Toronto Islamic arts centre breaks ground

The leader of the world's Ismaili Muslim community was in Toronto Friday to break ground on what is being billed as the largest Islamic art and culture centre in North America.

The $300-million development slated for Wynford Drive near Don Mills Road will cover 6.8 hectares and will include a museum, an Ismaili cultural centre and a park.

The Aga Khan, leader of the group of Shia Muslims known as Ismailis, said the Aga Khan Museum for Islamic Art and Culture is his gift to Toronto.

"The museum's focus on the arts of Islam will make it a unique institution in North America, contributing to a better understanding of Islamic civilization, the plurality within Islam and Islam's relationship to other traditions," said the Aga Khan.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who presented the spiritual leader with honorary Canadian citizenship, attended the ceremony.

"I've been deeply moved by your gracious gesture," said the Aga Khan. "This is significant recognition of the values which our community of faith shares with the people of Canada."

Countering post-9/11 stereotypes

Jehad Aliweiwi, who runs a newcomer's settlement agency called Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office, said since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, young Muslims have struggled with negative stereotypes about their religion and identity.

"I think this will present them with a spatial and physical institution that they can look up to," said Aliweiwi. "They can feel proud of and say, 'Yeah, we do have a legacy of architectural marvel and painting'."

Aliweiwi said the Aga Khan's appearance inspires dedication and community engagement in the Ismaili community.

"The machine of volunteers that the Islamic community manages to put together to organize something like this, it is equal in terms of being impressive to the preparations going into the G8 and G20 [summits in the Toronto area]," said Aliweiwi.

Tazim Hirji, a member the city's Ismaili community, said the new centre fills her with pride.

"It's exciting because it's right off the DVP [Don Valley Parkway], and you can see it as you're coming down," said Hirji. "It's such a pride to see that."

Afia Parveen said the new centre will help teach her daughter about Islamic history.

"I went to the ROM, but there [is nothing] I can show my kids [about] Islamic history," said Parveen.

Museum designed by Japanese architect

The centrepiece of the development will be the Aga Khan Museum, designed by award-winning Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki.

According to the Aga Khan Foundation, the museum will house and exhibit "some of the most important works of Islamic art in the world."

Around 200 pieces from the museum's collection of more than 1,000 objects will be on display in a permanent gallery. The artifacts date back 1,000 years.

Temporary exhibitions will also take place in addition to an extensive educational program that makes use of a multimedia centre and reference library. The museum will host workshops and classes for the public.

A 350-seat auditorium will feature musical performances, book readings, films, conferences and theatre productions.

The landscaped park will incorporate a formal garden, reflecting pools and walkways.

The development is to be completed in 2013.

Article From: CBC: Toronto Islamic arts centre breaks ground.

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Collector's Group of Seven works up for sale

CBC News - Art & Design - Collector's Group of Seven works up for sale.

The impressionistic Lawren Harris painting Winter is among the Thornton estate's seven Harris works up for sale. It is expected to fetch between $300,000 and $500,000. (Heffel Fine Art Auction House)An art lover's treasured collection of Canadian landscapes by the Group of Seven and other contemporaries is slated to go on the block in Vancouver this spring.

Heffel's Fine Art Auction House has announced plans to sell three dozen paintings from the collection of the late Theodosia Dawes Bond Thornton.

The daughter of a Canadian National Railway executive whose family spent much time travelling via train, Thornton was a Montrealer who built a collection reflective of landscapes she recalled from her childhood travels.

Her collection, compiled over about 10 years after the Second World War, spans Canada from coast to coast. It includes Lawren Harris sketches of Newfoundland, Arthur Lismer's paintings of wild Quebec undergrowth and A.Y. Jackson's images of the Rockies.

Art lover Theodosia Dawes Bond Thornton collected the works of the Group of Seven and their contemporaries after the Second World War. (Heffel Fine Art Auction House) "It was a good time for her to start collecting," auction house president David Heffel told CBC News on Monday, pointing out Thornton wouldn't have had as much competition from other buyers for major Group of Seven works and that, after a wartime economy, the artists themselves welcomed her patronage.

