Experimental Drawing Workshop with Akin Dupont artist Adria Mirabelli tomorrow!

Join Akin Dupont artist Adria Mirabelli tomorrow at the Gladstone Hotel for an experimental drawing workshop! 

Drawing is a beautiful way of connecting to the world around us! But sometimes we can become too focused on technique and the idea of making a ‘good’ drawing. Need to loosen up your drawing practice and let go?

In this workshop you will explore a selection of freeing and meditative drawing exercises, such as blind contour and continuous line drawing, using a range of materials and unconventional tools, - ink markers, charcoal, liner pens, brightly coloured chalks, oil pastels, graphite, branches, bamboo, & handmade tools.

A beautiful still life of fresh flowers, plants and interesting objects will be arranged to for you draw and pull inspiration from. You will leave with a small sketchbook and book of exercises to take with you so you can continue your practice at home! Beginners and experienced drawing enthusiasts welcome. Participants are encouraged to bring an object that is meaningful to them to draw from during the workshop.

About the Instructor:
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 in 2013, 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 The Drake Hotel, The Artist Project, Xpace Cultural Centre and was a resident at The Roundtable Residency in 2015. She lives and works in Toronto.

Xpace Cultural Centre annual fall programming launch and back-to-school party

Xpace Cultural Centre invites you to join them for their annual FREE fall programming launch and back-to-school party on September 8 from 7-11pm, featuring new work created this summer at Akin Lansdowne by our summer artists-in-residence Emily Norry and Kendra Lee, with accompanying essay by Sam Roberts. Emily, Kendra and Sam were winners of the Xpace Summer Residency Program for OCAD U graduates.

September 8 – October 14, 2017
Opening Reception: Friday, September 8, 7-11pm

Poster by Wil Brask

Emily Norry, Queeries into History: The Love of Loring and Wyle (Project Space)

With accompanying essay by Sam Roberts.

This series by Emily Norry explores the lives of Toronto artists Frances Loring and Florence Wyle and their lifetime spent together. Through this show, Norry looks to expand upon her series Queeries into History with a more in depth exploration of these two artists. Where Queeries into History was meant to outline an entire ancestry of queer women through time, The Love of Loring and Wyle is a biography of two beloved but often forgotten artists that helped shape Toronto’s art world, while never wavering in their commitment to one another.

Using watercolour printmaking, Norry takes historical photos of Loring and Wyle’s careers and personal lives, paints them in colour and transfers them onto fabric. These leave images cracked, faded, and sometimes warped from the originals; this is reflective of the way history is often forgotten and overwritten in modern view. These images are then embellished, with embroidery, patterning and dried flowers as a way to describe intimacy, relationships and the way the past is reframed and added to in the present. The works will explore their sculptures, time as students, associations with arts societies, and their more then 50 year relationship. 

www.emilynorry.com

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Kendra Yee, Pantry Shelf (Window Space)

With accompanying essay by Sam Roberts.

The attempts to trace back family lineage are swallowed by the movements of time. Documents discarded, photographs burned, tombstones never carved and names changed to survive systems. Mimicking the setup of Kendra Yee’s Yeh-Yeh’s corner store in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, this installation honours family-run businesses. The items displayed replace the culture that has been lost, reclaiming broken narratives and forming new stories.

www.kendrayee.com

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Save the date! Akin will be visiting these exhibitions as a part of our Fall Gallery Crawl on Saturday September 16. Stay tuned for more info! 

Desire Lines, the latest exhibition curated by Art Spin opens tomorrow!

Art Spin is excited to present, in partnership with Waterfront Toronto, a free and exciting group exhibition titled Desire Lines, showcasing the work of some of our most notable regional artists presenting artwork from a wide variety of disciplines and opening this Thursday August 24th.

This exhibition responds to themes that deal with the highly nuanced dynamic of place making and what constitutes the concept of home, as well as exploring our complex and storied relationship to our waterfront. Desire Lines will transform a massive 8000 sqft. warehouse and retired condo presentation centre with many works responding to the unique features of the space itself.

