paintings by Azadeh Elmizadeh of Akin Lansodwne will be exhibited every Saturday in March at 26, a domestic viewing space for contemporary art.  You are invited to join artists Nicole Collins and Michael Davidson in their home-turned-gallery every Saturday in March to see the paintings and to share some tea and casual conversation.

Far Away, So Close / 2 - 6pm / March 4, 11, 18, & 25 / 26 Mackenzie Crescent, Toronto

About Far Away, So Close
"The passage of time amplified by geographical distance affects one’s response to a moment in time. On occasions, these instances can be discerned better from afar. Working from autobiographical references as a point of departure, I’m interested in the gap a painter deals with, using photographic sources; the gap in representation, between what is seen and what is felt.

While revisiting a moment might bring closer the actual event, it might also lead to a more distant and disconnected response, allowing me to project my own subjectivity. Far away, So close, represents my back and forth approach; between borrowing from the past and making in the present during the past two years. ” - Azadeh Elmizadeh

About the Artist:
Azadeh Elmizadeh is a Toronto-based Iranian-Canadian visual artist. She recently graduated from OCAD University with a BFA in Drawing & Painting. This is her first solo exhibition.

About 26:
26 is a domestic viewing space for contemporary art in the Beaconsfield neighborhood of Toronto, Canada. A curatorial collaboration between artists Nicole Collins and Michael Davidson, 26 features an open program of diverse local and international artists and seeks to engage the viewer in a critical and relaxed experience with art.

One-Of-A-Kind Show Toronto

Don't miss the amazing work by Akin Collective members in the One-Of-A-Kind show this spring!

The One-Of-A-Kind Show runs from March 29th to April 2nd.

Akin Dufferin will be well represented by Allie Kroza (Your Pal Al) and Janet Hinkle (Hinkleville Handemade) So if you are going to be at the show please check out their stuff.

Akin Projects March Events - So Much to See and Do!

Akin Projects has an amazing programming line-up for March! Starting with the Akin Gallery Crawl on March 4, and finishing up with the official launch of our newest studios at the Akin Show & Tell on March 29 at the Akin Show & Tell.

For more information or to RSVP/Register click the links below:
Akin Gallery Crawl
'Books We Love' Skillshare & Akin Library Launch
Forge Professional Workshop Series: Free Legal Advice for Artists
Akin Creative: Monotype Printmaking Workshop
Akin Show & Tell
Akin Vitrine Gallery

Akin Creative: Monotype Printmaking Workshop with Gabriel Deerman

$25/person - materials included - Suitable for all experience levels.
Register to attend at www.universe.com/monotype

Monotype printing is a painterly and direct process of applying ink or paint to a plate (in this case plexi glass) and transferring that image to paper using an etching press or pin press - creating one of a kind prints.

In this workshop artist Gabriel Deerman will introduce you to monotype printing with watercolour and acrylic paints. Each participant will have time to produce and print two plates, resulting in finished original works on paper.

The simplicity of the process, forgiving nature of the materials and immediate results make this technique very popular among painters and those who find printmaking to be too process intensive and finicky. While monotype is simple and direct the visual look of the prints and broad possibilities for experimental applications are limitless.

Provided materials:
Paper, acrylic printing ink, watercolour paint, gum arabic, use of 8"x10" plexiglass plates and etching press.

High quality Arches printmaking paper will be available for a small fee of $2 per 9"x11" sheet (store cost). Each participant will have time to print at least 2 plates. Participants are encouraged to bring watercolour paints and brushes, as well as printed/drawn images (8"x10") to use as source material (for tracing) if they wish.

About the Instructor:
Gabriel Deerman (1979, Bolinas, California, USA) has a practice that is largely grounded in painting, drawing and printmaking but recent forays into sculpture, kinetic devices and installation are leading steadily away from disciplinary categorization. Deerman completed an MFA at Transart Institute (New York / Berlin), a BFA from the Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver, British Columbia, is a practicing and certified art instructor and has exhibited internationally. Gabriel was the owner/director of independent arts venues in Vancouver and Montreal and is co-founder of Salmon River Studios— an educational art studio, artist residency and cultural events space located on his farm in Tamworth, Ontario. www.gabrieldeerman.com

Akin Gallery Crawl - March 4 starting at 2pm

Akin Projects invites you to join us for special tours of the current exhibitions at some of Toronto's best and brightest galleries in the West End.

1. Meet at Division Gallery at 2pm
2. Visit Mercer Union, a centre for contemporary art
3. Visit Scrap Metal Gallery
4. Visit Daniel Faria Gallery
5. Visit Robert Kananaj Gallery
6. Visit XPACE Cultural Centre

Free to attend. All are welcome, open to the public.

Salon 44 - A fundraiser for Gallery 44

Gallery 44 is hosting their annual fundraising exhibition Salon 44 in support of their education and exhibition programs. Representing the best in Canadian photography, Salon 44 brings together an incredible collection of over 100 established and emerging artists with works priced for both new and seasoned collectors. Salon 44 will be exhibited from March 10-27, 2017.