"It was the golden era of art collecting."

Bought from artist's own studios

Thornton, who died at the age of 93 in October, amassed a collection that includes works she bought directly from artists such as Harris, Jackson and Lismer.

At the time, the art dealing business was still young in Canada and it wasn't uncommon for collectors to directly contact artists in whom they were interested.

Thornton was plucky and earnest about her passion for art in her letters to, for instance, Harris.

"She had to seek out these artists independently," Heffel said, noting her creative and aggressive attempts.

In one case, Harris sent along three panels for Thornton to peruse and select from. She nabbed them all for $75 a piece.

'Time-capsuled' for five or six decades

A.Y. Jackson's canvas Spring Evening, Lower St. Lawrence (Early Spring) is expected to fetch between $175,000 and $225,000 at auction. (Heffel Fine Art Auction House)Many of the 36 paintings Heffel will auction have not been seen in public since Thornton, who also trained in photography and took painting lessons from Lismer, acquired them.

"With a work that's been 'time-capsuled' for 50 or 60 years … it's exciting for current day collectors," Heffel said.

The 36 Thornton estate paintings will be on display in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver before joining the lots to be sold at the regular Heffel's spring auction, which will take place May 26 in Vancouver.

In November, paintings from another rare Canadian collection (including works collected by Group of Seven booster Charles Band) were among the highlights of the fall Heffel's auction in Toronto.

One of the pieces, the oil sketch The Old Stump, Lake Superior, by Lawren Harris, fetched $3.5 million — the second highest amount ever paid at Canadian auction for a piece of art.

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Canada's spring auctions feature collectors' art

CBC News - Art & Design - Canada's spring auctions feature collectors' art.

One of Heffel's top lots this spring is Bylot Island I by Lawren Harris, estimated to sell for between $1.5 million and $2.5 million. (Heffel.com)

An exciting batch of rare Canadian artworks — recently unearthed from several noted collections — will be among the pieces for sale during Canada's spring auction season.

Heffel's Fine Art Auction House will be first out of the gate in Vancouver on May 26 with its sale, with highlights from three prominent collections: the estates of architect Arthur Erickson, Theodosia Dawes Bond Thornton, who built her post-war collection by purchasing canvases directly from Group of Seven artists — and an unnamed Canadian philanthropist.

Among the top Heffel lots is Lawren Harris's oil on canvas mountainscape Bylot Island I, estimated to sell for between $1.5 million and $2.5 million.

It's a similar story at Sotheby's Canada, which is selling a host of paintings from the estate of art aficionado W. Allan Manford, who possessed — for a time — what was considered the finest collection of Group of Seven paintings in Canada, Sotheby's Canada president David Silcox told CBC News.

Sunlight in the Forest by Emily Carr is one of the featured lots of the upcoming Sotheby's Canada spring auction on June 2. (Sotheby's Canada)

Though Manford had sold a few major works in the past decade, "he kept some pretty wonderful things for himself," Silcox said, noting the works by Harris, David Milne, J.E.H. Macdonald and Emily Carr that will be sold in Toronto on June 2.

For instance, a Carr from the collection — the oil-on-canvas work Sunlight in the Forest — is the top lot and estimated to sell for $700,000 to $900,000.

While the public's taste typically runs to the Group of Seven, their contemporaries and has also expanded to latter collective Painters Eleven, Silcox is especially excited by Canada's newer wave of living contemporary artists.

Lots in the upcoming sale include works by Kent Monkman, Charlie Pachter, Edward Burtynsky, Graham Gillmore and Attila Richard Lukacs.

"We're — relatively speaking — still a small country as far as the contemporary art market is concerned. We still have a way to go to catch up to places like the U.K., France, Germany, even Australia," Silcox said.