ARTISTS:
Karen Miranda Abel • Jennifer Marman and Daniel Borins • Kaitlyn Bourden • Hannah Busse • Paul Chartrand • Nicole Clouston • Naomi Dodds • Anna Eyler • Chris Foster • Young & Giroux • Sarah Kernohan • Alex McLeod • Daniel Rotsztain • Lauren Schaffer • Chris Hanson & Hendrika Sonnenberg • Sheldon Storey • Jessica Thalmann (of Akin Lansdowne) • Tough Guy Mountain • VSVSVS

LOCATION:
291 Lake Shore Boulevard East (just west of Parliament St.)
Look for a painted white warehouse. The exhibition is fully accessible. The space, which is just south of the Distillery District, can be accessed easily by bicycle from the Waterfront Trail, or by car via Queens Quay, there is a paid parking lot available on site.

DATES & HOURS:
Opening Night Reception & Party: Thursday, August 24th 7pm - 1am
Exhibition Runs: August 25th - September 3rd
Exhibition Hours: Wednesday - Saturday 12pm - 8pm, Sundays 12pm - 6pm

SPECIAL EVENTS:
OPENING NIGHT PARTY - Thursday August 24th, 7pm - 1am

CURATOR & ARTIST TALK - Saturday August 26th, 3pm - 4pm
Join Art Spin curators Layne Hinton and Rui Pimenta to walk through the exhibition and discuss some of the curatorial themes. Artists joining us to talk about their work - to be announced.

ABOUT ART SPIN:
Art Spin has been operating professionally as an arts presenter for over eight years, activating decommissioned venues and unique public spaces to produce large scale group exhibitions along with curated bicycle-led art tours to showcase a wide range of newly commissioned art programing in unusual site-specific settings. Most recently Art Spin presented in/future: a transformative art experience, a unique 11 day festival of art and music that animated the West Island of Ontario Place in 2016. Art Spin is led by Layne Hinton and Rui Pimenta, artists and independent curators, who are driven by a strong sense of commitment and passion for presenting contemporary artworks in alternative, everyday spaces in order to make its audience’s experiences with art more engaging and exciting.
www.artspin.ca

Factor Grants: Music Grant Writing Workshop

September 26, 6:00-8:00PM
The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings, 247 Spadina Avenue, 3rd Floor

Thanks to the generous support of FACTOR, this event is free, however there is limited seating, please register online to attend atwww.universe.com/factor

Musicians and artists that make music! Join and to learn how to get FACTOR music grants ($$$) from the people that give them, at their office!

Akin Projects and The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent On Recordings (FACTOR) present an interactive workshop that will explore the process of planning, writing and submitting music grant proposals and give an overview of FACTOR and their programs. As a major funder themselves, The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings will provide clear examples of the grant writing process and the various the dos and don'ts of everything from ratings and the music juries to organizing your support material and work plan. Following this, there will be an extensive Q&A period so you can get the support you're looking for!

Transportation/ Accesibility: FACTOR is located at 247 Spadina Ave, 3rd floor (Just south of Dundas and North of Queen). TTC: Take the 510 Streetcar South from Spadina TTC Station towards Queens Quay, and exit at Sullivan St. The office is completely accessible by elevator to the 3rd floor.

FACTOR (the Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings) is a public/private partnership that supports the production of sound recordings by Canadian musicians and helps Canadian music companies make recordings available to a wider public. www.factor.ca

'FLAT' opening reception tonight at Bunker 2

FLAT is an immersive installation that also operates as an escape room game. Participants interact with the space and work together to solve a series of challenges over the course of an hour-long game in order to escape the gallery. Based on the structure and tropes of the escape room game phenomenon, FLAT is a game conceptualized, designed, and built by artists.

Exploring the aspirations and limitations of the micro- and minimalist-living movements, FLATresponds to Bunker 2’s form as a repurposed shipping container. The game investigates histories of small-space living—from modernist design movements to the tiny home trend to the precarity of improvised living spaces built by those pushed out by gentrification.

