The Changing of Seasons at Arta Gallery

On the evening of November 2nd, the walls of the Arta Gallery were lined with newly displayed artworks. Combining two openings into one soirée, Fay Athari, director and curator, proudly displayed Beyond Times and A Golden Glow to the Light of Day. Located in The Distillery District, the space was bright with eager guests mingling and viewing.

Tucked into a seemingly separate part of the gallery, Alexey Klokov’s Beyond The Times exhibited his solo enamel pieces. The biomorphic shapes created with bold, pure and vibrant hues were contrasted by heavy gold and black segments and white canvas backgrounds. When asked about this series, Fay Athari explained that the choices of colors were rooted in spiritual insight.

Within the main space was the collective show, A Golden Glow to the Light of Day.  This segment of the space exhibited pieces by Carmela Casuccio, Shabnam Afrand, Elizabeth Hardinge, Leah Hicks, and Manya Javadipour, Jenn and Terry Craig, and Tim Hough. Inspired by the changing of seasons, the curatorial aim of this show was to evoke the aesthetic of nature. Fay Atharia explained that “the artists are fragments of different styles and artistic practices that focused on the emotional, structural, and spiritual elements.” Within this colorful mosaic was the naturalistic oil work of Tim Hough, who was exhibiting at the Arta Gallery for the first time. His successful pieces rendered images he has captured on his travels, including a triptych panoramic painting of Ontarian Georgian Bay.

 

Both shows run until November 14th. For more information, visit www.artagallery.ca

 

Written by Amanda Lindenbach

Visual Art at Dirty Talk 2016

On the first Friday of the month, Dirty Talk held their usual Dirty Talk event at Round on Augusta Ave. The bar was alive with music and artists who lined the walls with their canvases. Through the various sizes, shapes, and styles of artwork, viewers were met with a diverse range of viewing and purchasing options.

Upon entering, it was impossible not to notice the large fleshy canvas with protruding dismembered dolls pieces. It was the work of Valerie Shvetz, a fourth year OCADu student, who proudly represented her piece. This was her first time combining two and three dimensional elements into an artwork. When asked about her intention, she explained that she “… wanted to build something visceral.” The goal was to create a womb with abscesses growing out of it, juxtaposing null colors with “disturbing content”. Valerie expressed her fondness of using found objects because of the fact that they contain memory. She enjoys finding materials in second-hand stores and discovering the histories and symbols behind them to create conceptual pieces. This artist truly embodied Dirty Talk’s mandate of “… unfiltered expression.” Valerie Shvetz specializes in painting, sculpture, and photography, and is available for commission work. You can follow her Instagram @3names_sold.

Written by Amanda Lindenbach

Art Toronto Oct 28-31, 2016

Art Toronto Oct 28-31, 2016

 

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