Sweeping sale in Toronto

Access to many collections has also led to a large, sweeping sale for Toronto-based auctioneer Joyner Waddington, slated for June 1.

"We're starting an hour early to accommodate," said Joyner Waddington vice-president Rob Cowley.

Joyner Waddington will offer A.J. Casson's Street in Glen Williams this spring. (Joyner Waddington)

The Joyner Waddington offerings range from strong historical art from the 19th and 20th centuries, to living artists, native art, fine sculpture, folk art and prints, Cowley noted.

"We're very pleased with the breadth of the sale," which will be "accessible to many different types of collectors across the country."

So far, the A.J. Casson oil canvas Street in Glen Williams — featured on the cover of the Joyner Waddington spring catalog — has been garnering the most interest from buyers, Cowley said. The vibrant small-town Ontario-inspired work is estimated to sell for $200,000 to $250,000.

Appetizing sculpture

On the other end of the scale is Flat Paraire Pantry, a massive painted ceramic and wood sculpture by Saskatchewan artist Victor Cicansky (estimated to sell for between $10,000 and $15,000) that has also sparked buzz and excitment among art lovers and auction staffers.

"In the past, at auction, you've literally seen just one mason jar," Cowley said of Cicansky's whimsical, food-related sculptures.'

"In this case, you have a pantry full of not only the mason jars, but also made up of the cabbages and potatoes [and vegetables] ... It's eight feet long [2.43 metres] and over eight feet high," he added.

"We're very excited to see what is going to happen with that piece at auction."

The

Victor Cicansky sculpture, Flat Prairie Pantry, is estimated to sell for between $10,000 and $15,000 at this spring's auction. (Joyner Waddington)

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Julie Saeger Nierenberg

I paint and draw landscape, still life, wildlife, and portrait subjects in acrylics, watercolors, graphite, and oils. A percentage of all my art sales is donated to scholarship funds, art exchange sponsorship, and charity organizations.

Want to see more of her work? Click here

AGO reaches tentative deal with union

Just in time for the long weekend the AGO keeps its doors open!

CBC News - Art & Design - AGO reaches tentative deal with union.

AGO strike deadline looms

People hoping to visit Toronto's Art Gallery of Ontario over the long weekend may be locked out if a contract impasse can't be resolved and a strike is called.

The union representing gallery workers says it is still negotiating with the gallery and has extended its strike deadline to noon on Friday.

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World's Biggest Art Thefts - Timeline

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation estimates that art thieves nab about $6 billion US worth of precious works annually, making this the fourth most profitable crime after money laundering, drugs and arms trafficking.

Some of the world's most famous artworks have been stolen at some point, including Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, which was taken from the Louvre in August 1911 by Vincenzo Peruggia, a former employee of the Paris museum. Though Pablo Picasso was among those questioned about the theft, Peruggia — who claimed he wished to repatriate the work to Italy — was discovered trying to sell it to the Uffizi Gallery about two years later.

Well-known pieces are stolen not just for profit, but also as a type of trophy robbery to impress others. Stolen art can also be used as a bargaining chip between crime syndicates.

Major art thefts in recent times

May 20, 2010: Five paintings — worth up to $124 million — are snagged from the Musée d'Art moderne de la ville de Paris including Picasso's Le pigeon aux petits-pois, Matisse's La Pastorale and Braque's L'olivier pres de l'Estaque.



Cezanne's The Boy in the Red Vest, stolen in 2008, is still missing. (Stadtpolizei Zuerich/Foundation E.G. Buehrle Collection/Keystone/Associated Press)

Feb. 10, 2008: Four paintings by van Gogh, Monet, Cézanne and Dégas are stolen by armed thieves from a private museum in Zurich, Switzerland. The van Gogh and Monet works are recovered. Cezanne's The Boy in the Red Vest and Degas's Viscount Lepic and His Daughters (together worth about $163 million) are still missing.