FLAT
A collaborative project by Alison Cooley, Ivana Dizdar, Alvin Luong, and Andrew Savery-Whiteway
Bunker 2 - 346 Campbell Ave
August 18–September 10, 2017

OPENING RECEPTION
7–10pm, Friday August 18, 2017

PLAY THE GAME
By appointment, August 19–September 10, 2017
The game is suitable for 2-5 players.

Wednesday-Friday: 7:00 pm; 8:30 pm
Saturday-Sunday: 12 pm; 1:30 pm; 3:00 pm; 4:30 pm

Please visit liveflat.ca to book

Bookings are free—there is no cost to play the game, but we ask that participants respect their commitment to their booking. Visit our website for additional booking details.

CONTACT US
WEB: liveflat.ca or bunker2.ca

Akin Show & Tell #59: Sunrise

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.

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 other artists and makers. This is FREE public event - everyone is welcome!

This month we are meeting at Akin Sunrise located at 100 Sunrise Ave in studio 106A. 

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to get in touch! See you there!

THIS SATURDAY! Akin & North York Arts: Newcomer Exhibition & Artist Talk

Artist Talk- Saturday, August 19, 1-3pm at Akin Sunrise
 100 Sunrise Ave, Studio 106A

Presented by North York Arts and Akin, 'Cursory' is an exhibition that displays new and recently created artworks by emerging artists residing in Toronto, Hussain Al Ismail, Pradeep Anurag Reddy and Victor Vazquez.

Seeking to celebrate community, 'Cursory' brings to attention an incisive look at the creative work explored by three personal narratives who fleetingly inhabit a space. Informed by their individual experiences as immigrants, the artists' multi-faceted practice is presented as an inventive quest for a thorough glance at the quotidian. Multiple art formats such as paintings, sculptures, digital art, and sketches are displayed together interpreted in the uniqueness of each artist to represent their identities.

Meet the artists and tour Akins Collective's new studio and programming space at 100 Sunrise Ave in North York. From 1-3pm August 19th.

Akin at Zine Dream 10!!

Akin is proud to be one of over 100 exhibitors featured at Zine Dream 10. Join us on August 20 to see the best of self published books, comics, music, zines, hand made crafts, prints & much more! One day only. The event is PWYC and will take place at the Polish Combatants' Hall, 206 Beverley Street.

Our table will feature zines, books and more by our amazing Akin artists including: 

Sophie Berg - www.sophiecberg.com

Erin Candela - www.erincandela.ca

Brittany Carmichael - www.brittanycarmichael.com

Emily DiCarlo - www.emilydicarlo.com

Emma Dolan (Desert Pets Press) - www.desertpetspress.com

Julianne Ess - http://cargocollective.com/julianneess

Billy Franklin - www.eaturpie.com

Enrique Gaudite - www.instagram.com/enrique_snaps

Natascha Malta - https://greetingsfromtoronto.wordpress.com

Jen Pilles - www.jenpilles.com

Kayla Polan - www.kaylapolan.com

Katie Sadie - www.katiesadie.com

and More! 

THERE WILL BE CAKE! 
COME CELEBRATE 10 YEARS OF SMALL PRESS IN OUR CITY!

Obvious and Implied: Paintings by Nancy Bennett at Deer Park Public Library

A new solo exhibition of sky paintings by Nancy Bennett of Akin Sunrise are on display for the month of August at Deer Park Public Library, 40 St. Clair Avenue East. 

Nancy Bennett is a self-schooled artist. She has studied under several Toronto artists in formal and informal settings. Nancy is also co-founder of Four Corners Studio in Riverside/Leslieville. 
Her work is held in private and corporate collections in Canada and the U.S.A.

www.nancybennett.ca

Akin Announces BIG on Bloor BIG Xplorations Mural Project!

Akin is proud to announce the launch of three new outdoor murals by our talented studio artists Althea Balmes, Atanas Bozdarov & Sarvenaz Rayati of Akin Lansdowne, and Billy Franklin of Akin Dupont. 

