The Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition is the largest outdoor art exhibition in Canada and has established itself as an important event within the Canadian arts community. The three day event is free and open to the public. It attracts over 100, 000 visitors each year. Somehow, this was my first year attending the show. I went on the last day, Sunday July 10.
Over 300 artists were in Nathan Phillip's Square showing art spanning various disciplines including photography and digital media, wearable artwork, painting, ceramics and sculpture, mixed media. The exhibition also included installation art (Max Streicher’s Trokia, Roman Milo and Jano Badovinac’s Giant Canadian Picnic Table) and a movement installation (dance artist Jenn Goodwin and collaborators, If I Should Stumble II). Attendees also had the opportunity to join a series of free informal pop-up talks & walks. I managed to catch the tail end of Art for Interiors: The Practical Guide to Living Artfully. The session provided tips on how to display art in your home.
It was nice to see artists that I'd seen before at other shows and to discover several new artists. The exhibition had something for everyone. Some of my favourites:
Glass art by Mariel Waddell
T(HERE) States of Qualia: The Space Between You and I by Helen Liene Dreifelds
Artwork by Sandy Middleton Photography, encaustic mixed media
Cheerful work by Mike Hammer, acrylic and resin
Cheerful work by Mike Hammer, acrylic and resin
Tyler and Anna, by Sarah Hillock
by Sarah Hillock
Hand-made paper mosaic by Ben Sellick.
This is made of thousands and thousands of tiny bits of paper. Let that sink in for a minute. I overheard many people musing that the artist must have incredible patience.
Art by Doris Purchase. This work exposes the unseen, raw elements of a painting (the frame, the wire, the plain canvas)
Tony Taylor Art
These works replace the faces of leaders and corporate representatives with those of animals that the artist feels reflects a truer sense of their character.
Tony Taylor Art
These works replace the faces of leaders and corporate representatives with those of animals that the artist feels reflects a truer sense of their character.
Close up of cigarette art by Shay Salehi
This was displayed in a large hanging glass case. I asked her how long it took to collect the materials and she said about a year.
Close up of cigarette art by Shay Salehi
Did you get out to the exhibition? If you did, let me know what some of your favourites were.
Story and photos by Glodeane Brown