Feb. 26, 2007: Two Picasso paintings, worth nearly $66 million US, and a drawing are stolen from the Paris home of the artist's granddaughter. Police recover the art when the thieves try to sell it.

Dec. 20, 2007: Picasso's Portrait of Suzanne Bloch (worth up to $50 million) and Candido Porinari's The Coffee Worker (worth about $5.5 million) are taken from the Sao Paulo Museum of Art in Brazil. They are later found.

Feb. 24, 2006: Four works by Monet, Matisse, Picasso and Dali, as well as other objects, are stolen from the Museu Chacara do Ceu in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil during a Carnival parade.

Art Loss Register operates the world's largest private international database of more than 100,000 "uniquely identifiable stolen and missing items." Since its debut in 1991, it has reportedly recovered more than $320 million worth of missing art.

Aug. 22, 2004: Armed thieves barge into Oslo's lightly guarded Munch Museum in broad daylight and, before a group of startled patrons, rip the Edvard Munch masterpiece The Scream and his Madonna from the wall.

July 31, 2004: Ten paintings from a collection housed in a historic hospital in Rome are stolen from an unguarded restoration room. The missing works include The Sacra Famiglia by 16th-century artist Parmigianino, Flagellazione by Cavalier D'Arpino (a mentor of Caravaggio) and Testa di Vecchio by High Baroque master Lanfranco.

May 19, 2004: Picasso's Nature Morte à la Charlotte, worth about $4 million, is reported missing from a restoration studio in Paris's Pompidou Centre.



Sunflowers by Vincent van Gogh, oil on canvas, was stolen from an Amsterdam museum in 1991. It was found just hours later. (Getty)

Aug. 26, 2003: Two men posing as tourists overpower a student guide at Scotland's Drumlanrig Castle and steal da Vinci's Madonna with the Yarnwinder, worth between $50 million and $105 million. As they escaped out a window and down an outer wall, they reportedly told two New Zealand tourists: "Don't worry love, we're the police. This is just practice."

April 27, 2003: Van Gogh's The Fortifications of Paris with Houses, Poverty painted by Pablo Picasso and Paul Gauguin's Tahitian Landscape are stolen from Manchester's Whitworth Gallery. The paintings are later found, rolled up in a cardboard tube, in a nearby public washroom with a note saying the thieves only wanted to highlight the gallery's poor security.

Dec. 7, 2002: Thieves break into Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum several hours before its opening and, in just a few minutes, steal two early oils by the Dutch painter, View of the Sea at Scheveningen and Congregation Leaving the Reformed Church in Nuenen. They leave only the ladder and rope they had used to climb up the museum walls and to make their escape.

Feb. 12, 1994: Munch's The Scream is taken from the National Gallery in Oslo. The stolen painting is the original out of the four versions Munch produced (two more are in the collection of the Munch Museum while the fourth belongs to a private collector). It is recovered three months later.

In 1995, Interpol created a database of missing art that currently includes more than 26,000 items. The organization's general secretariat also produces a CD-ROM – updated every two months in English, Spanish, French and Arabic – of all the missing items, and provides it to museums, antique dealers and collectors.

April 1991: Sunflowers, Van Gogh's most celebrated work, is among the 20 paintings stolen from the Van Gogh Museum. The haul is found hours later in an abandoned car.

March 18, 1990: In one of the biggest art thefts in history, two men disguised as police officers hoodwink and then handcuff the security guards at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, before making off with three Rembrandts, a Johannes Vermeer, an Édouard Manet and five Dégas works. At the time, the haul is estimated to be worth about $392 million; it has never been found.

What can be done with art in the black market? Watch this video from the Art Loss Register:

http://www.cbc.ca/video/player.html?category=News&zone=arts/artdesign&site=cbc.news.ca&clipid=1499237320

Article Written By CBC NEWS

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Douglas Coupland donates archive to UBC

Writer and artist Douglas Coupland, credited with popularizing the term Generation X with his novel of the same name, has donated his archives to the University of British Columbia.