The murals will be created as a part of BIG on Bloor Festival’s offsite pop-up series ‘BIG Xplorations’ on July 22 and 23 and remain in place for the duration of the summer for the public to enjoy. The works will be created on-site at 1319 Bloor St W in the Value Village parking lot, and along the West Toronto Railpath. These murals will represent the diversity of Akin Collective studio artists and our neighbourhood and community.

About the murals and the artists: 

‘What’s in Your Fridge?’ by Althea Balmes & Atanas Bozdarov

What’s in your fridge? Althea and Atanas will answer the question by transforming their BIG on Bloor mural structure into a fridge—exposing its inside and revealing the yummy contents through fun and colourful illustrations.

Althea and Atanas will collaborate with the community to illustrate the food and drink ideas that they provide. They will be collecting this information prior to the event, and during the live painting, taking suggestions on site. This work is intended to create a conversation about food and culture, and also engage the community allowing them to become active participants.

Althea Balmes is an artist-educator rooted in community work. She uses her strong connection to her culture and her place as a diasporic Canadian woman of colour to inspire her work and as a way to connect to others.  She teaches visual storytelling workshops throughout the city. She has won the 2012 Women in Film and Television-Toronto (WIFT-T) Award for her film, “Suman Ladies”. She received The Min Sook Lee Award for her on-going community based comic book project about the real lives of Filipino live-in Caregivers, “Kwentong Bayan: Labour of Love” in 2014. Althea is currently doing her Master of Information in User Experience Design at University of Toronto. www.altheabalmes.com

Atanas Bozdarov is an interdisciplinary artist and designer who focuses on deconstructing the ways in which we read and interpret systems and structures. From quoting fragments of architectural blueprints or game sequences, to generating musical motifs from non-musical sources, he constructs incomplete and surprising structures in order to question our understanding of the working systems around us.  www.atanasbozdarov.com

‘An Artist at Work’ by Sarvenaz Rayati

An artist at work. A woman who has done a painting in a nature setting seems restless and is still looking for something. Featuring a persian poem on love.

Sarvenaz is an Iranian visual artist now based in Toronto. She received her BA in Painting and Visual Communication from Art University in Tehran. She has exhibited her work internationally and has recently participated in group exhibitions at Urban Space and Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto. Since moving to the city, she has focused on her drawing and painting practice and has immersed herself in the community arts world. She visits schools, leads painting workshops, and participates in community arts and mural projects, including the Coxwell Laneway Mosaic Mural. This summer, Sarvenaz is leading People & Trees, a community art project that will culminate with an installation in East York's Dentonia Park as part of City of Toronto Cultural Hotspot’s SPARK Projects.

“Storytelling has always been my main motivation to create art. Heritage, the self, paths, nature, the act of seeking—these are all recurrent themes in my work. I’m inspired by Persian miniatures, comics, found photographs and life around me.”
www.sarvenaz-rayati.com
Instagram: @sarvenaz_ray

‘Bloordale Freestyle’ by Billy Franklin

After many years of keeping design and graffiti separate, artist Billy Franklin has combined the better parts of both worlds by staying true to the DIY ethos. Franklin works in mostly analog techniques, but also has formal training in graphic design. He quickly developed an awareness for a brush and can using self-taught techniques. With a great respect for both methods of practice, his work is carefully thought out with keen attention to detail. Focusing on hard lines, bold colours and clean typography, Billy’s work is easily recognizable. He is influenced by late 90’s skateboard graphics and cartoons from his childhood. Franklin’s work is humorous and witty, sure to draw in his audience with his clever perspective.

Working from his head, Billy will create a freestyle mural that will represent Bloordale and the Akin Community. Things that may be included in the final production: pineapples, cool shoes, coffee cups, bikes, fun patterns, bright colours, puppers, other cool fruits; maybe a classic Billy F portrait partying with a pupper while eating a pineapple and riding a bike in cool shoes thinking about coffee! No matter the final design, you can count on a super fun piece! 
www.eaturpie.com
Instagram: @eaturpie


About the festival:
The BIG on Bloor Festival is a car-free street festival along Bloor Street from Dufferin to Lansdowne. It attracts 100,000 visitors and this year is celebrating 10 years of community building, culturally significant events, activities, displays and exhibitions. This year, greater focus will be given to defining areas for exhibiting artists and spaces to showcase contemporary performances to the general public.