Opening Reception: Friday, March 10, 2017, 6 – 10 pm

The Akin Library launches March 13 at our next Skillshare for Creative Professionals

The Akin Collective Team is excited to announce the launch of our newest initiative for our studio members: The Akin Library! This volunteer-led and donation-based collection of books will be housed at Akin Dupont in studio 204 and will feature print materials created by our members as well as a variety of art-related publications donated by members including zines and artist books, exhibition catalogs, artist biographies, how-to books and more.

Join us is on March 13 from 7-9pm at Akin Dupont - 1485 Dupont St in Studio 204 to celebrate the launch of the library at our Skillshare for Creative Professionals: Books We Love. Attendance is free but space is limited, please register to attend at www.universe.com/bookshare

The Akin Library will be open for all members of the Akin Dupont studios and all Akin Collective Shared Members during regular studio hours. Akin Collective members from our Lansdowne, Dufferin and Sunrise Studios will be able to view the library collection at appointed times throughout the month. Books can be borrowed for up to one month at no cost.

We are happy to accept book donations at any time for the collection. Donations can be dropped off in the drop-box at the library or you can email us to make other arrangements or bring your donations to the Skillshare! We especially encourage members to donate books they have created!

We are also seeking volunteer librarians to help manage the library. If you are interested please contact jen@akincollective.com for more information. Volunteer librarians must be Akin Collective studio members.

We hope this library will evolve and grow over time and contribute to enriching the lives and creative practices of our studio members. We would like to thank Mark Buck of Akin Dupont for his help in launching the library.

Spilling the Beans - A Podcast-Making Project

Do you enjoy storytelling, digging your teeth into an idea and getting to the root of the matter? This challenge is for you!

Spilling the Beans is a 36-hour creative challenge to imagine, craft and produce a short podcast. This podcast-making challenge for anyone and everyone interested in telling stories using the podcast format. Taking place March 3-5 at Hacker You, Spilling the Beans is open to, and encourages, remote participation.

Registration is free! Click here to sign up!

On the evening of March 3rd, participants will be provided with three "ingredients" they will need to include in a short podcast they will produce over the following 36 hours. On March 5th, the podcasts will be aired to judges, Katie Jensen, Veronica Simmons, Paul Aflalo and Owen Craig, who will pick three winners based on a set of criteria participants will receive at the race's outset.

Spilling the Beans is a creative exercise for everyone who wishes to participate. Whether you are you an avid podcast enthusiast or an occasional listener, Spilling the Beans will inspire you to create your own.

Adult February Courses & Workshops + March Break Art Camp at ARTiculations

Our friends at ARTiculations have a fabulous line up of single session, weekend intensive, and four week workshops in February and March including March Break Art Camp for children ages 8-13! Topics include painting, calligraphy, embroidery, drawing, screen printing and more!

Free Contemporary Art Bus Tour on February 26

The tour starts at Koffler Gallery (Artscape Youngplace, 180 Shaw Street) at 12 PM, and then departs for GBlackwood Gallery, Art Gallery of York University and Doris McCarthy Gallery, returning to the Koffler Gallery by 5 pm. Guided tours will be offered at each venue.

Please RSVP by February 24 by emailing dmg@utsc.utoronto.ca blackwood.gallery@utoronto.ca or 905-828-3789. This event is free.

In House - A Benefit Art Show for Paperhouse Studio - attend to win a $180 Akin Collective studio gift certificate!

For the second annual In House benefit art show, curated by Sonya Filman, Paperhouse Studio has collaborated with eight emerging and established artists to create new work exploring contemporary approaches to working with handmade paper. These artists, whose practices feature an emphasis on materiality and process, took to working with handmade paper in a myriad of different ways. The resulting works highlight strong interconnections between notions of labour and temporality, contextualized in relation to personal histories, geologic time, and commonplace objects.

The artists: Yael Brotman, Melanie Chikofsky, Doug Guildford, Tessar Lo, Tim Manalo,
Roula Partheniou, Meghan Price, Natalie Wood

Attend the benefit to participate in the raffle where you can win a $180 gift certificate towards Akin Collective studio membership among other amazing prizes.

Artists’ Panel Discussion: February 24th, 6:00pm at Paperhouse Studio

Opening Reception: February 24th 7:00pm – 10:00pm at Critical Distance Centre for Curators

Silent Auction: Preview and buyout starts February 17. Closes at 8:30pm on February 24. (Event night is bidding only) at the Third Floor Hallway Galleries, Artscape Youngplace

The In House Benefit Art Show will be on view at Critical Distance Centre for Curators from February 24th to 28th, 2017. Gallery hours: 12:00PM - 5:00PM, or and appointment.

Akin Artists at The Artist Project - Feb 23-26

This year The Artist Project contemporary art fair is celebrating it's 10th year! The show runs Feb 23-26 at the Better Living Centre and will feature work by over 250 incredible artists from Canada and abroad including some Akin Collective studio members!

Laura Keeling of Akin Dupont was one of 20 artists selected from hundreds of applications to be featured as one of the UNTAPPED Emerging Artists. Find her in Booth U-9. Laura's work pulls inspiration from beautiful everyday moments shared through her photography and collage work. She is currently working on a 'HOT ROCKS' series of collages which are composed of gemstone cut outs from old field guides.