"I am honoured that UBC has accepted my papers," said Coupland in a statement released on Thursday. "I hope that within them, people in the future will find patterns and constellations that can't be apparent to me or to anyone simply because they are there, and we are here.

"The donation process makes me feel old and yet young at the same time."

The author will also receive an honorary degree from UBC on May 27.

Read more at CBC

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The Open Show Artist Call

Calls for Submissions - Acrylic, Ceramics, Crafts, Digital Media, Glass, Mosaic, Illustration, Jewelry, Mixed media, Metalsmithing, Sculpture, Oil, Pastel, Photography, Watercolor Online Gallery

Take part in “The Open Show”, a curated online exhibition at SoftCanvas.com. All subject matter and media is “open”. We’re looking for the best five works you have, no matter who you are or what defines you as an artist. The cost to enter is $20. Visit our website for more information and application.Even if your work is not accepted into the final show, we’ll place a link on our site to yours. Hit us with your best shot!

Click here for more details

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Local Design Jobs

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2010 Student Awards Call For Submissions

CALL FOR ENTRY. DEADLINE: MAY 21, 2010

Open to all students in creative advertising, graphic design, interactive media, photography and illustration, the Applied Arts Student Awards is the largest and most respected show of its kind in North America. Winning an Applied Arts Student Award is a great way to launch your career! Your submissions will be judged by respected senior communications professionals, so you’ll know how your work stands up according to the highest standards in the industry.

Apply Online Here

Online Creative Job Listings

Artistically Connected is always looking to help the creative community find new channels for revenue. So, if you are you looking for jobs that are creative, challenging and fun while still being flexible and enable you to work from home you have come to the right place!

Click here to see what is available now

Visual Artist to Film Maker

The often attempted transition from visual arts to main stream film making is a challenging one to say the least. Many have tried, some have succeed, many have failed. Will Sam Taylor-Wood and Shirin Neshat, two popular art photographers and video artists make that successful leap to film?

Read the full article by CBC here

Trailer: Women Without Men

New Bravo! Canada Series Challenges Canadian Artists

ABOUT THE SHOW

Canada has world famous celebrities and a vibrant visual arts community made up of world class artists. With STAR PORTRAITS we celebrate both!

Created by Toronto-based production company PTV Productions, based on the hit BBC program, and hosted by Broadway star Louise Pitre, this unique 13-part series heads into uncharted waters. It introduces Canadians to working artists and pairs them with well-known Canadian personalities as their subject.

In each 30-minute episode, three Canadian painters are brought together, each to paint the same celebrity's portrait. With the clock ticking, the artists have mere hours to get to know their subject. Once the excitement of meeting their celebrity muse fades, the artists are left with only two weeks to create their masterpieces. Pitre visits the artists' studios to get a glimpse of their process. When the clock runs out, the paintings are revealed to the celebrity sitter, who must choose only one portrait to add to their personal collection. Of the remaining portraits, six will be chosen by the Portrait Gallery of Canada for their permanent collection and the rest will be auctioned off at Joyner Waddington's Auction of Important Canadian Art, with proceeds going to the celebrities' charity of choice.

STAR PORTRAITS features an impressive line-up of celebrity guests, including; Alex Trebek, The Amazing Kreskin, Ashley MacIsaac, Colin Mochrie, Debbie Travis, Elvis Stojko, Enrico Colantoni, George Chuvalo, Margaret Trudeau, Measha Brueggergosman, Pamela Wallin, Dr. Roberta Bondar, and General Romeo Dallaire.

Article from Bravo.ca

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The National Gallery of Canada Starts Cutbacks on Canadian Programs and Jobs

In an effort to save money The National Gallery of Canada has cancelled several art education programs for children, teenagers and seniors. They used to have summer and March break camps for students, offer special tours for seniors and Family Fundays.

What are they using the money for instead? To help fund the development of a more comprehensive website and offering better information next to artwork.