BIG Xplorations is a special pop-up series of live painting, sculpture installations, spot garden releases and events in various venues from West of Lansdowne to the Toronto Railpath. This portion of the street will not be car-free, instead locations will be promoted in a crawl style for visitors to explore. BIG Xplorations will feature over 20 local artists, showcasing works in sculpture, art exhibitions in shipping containers, live painting on mural structures, contemporary performances and other activities which can engage guests. These locations will be featured during the festival and will also survive after the festival dates allowing for guests to visit sites for months after.
www.bigonbloorfestival.com

About Akin:
Akin is a Toronto-based arts organization that provides affordable studio space as well as arts-based programming through it's sister non-profit organization, Akin Projects. Our studios provide a working environment that maintains a friendly and inspiring atmosphere where people can work on creative endeavors and entrepreneurial undertakings of all kinds. Akin builds community through monthly art critiques, workshops, open studio events, gallery tours, exhibitions, as well as various other art projects. www.akincollective.com
 

Interested in supporting Akin and our community programs? Learn more here or get in touch! Email michael@akincollective.com

Akin Show & Tell #58: Ossington

Wednesday July 26 / 7-9pm / Akin Ossington - 888 Dupont St, studio 204

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.

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 other artists and makers.

This month we are meeting at our newest studios - Akin Ossington! Come see the new studios. Located at Ossington and Dupont - 888 Dupont St - Studio 204.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to get in touch! See you there!

Akin at the 2017 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition / July 14-16

Akin is excited to be one of the Community Partners featured at the 2017 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition along with our friends at Toronto School of Art and CARFAC . We will be onsite in the South Mews to answer questions about artists' rights, representation, studio access, education and professional development services. 

The event features over 340 artists and makers, including many Akin studio artists! Make sure to visit Akin Sunrise artist Kristy Blackwell (Booth P-118), Akin Lansdowne artist Katrina Jurjans (Booth SM-21), and Akin Dupont artists Chris Harms (Booth P-088), Iskuhi Avagyan (Booth P-126), and Loren Kaplan (Booth P-141). 

The Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition is open to the public and free of charge. Enjoy amazing art, family programming, new exhibition layout, new works, new artists, along with live performances, food, and refreshments.

Hours:
Fri July 14  10:00am - 7:00pm
Sat July 15 10:00am - 7:00pm
Sun July 16 10:00am - 5:00pm

#TOAE2017

Akin Sunrise Exhibition Reception and Open Studio - Saturday July 8, 6-9pm

Saturday July 8 / 6-9pm / Akin Sunrise - 100 sunrise Ave, studio 106A / Free to attend, everyone welcome, BYOB! 

Join us as we celebrate the launch of Akin Sunrise with a a group exhibition of work by our talented studio artists. Enjoy a drink and some light refreshments, have a tour of the artist’s studios, and mingle with Akin artists and community members in our programming space.

Featuring work by Akin Sunrise artists:

Beverly Allen - www.nomadarttoronto.com
Nancy Bennett - www.nancybennett.ca
Kristy Blackwell - www.kristyblackwell.com
Steve Byrnes - www.saatchiart.com/stevebyrnes
Renee Castonguay - www.tsa-art.com/faculty-staff/renee-castonguay
June Clark - www.juneclark.ca
Maxwell Galley - www.maxwellgalley.com
Madelaine Lyons Cooper - www.madelainelyonscooper.com
Katie Sadie - www.katiesadie.com
and Jeff Tallon - www.jefftallon.com

The exhibition will be on display in our programming space from July 8 - August 8. If you are unable to make it to the opening night reception and would like to view the exhibition, please email jeff@akincollective.com to make arrangements.

