Urbandreamer tours the indie art galleries....

[urbandreamer]

2 August 2008 Ossington/W Queen W/Parkdale art gallery update

On Ossington Avenue, the bears have been let loose: be very, very afraid!

Dean Drever's "The Bear Minimum" at MKG127 (127 Ossington Avenue, until 30 August 2008) www.mkg127.com And it's on sale for only $14,000!

View on Canadian Art explains it for you here: http://viewoncanadianart.com/2008/0...er-blood-sweat-tears-and-ryan-sluggett-et-al/

Yellow was the theme of the day--a perfect link to Caribana?



Around the corner, on Queen West (heading East), Ontario Crafts Council has a few gems. $140 gets you this urn by Judith Green. And the one I actually want, Sam Uhlick's "Pussy Willow" tray, sold for $110.


Propellor Gallery's backroom/North Gallery has some cool digital renderings/photographs:


Inside here I find:



Show Gallery has nothing to show, as always....


I introduce University of Guelph graduate Mike Pszczonak to Urbantoronto after seeing his paintings depicting abandoned American hotel strips reclaimed by nature. See him and James Gardner's latest paintings at Paul Petro, 962 Queen St West. Several of Mike's paintings:


Cheesy colourful things at (forget it.)


Do you like my new friends at Magic Pony?


Fountain Gallery's Maggy Perry gives me a tour of her latest show, starring Jubal Brown's camera phone photos (from $600 yikes!) and Drew Simpson's spooky little sculptures about the destruction of the food chain thanks to the destruction of the bee population, African food crisis and similar themes....



Really like a)the "afro soldiers w/guns" b)the ($110 each) spray cans/"ozone trees" and c)my portait of Maggy Perry with her show. (Real [dead] insects glued on cat skulls, btw. How creepy.) Behind the Second Cup, 652 Queen St West (on Palmerston.) www.fountaincontemporary.com

Then I get on the streetcar and go back to capture the Queen West of Ossington art scene. Lens Factory, Fly Gallery, Loop, Katherine Mulherin, and in Parkdale, The Public Butter and Gallery DK


Go check out the yellow 'Vette and the yellow Bear, carved from foam, btw!

 

[urbandreamer]

16 August 2008: AWOL "Square foot" show & Whipper Snapper show openings

When: Saturday night, 8PM

Where: 100a Ossington (second floor), AWOL "SQUARE FOOT" opening

Why: sexy ppl and paintings, everywhere!

Info: http://www.awolgallery.com/square_foot/ until 7 Sept 2008

The people:


The price:


Luckily, I get to bypass the line up (thanks to Rina)... and enter the madness to see this scene:

An overview of some of the 500 paintings:

Hamilton has an identity at last!

Coffee as a theme: America vs Canada!



Woodies as a theme:



The rest of my favourites, in no particular order:



Everyone could "vote" for their favourite piece; as a joke, me and my friends voted for #118, aka the gallery light, not a real painting! lol.


Thanks to Elma for the invite! Next year, I shall be a participant too.

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Later, after dinner on College Street, I randomly discover WhipperSnapper's latest "Emerging Artists" opening. Details here: http://www.whippersnapper.ca/site/index.php or 587A College St

The highlights:




My favourites:

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Folks, go to AWOL, as there are some real gems there. I saw quite a few sold stickers beside the paintings, including a few by my artsy friends.

 

[urbandreamer]

5 sept 2008 photo update

Hey, I've got tons of photos I've been too lazy to post these past few months....

Shall I post the rest? Tell me.

I had to smile when I recognized Mr Mugs on Queen West (indeed, the owner confirmed that's his name! Cool, for those of us kids in the late 70's to early 80's that learned to read with Mr Mugs!) Adorable, eh? (Photo of the day material....)

 

[urbandreamer]

11 September 2008 photo update

I was walking around the lower Ossington area today, so checked out Ester Pugliese's show (opening this Friday night @7PM) at AWOL Gallery.

First, some "art" I never noticed before on the side of Queen West Self Storage (on Rebecca St):

AWOL's Ester Pugliese (check her out, she's rather cute.) Inspired by sounds apparently. Rather dark and dreary, I think....

There always seems to be a "blue" painting in this gallery window. Strange.

 

[urbandreamer]

24 September 2008 look at K-market and Dundas West art exhibits

Let's start in Kensington Market's Hotshots gallery/coffee shop.

Across the street but too lazy to go inside ... sorry next time.

A new gallery I think, just down the street: thirsty yet?

Across from the AGO on Dundas West:

Until Nuit Blanche, cya!

 

[Mustapha]

Kensington market has developed a feel and look similar to 60s Yorkville.