"We can't be all things to all people," he said, "so we've got to make some sacrifices to our local audience in order to serve our national audience — and that really is our mandate."

Well, the local audience is really who pays with 27 job cuts and the removal of locally cherished programs. Blaming the economy for fewer visitors this year, is pinning the gallery’s hopes on a website the best idea?

Tamara Doleman, a visual arts teacher in Ottawa, nailed our thoughts on the head.

"Ultimately the support [for the gallery] comes from the community which lives here, and if we want to build a community of students that know how to look at art and understand culture, we need to make sure that we're addressing the people that live in the neighbourhoods," she said.

Read the full article at CBC News: http://www.cbc.ca/arts/artdesign/story/2010/05/17/ott-gallery-funding.html

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A Vancouver exhibit explores the artistry of crafts

At the Museum of Vancouver, you'll find Art of Craft, which encompasses work by B.C. artists, Selected Works of Unity & Diversity and a survey of Canadian artistry (that features 70 pieces recently displayed at the Cheongju International Craft Biennale 2009).

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How to price your work

Listen to this podcast on how to value your work as a visual artist.

Valuing Your Work

It is International Museums Day!

Looking for places to go today?

Here is a list of Canadian museum events to celebrate Museums Day!

Montreal: http://www.museesmontreal.org/en/Home_page

Ontario: http://newsarticle.virtuo.ca/mmweb/

Ottawa: http://app01.ottawa.ca/ArtsCalendar/eventDetails.jsf;jsessionid=C65DAB9D9AC15A44FE0465F16FCE92F0?lang=en&eventId=4327

Alberta: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/travel/Royal+Alberta+Museum+offers+behind+scenes+tours/3035341/story.html

Canada: http://www.sciencetech.technomuses.ca/english/newsrel/2010-celebrate-international-museums-day.cfm

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Alicia Surveyer Posts New Drawings on Artistically Connected

About the Artist: Alicia Surveyer

Alicia Surveyer was born in Lachine, Quebec in 1980. Although she may be young in age, Alicia is mature in her artistic achievement and has been showing her work for over ten years. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Concordia University, and has extensive experience in the many aspects of her field: teaching art, showing her work, publishing projects, modeling for artists, gallery work and representation including exhibits at 10 different galleries, as well as extensive travel to art-historical centers. She was also invited to display her art online by the Saatchi Gallery, London, in 2006. She has developed an innovative and exciting visual style in her painting, all the while dealing with modern-day issues about nature and her stance towards it. Alicia believes her role as a creative person is a vital one because of an artistic capability to make statements that express ideas to the public. Her work is currently archived in the collection of the Library and Archives of the National Gallery of Canada, and Alicia has sold dozens of pieces to private collectors.

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From Stumps to Sculptures

There are 200 tree stumps throughout Brampton that could potentially become works of art as the city moves into high gear to establish a Tree Sculpture Program.

The program was first suggested to the Flower City Strategy Committee by resident Bob Posliff last October after 48 city-owned trees were removed because they were identified as being hazardous. Of those, 20 were in the downtown core. Once removed, each remaining stump was between four and six metres high.
Now, city officials are working toward a June launch of the new program, which would start with trees in the downtown, but, if successful, would be expanded to other parts of the city.
“We would like to get this program off the ground immediately,” Regional Councillor Gael Miles told Committee of Council recently. “There are a number of tree stumps just waiting to become a beautiful form.”
Miles said the program has been explored by the city’s Flower City Strategy Committee, which she chairs, and the plan is to bring people together on an ad hoc committee, tentatively dubbed the Tree Sculpture Art Advisory Committee.
The committee would look at how to select an artist and a theme for the carvings, how to go about public consultation, how to get the support of adjacent homeowners, cost and maintenance issues.
The plan is to launch the program in June at the opening day of the Farmers’ Market.
There is already one tree sculpture in Brampton’s downtown core. Sculptor Jim Menken used a chainsaw to carve one of the dying trees in Gage Park into the image of a war veteran. It was the first, and only, tree carving of its kind in Brampton. In Orangeville, there are more than 40 tree carvings all around the community, done by Menken.
Jamie Lowery, Brampton’s commissioner of community services, told councillors there are plenty of candidates.
“We have 200 potential trees that can be utilized in this program,” he said.
The Tree Sculpture Advisory Committee would also look at a preliminary budget estimate and the possibility of planting a replacement tree within the immediate vicinity of each tree removed or used for a sculpture. The stumps could be carved on site, or they could be removed and put in a different location..
Mississauga also has a community tre sculpture program with wildlife and natural heritage themes related to the community in which the 15 carvings are located.