Adria Mirabelli of Akin Dupont will be in the Installation Zone, Booth I-09.  Adria's practice is driven by an experimental approach to mark-making whereby she integrates textile manipulation processes with drawing to create large-scale, site-specific works on silk, felt, vinyl and paper. Her process focuses on a cycle of collection, preservation, and distortion.

Mila Vukosavljevic of Akin Dufferin will be in Booth 509 . Mila's oil and acrylic work questions the ties between seemingly random human interactions. A flirtation between abstraction and figuration, these works portray the inherent connectivity of mankind.

Michael Vickers of Akin Lansdowne will be speaking in the Art Chats Seminar Series on a panel entitled 'The Art of The Fluid' alongside Salimah Ebrahim, and Reagan Zuzarte. The panel discussion will examine how the confluence of technology, physical space and commerce are blurring traditional divisions today. Check it out Saturday, Feb 25th, 11:30am-12:30pm at The Artist Project. Art Chats are complimentary with admission. Space is subject to availability.

Want a discount on tickets for The Artist Project?
Use this Discount Code: TAP10YRS or Click Here.

Artist's Health: Stress and Self Care - This Monday Evening at City Hall - Free!

Your health is important! Join us at City Hall for an engaging workshop focusing on your mental health and well-being.

Learn some self-care techniques and strategies to minimize the negative effects of stress, help you feel your best, and boost your self-esteem.

From dealing with stress, demanding schedules and other injuries artists put a lot of strain on their physical and mental well-being. Join Or Har-Gil, Art Therapist, and Fiona Seth from Workman Arts to learn tips to take care of your body and mind.

Space is Limited! Please register to attend at www.universe.com/arthealth
$10 Suggested Donation


About the instructors:
Or Har-Gil is an Art Therapist and Creative Workshop Facilitator who helps people re-ignite their creativity and use it in service of personal discovery and transformation. She facilitates workshops in organizational, healthcare and community settings on managing stress, adapting to change, thinking differently, and embracing imperfection. Or also works part-time at Sunnybrook, leading Art Therapy groups for patients and families at the Odette Cancer Centre. You can find her online at: www.orhargil.com / www.facebook.com/orhargilarttherapy / Instagram: @orhargil

About Workman Arts:
Workman Arts is the longest-running multidisciplinary arts and mental health organization in Canada. Guided by the principal that the creative process is integral to the quest for personal and spiritual development, Workman Arts aims to support artists who have received mental health services to achieve their professional arts goals, by offering multidisciplinary arts training, exhibition opportunities, and studio space to members.
www.workmanarts.com

An Honest Farewell: a festival to honour the iconic Honest Ed's - Feb 23-26

The Centre for Social Innovation and Toronto for Everyone presents An Honest Farewell, a festival to honor Honest Ed's. This four day festival will feature:

• AMAZEMENT: IMMERSIVE ART MAZE

• BARGAIN BASH! THE OFFICIAL FAREWELL PARTY
• ED LIVES! EVENT LAUNCH PARTY AND COCKTAIL GALA
• TOWN HALL FOR ALL: COMMUNITY HUB
• GOODBYES & GOOD BUYS: MARKET CITY

Free Contemporary Art Bus Tour on Feb 5

The tour starts at the Art Museum at the University of Toronto (15 King's College Circle) at 12 PM, and then departs for Gallery TPW, Blackwood Gallery, and Oakville Galleries, returning to King's College Circle for 5 PM. Seating is limited.

Please RSVP by 5 PM Friday, February 3 to blackwood.gallery@utoronto.ca or 905-828-3789. This event is free.

Toronto Public Art Information Sessions

Are you an artist contemplating a move into public art? A visual arts professional wanting to understand more about how public art is commissioned in Toronto?

The City of Toronto’s Public Art Office is hosting information sessions to:

• Provide tips and tricks for applying to open calls for City-led public art projects;
• Explain what could be involved in taking your art practice into the public realm; and
• Connect you to additional public art resources.

Join us on the dates below to engage with the City of Toronto’s public art officers to explore how to take your practice into the public realm. The sessions will include information about how the City commissions public art, and how to effectively respond to open calls.

Talks will also include a case study of an upcoming public art commission so participants can brainstorm ideas and hear real world examples about how a public art project becomes reality.

Coffee and light refreshments provided!

Call for Submissions - Queen West Art Crawl

Submissions are now open for the Queen West Art Crawl!

The Queen West Art Crawl is happening on September 23-24, 2017 in Trinity Bellwoods Park. This annual event features a two day exhibition of Ontario artists and artisans. All different artistic media are accepted, including visual art, photography, ceramics, fabric art, hand-made accessories, wood/metal art and jewellers. Artist booth fee is $300 if you apply by February 14, 2017. Artist booth fee is $325 if you apply after February 14. The application deadline is April 1, 2017.

Artists are selected by a jury of prominent community leaders including gallery owners, art professors, journalists and well-established artists. Jury selections are released in early May.

For more information visit www.queenwestartcrawl.com or contact info@queenwestartcrawl.com