Accessibility:
There is step free access to the main entrance located at the side of the building parallel to the parking lot. The first door on the right hand side, once in the main entrance, is access to the studio. The studio entrance requires a key and there is no button to open the door, so someone may require assistance. There are narrow aisles and sharp turns to get into the gender-neutral washroom within the space. There are no grab bars in the bathroom and the toilet is not raised. There is a small lip on the floor upon entering the bathroom. Akin does have access to a wheelchair accessible gender-neutral washroom in the hall across from the Akin studio within the building.

Getting There:
By TTC: 
Take the Bloor-Danforth Subway Line to Coxwell Station. Proceed to city bus 70A or 70B. Exit bus at Sunrise Ave, it is a 400 meter walk to 100 Sunrise Avenue.

By car:
Akin Sunrise is easily accesible from the Don Valley Parkway. There is onsite parking.

Forge Professional Workshop Series: Documenting & Archiving Artwork

Wednesday July 5 / 6:30-9:00pm / Akin Lansdowne - 87 Wade Ave, studio 302 / $30 per person / limited seating - get your ticket at www.universe.com/documentart

In this workshop, artist and curator Jessica Thalmann will discuss the importance of clear, accurate and striking documentation of artwork. Various technical and logistical issues will be broached while photographing paintings, ceramics, sculptures, installations, performances and various print based media. Artists and creatives will be informed about best photographing practices including, lighting, placement, camera techniques, digital workflow, editing, export settings, and scanning. Archival and cataloguing practices will also be discussed; focusing on data management software, long term storage, preservation and creating and easy catalogue of current inventory to find and locate items.

After providing advice on each of these topics, Thalmann will offer a demonstration on techniques for photographing 2D and 3D media. This workshop is ideal for artists and makers of all skill levels but should have some experience with a digital camera and tripod. Workshop will be followed by a Q&A.

We regret that the building is not wheelchair accessible / Please let us know of any other accessibility needs by emailing michael@akincollective.com at least one week before the event and we will do our best to accommodate you. Thank you.

About the Instructor:
Jessica Thalmann is an artist, curator and educator currently based in Toronto and New York City. She received a MFA in Advanced Photographic Studies from ICP-Bard College and a BFA in Visual Arts from York University. She has worked at the Doris McCarthy Gallery, Toronto International Film Festival, C Magazine, the Art Gallery of York University and Yossi Milo Gallery. Thalmann has taught at the International Centre for Photography, MacLaren Art Centre, Gallery 44 and City College of New York. She has shown at various venues in Toronto, Vancouver and New York City including the Art Gallery of Mississauga, Flash Forward Festival, Gallery TPW, Hashtag Gallery, Whippersnapper Gallery, Nuit Blanche, the Artist Project, VIVO Media Arts Center, Aperture Foundation, International Centre of Photography, Photoville, Camera Club of New York and Printed Matter’s New York Art Book Fair.www.jessicathalmann.com

Luis Jacob 'Habitat' at Gallery TPW until June 10

Less than a week left to check out 'Habitat' by Luis Jacob, a part of CONTACT Photography Festival at Gallery TPW. Join the artist on June 10 in conversation with Jorge Ribalta, artist, researcher, editor and independent curator from 2-4pm for a reading and discussion as Jorge Ribalta reflects on his recent curatorial work on historical photography exhibitions and the construction of the poetic, epistemic, and political meanings of a public photographic sphere.

'Habitat' presents new work by artist Luis Jacob, who is known for his practice that destabilizes conventions of looking to highlight the socio-political dimensions of the visual world. Anchoring the exhibition is Album XIV, constructed of hundreds of images cut from books and magazines and displayed as an extended sequence without identifying captions or context. The work features images of city planning, abstract art, and references to forms of spectatorship, including the work of various Toronto artists and particular moments in the city’s development. 

More than a chronicle of Toronto’s visual history, Habitat queries the relationship of the city’s culture to its economic life and its forms of self-identity (both projected and submerged). The exhibition continues Jacob’s role as a renegade semiotician—an artist whose reordering of images exerts conscious and unconscious pressure on the ways that people assign, experience, and reconfigure meaning.