By: PAM DOUGLAS
Publication: Brampton Guardian
Click here to see the article

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A New Photo Exhibition Looks At The History of Canada's Image Abroad

Too often do I travel outside our boarders and have to explain that I do not snowshoe to work from my igloo every day nor do I know your friends friend named Jason who lives “up there in Canada too”. Lastly don’t make me say about or eh or I may have to have the Mounties arrest you. Many of the images in O Canada, a new photo exhibition that runs until February 27^th showcase similar stereotypical images of Canada. The bulk of the pictures, on display at the Stephen Bulger Gallery in Toronto, document the nation's first century, from Confederation to Expo '67. Images were also pulled from the New York Times’ vast photo archive in Queens.

Many of the photos in the show illustrate how Canada grew to be perceived by the rest of the world. Winter is a constant presence, and the Mounties and Niagara also get their close-ups. Some images document the central role aboriginals have played in the nation's story, while others bear witness to the birth of a multicultural society.

As Canadians we have to stand tall and spread the word that we have a beautiful country filled with some of the most interesting and brilliant people in the world. Education standards bar none and fruitful farm lands. We need to encourage tourism and let them see what we are really all “about”.

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Koffler Center of The Arts

Koffler Center of The Arts
"A world of ideas, discovery, passion, inspiration, creativity, and fun."  The contemporary Jewish cultural institution located adjacent to the Don Valley ravine will have a new, state-of-the-art facility which will include exhibition galleries; dance, music, visual and digital arts studios; performance and presentation spaces; and so much more. Thanks to a generous $20 million gift from the Koffler family.

Visit the Koffler center's website here

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Women In Art

Just as the world changes so to does the image of beauty. For centuries, brilliant artists attempting to show the world what beauty is, have painted women. The interesting thing is what is beauty? What we perceive it as has not only changed recently, but has always been changing. Influenced by our culture greatly, below take a look at how western art has documented our love affair with beauty over the last 500 years.



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Are you looking get your art seen by hundreds of eager buyers? We are looking for new Canadian artists to be showcased on our  site. Visit us at www.artisticallyconnected.com and try our 14 day FREE trial today!

Have you spotted Banksy?

Banksy art turns up in Toronto

New graffiti images that appeared in Toronto over the weekend are the work of Banksy

Have you spotted any?



Read more: CBC

Creativity Should Always Be Encouraged!

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Why create reproductive prints?

Many artists ask us about creating prints of their work. They often wonder how they can benefit. Art prints are a cost-effective way for art lovers to purchase your art. Unlike originals that can only be sold once, having prints allows for more sales opportunities without having to recreate. A common misconception is that prints have to be mass-produced. You can still maintain that prestige of originals by limiting your editions. A limited edition is a great way to maximize your sales and keep costs low for both you and the buyer.

Take a look at this video:



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Tips For Price Setting Your Art

Artist Barbara Kruger brings her pop-art propaganda to Toronto

New installation in the AGO by Barbara Kruger will soon be open for viewing. This exhibit makes quite a statement. Controversy has already sparked. Thoughts?

Read the article at CBC ART NEWS

About Us

The Best Place To Buy and Sell Art

Who Are We And What Do We Do?