 

[urbandreamer]

It just struck me today that the Junction reminds me of the early 90's Annex strip. Of course, without the students. But, many young people (yuppies, I'll call them) and youngish couples hang out on the strips' organic eateries etc on the weekends. There's a mix of hippies, artists, yuppies, intellectuals, and a relatively diverse group of shoppers.

Anyhow, I randomly came across Alan Joson's "Conserve/Condemn" photography exibit at Urbanscape Gallery. Turns out he's a 30 year old photographer, uses a Nikon F100, and since he was friendly, here's a plug: www.alanjoson.com On 'til 22 Oct 2008 at the gallery.)

The grand entrance: (designed by a friend of mine.)

A few photos I liked:

A few I didn't like:

The yummy Greek food served: (All photos by Alan Joson taken on Greek islands, communities etc.)

A photo of the photographer (far left) and his fans (family?) with the gallery director:

His info:

cy@nuit blanche, everywhere!

 

[urbandreamer]

go to Paul Petro "special projects" gallery today!

What you'll see:

 

[urbandreamer]

Katherine Mulherin board of directors: must see show!

Check it out, Queen West near Dovercourt Rd this weekend! (I missed the opening.

Hilarious goo(gle) workstation!

At Nyood (bar and restaurant) I see something funny--fried eggs on a turntable! Turns out they're doing a photo shoot for their new brunch promo flyer! (I suggest they use a green record...green eggs and ham....)

 

[urbandreamer]

"Good bye to Romance" @ Mercer Union: I'm in love

I finally went in Mercer Union's new space at Bloor and Lansdowne this afternoon, and came away rather impressed! My favourite piece is located in the "artist's cabin" near the washrooms:

"Bling Bling" with mushrooms, how trippy!

http://www.mercerunion.org/show.asp

 

[urbandreamer]

One of my favourite shows of the year!

UT-ites: scurry your asses down to Katherine Mulherin's Board of Directors gallery (1080 Queen West) to see Tiff Isza's "Drawing in the Lines:"

more info: http://www.boardofdirectorstoronto.com/

 

[urbandreamer]

It's been a long time since I've posted photos here, but have no fear, urbandreamer still loves going to the galleries! Like today, I stopped by the new P/M gallery--recently relocated to Dundas St West near Brock, with a highly recommended show by Toronto's Meghan McKnight, Jessica Bradley Gallery, Loop, and more!

It looks as if another new gallery is set to open on Dundas west of Ossington:

Loop's next show is set to open soon, and looks tempting with a large PLAY DOH RABBIT chilling on a table...

Show and Tell is definitely contributing towards the "selling out" of the Dundas strip....

I missed going inside Parkdale's newest gallery today, Snowball Gallery, but here's a photo I took of the latest show from across the street:

 

[Uncle Teddy]

Thanks for bringing this thread back. I rather enjoy it.

 

[urbandreamer]

^Thanks for showing some interest. I've got tons of photos hopefully I'll post them!

Last night in the Junction was very chilly, but it was the launch of Contact's Junction shows. There's many temporary galleries in bars, restaurants, random shops etc including some dedicated art spaces. I was at a party in the area so missed most of the opening parties, but whatever.... Anyhow, the folks at Mjolk had a hot party here's what I saw:

Stay tuned for more Contact and OCAD student shows I'll post soon--tomorrow?

 

[urbandreamer]

^Hmm....lazy.

Sunday, 16 May 2010 was a Toronto classic--gorgeous weather, gorgeous women, and gorgeous art...everywhere!

Ossington:

Yellow on Yellow: very Spring!

A "pop up" gallery, meaning it's here for the month of May only, apparently. Pity, because it's sort of interesting. Think photos of the AGO renovation, photos of construction sites around town, etc. Oh, and some condo furniture.

Dundas West:

The Department:

Loop:

Le:

West Queen West:

The kids these days...? Yeah, some good high school art here:

For example, transfer city?

Oh so witty:

More yellow "flowers" at Katherine Mulherin.

Paul Petro:

Nice cleavage at Mocca --yikes the place was packed today! I was surprised, it felt like a 905 club--a very diverse crowd today, good to see.

Some oddball guy with a bike and a giant pinhole camera outside the Mocca gates had us gallery goers poking our heads into the camera to look at...not much.

I posted this in the BoHo Embassy thread, but here's a cheeky show at Fly Gallery's window space. (Many believe the gallery is inside the storefront.) Made me laugh.

A few weeks ago near Dundas and Runnymede, I spotted some cool retro Can-con references etc:

Get yo asses to the galleries to see Contact 2010 and moore!