CHROMATIC GEOGRAPHY: Natural Dyes in the 21st Century - Opening June 8 at Craft Ontario Gallery

Chromatic Geography
Craft Ontario Gallery
June 8 – August 26, 2017
Opening Reception, Thursday, June 8, 6 – 9 pm
Panel Discussion, Friday, June 9, 5 - 6 pm

Today, interest in natural dyes is undergoing a global revival, fueled by a growing awareness of the harmful by-products of the industrial dye process, and a greater understanding of the environmental issues relating to textile production. A new generation of environmentally conscious artists and designers are exploring the use of natural dyes while re-examining regional production, often within the context of a “DIY” approach to life and work. 

Chromatic Geography examines these new trends, and presents a diversity of approaches to the use of natural dyes, from scientific research and raw material development, to innovative, contemporary applications in craft, fashion, design and art, with personal approaches to materials and aesthetics.

The opening reception will feature a live demonstration by Laura Sansone with her Mobile Textile Lab, demonstrating how to extract natural dye colour from plants. These dye solutions will then become part of the Chromatic Geography exhibition, providing a solar dye system in the front window of the gallery for the duration of the exhibition.  As well, a member of Upper Canada Fibreshed will be in the gallery demonstrating hand spinning, using Ontario-grown fleece dyed with natural dyes.

Akin Sunrise invites you to visit the Ismaili Centre and the Aga Khan Museum

Akin Sunrise invites you to join us as we visit our neighbors at The Ismaili Centre and the Aga Khan Museum for a day of learning, inspiration, exploration and fun!

June 24 / 12:30pm / Meet at the Ismaili Centre - 49 Wynford Drive / $15 per person

Participation is limited, please register in advance at www.universe.com/agakhan - price includes a guided tour of the Ismaili Centre and admission to both institutions.

We will meet at the Ismaili Centre (situated just north of Eglinton off Don Mills Road) at 12:30pm for a guided tour. The tour will last approximately 1 hour. We will then walk to the Aga Khan museum where we will have a brief introduction to the museum from the museum staff then you can explore to your heart’s content! (Museum closes at 6pm).

You are also invited to join us prior to the tour at 11am near the infinity pools for a picnic (bring your own picnic). The picnic is optional, but you are encouraged to explore and enjoy the Aga Khan Park and Museum courtyard before or after our visit to the Museum.

SCHEDULE:
11:00am - (Optional) Meet in the gardens by the infinity pools for a picnic (Bring your own picnic)
12:30pm - Everyone meets at the Ismaili Centre (49 Wynford Drive)
1:45pm - The group will walk to the Aga Khan Museum (77 Wyndord Drive)
2:00pm - Introduction to the museum followed by free time to explore

The Aga Khan Museum is a museum of Islamic art, Iranian art and Muslim culture. It houses collections of Islamic art and heritage, including artefacts from the private collections of the Aga Khan, which showcase the artistic, intellectual and scientific contributions of Muslim civilizations. For more information visit www.agakhanmuseum.org

The Ismaili Centre Toronto is one of only six such centres in the world. It facilitates the promotion of cultural, educational and social programs from the broadest, non-denominational perspectives within the ethical framework of Islam. A central purpose of the Ismaili Centres is to encourage mutual exchanges and understanding between diverse peoples, communities and faiths. For more information visit: www.theismaili.org/ismailicentres/toronto

We hope you can join us!

Forge Professional Workshop Series: Financial Planning for Artists

A step-by-step beginner’s guide to making and spending money as an artist

Friday June 23 / 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. / Toronto City Hall, Committee Room 1 - 100 Queen St West / Pay-what-you-can ( suggested donation $10 ) / Please register to attend at www.universe.com/artmoney

Building is wheelchair accessible. Please let us know of any other accessibility needs so that we can assist you. Email michael@akincollective.com one week before the event and we will do our best to accommodate you. Thank you.

Many artists wonder if they can afford to do what they love. You can with a plan! Join us for an evening full of financial strategies that will help you make the most of your money, so you can make the most of your practice.

This workshop will cover:

Making Money:
- Creating Financial Goals
- Finding Income
- Saving

Spending Money:
- Tracking Expenses
- Making (and sticking to) a Budget/Spending Plan
- Reducing Debt

Putting It Together:
- The Plan

The workshop includes:
- Presentation with activities
- Short break
- Q&A period at the end
- Printed copy of the presentation
- Free worksheets and resources to take away and guide you through each step of your financial planning process

Participants should bring:
- Pen/pencil/device for note-taking if they wish
- Their creativity and questions!

About the instructor:
Diana Bahr is an OCAD U graduate in Drawing & Painting (2016), and former OCAD U staff from the Financial Aid department where she provided financial literacy and professional practice workshops to student artists and designers for five years. She has a master’s degree in education from the University of Toronto, and is an emerging multi-disciplinary artist based in the east end of the city. Diana has exhibited her work at various locations including a traveling show in New York, the Ontario Science Centre, the Brain Project in Toronto, and Mercedes Benz in Mississauga. She is currently co-organizing and participating in a six-month artist residency program, creating work for a show in the fall.

Give and Get: Making good ideas happen

Sheila Goldgrab & Joel Kumove in partnership with the School for Social Entrepreneurs Ontario invite you to Give and Get: making good ideas happen, a free monthly house event for people with projects.

Give and Get is a place to meet new people, eat a meal together,  and seek and offer ideas and support and make new connections in a fun and friendly environment. The event is suitable for anyone with an idea or project that would benefit from multiple perspectives or resources.

It could be a business project, a personal project, an art project, a charitable cause or a community project. Free and open to anyone who registers. The evening will be facilitated by a leadership career coach and mentors who want to help make your great ideas happen!

Here's what Give and Get believes in:
- An unexpected mix of great people can propel your project forward.
- Everyone has something to offer.

You will have an opportunity to tell the event coordinators about your project and your 'ask' of the group when you register. There are two upcoming summer dates for the event, July 18 and August 23. Click the links below to find out more or register:

July 18: http://bit.ly/2pY8EE2
August 23: http://bit.ly/2pYbh8T

Akin & The Toronto Art Book Fair

Akin is thrilled to participate in the second annual Toronto Art Book Fair (TOABF) from June 15th - 18th 2017 at Artscape Youngplace and present an incredible selection of art books, zines, prints, flair, multiples and more created by a diverse range of our talented studio artists.

The Toronto Art Book Fair will feature over 80 Canadian and international exhibitors, three curated exhibitions, and community programming that includes readings, panel discussions, book launches, performances, and workshops.

Akin will be participating along with hundreds of local and international artists, publications, small presses, independent publishers, archives, contemporary art galleries, critics, designers, writers, and performers. TOABF is free to the public and suitable for all ages. For more information visit www.torontoartbookfair.com

Programming Partnership!
Akin is pleased to be hosting two events as a part of Toronto Art Book Week- a series of city-wide events that parallel the Toronto Art Book Fair. Art book week will feature book launches, performances, talks, pop-up exhibitions, and screenings throughout Toronto. The goal of art book week is to bring attention to new and exciting artist’s book projects as well as increase the visibility of Toronto’s art publishing community.

Akin Creative: Zine Jam // www.universe.com/zinejam
Wed June 14 / 6:30-9pm / $10 / Akin Lansdowne, studio 101 - 87 Wade Ave
Hands-on zine workshop with materials provided, beer sales and tunes. Bring an in-progress zine or an idea for a new zine! Beginners welcome! Limited seating, please register online.

Akin Gallery Crawl: Toronto Art Book Week // www.facebook.com/events/128383227716708/
Sat June 17 / 12:30-4:00pm / FREE / Meet at The Public - 58 Lansdowne Ave
Join us as we visit galleries and spaces that are showcasing and celebrating artists' books and print featuring highlights from Toronto Art Book Week. Free for all, everyone welcome!

We can't wait to see you at the fair, zine jam and crawl!