Artistically Connected is based in Toronto, Ontario and our focus is building a network and global marketplace for artists and art buyers. We strive to provide you a sense of community and the highest level of customer service.

Originally founded as an art consulting company for corporate clients, Artistically Connected has evolved its business to cater to individual home owners and small businesses through its on-line store. To do this, Artistically Connected has established artist agreements and shipping contracts to ensure that anyone in any place has the ability to access original art at an affordable price point. Now you have more selection, better pricing and more convenience than going to local galleries or brick and mortar businesses for your art.

Selling and buying art can be very challenging and a time consuming task. Art is subjective and each person (artist and buyer) has specific styles and sizes they are looking for, which is why Artistically Connected developed this on-line marketplace with the highest level of security, customer service, quality control and wide range of art.

How does Artistically Connected benefit? Each member pays low monthly fees. These fees are allocated toward marketing and advertising initiatives, developing better customer service solutions and staffing needs.

Artistically Connected is completely transparent and there are never any unexpected surprises before or after a transaction has been made. So, no matter what you are looking for abstract, landscape, mixed media, photography, limited edition prints, sculpture a particular size or colour we can help!

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Toronto Artist: B D. Verhoog Sells His Work On Artistically Connected!

B D. Verhoog Joins Artistically Connected!



About B D. Verhoog
Born in Capetown South Africa and now living in Toronto Canada. Working in Film & Television as a Production Designer, finding time to produce artwork has lead him to using a digital 35m camera and his computer, producing prints on various media like watercolor and canvas papers.

View all available work by B D. Verhoog on Artistically Connected.
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Marilyn Manson is a portrait artist?

http://www.artnet.com/artist/424834637/marilyn-manson.html

Thursday May 13, 2010

Art Market Watch
Artdotnet
Writer: W. Robinson

Thursday May 13th, 2010

[caption id="attachment_93" align="alignleft" width="133" caption="Jasper Johns Flag Painting "][/caption]

$28.6 Million for 'Flag'
The Wall Street Journal
Writer: Kelly Crow
Printed in The Wall Street Journal, page A23

Prizewinning Art by Françoise Sullivan

The latest Gershon Iskowitz Prize Exhibition showcases pioneering multi-media artist Françoise Sullivan, recipient of the 2008 Iskowitz Prize. Among the works is a remarkable series of photographs from 1948 when Sullivan, just returning from studying dance with Martha Graham in New York, staged her famous Danse dans la neige.

Rembrandt-freud, Etchings from Life

This exhibition creates an opportunity for a visual conversation across the centuries between two great masters of the human form, Rembrandt van Rijn and Lucian Freud.

Yael Erlichman

Born in 1954 in Kibbutz Givat Brenner, Israel, Yael Erlichman finds great aesthetic value in the most common human form. Making use of extraordinary technical skills and an eye for vivid and expressive details, she imbues her inanimate bronze figures with deep emotion, humor and energy which serve as a tribute to human nature and human optimism.

She succeeds in combining a profound awareness of the classical tradition of expressive, figurative sculpture with a subtle, playful approach. Yael studied at 2 colleges of art over the years and has apprenticed with renowned sculptors.
She works at a foundry in the Jerusalem hills and is involved in every single stage of the bronze production. Her art has been purchased by corporate and private collections worldwide and she is represented by several galleries in the USA, Canada and Europe. Yael’s sculptures are a tribute to the joy of creation.

Yael Erlichman was invited to participate in the 2009 Florence Biennale International Contemporary Art Exhibition where she won the President Award named after Lorenzo il Magnifico.

View and purchase her work by clicking here

- Artistically Connected
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Toni Wallachy

Intrigued by empty space, interested in the message between the lines. Toni tries to move at an ant’s pace sometimes experiencing life as nothing more than a square foot of color. For her, it’s all about conveying emotion and telling their story – photography allows her to do this visually.

View and purchase her work by clicking here

- Artistically Connected
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Suzie B

Suzie Boudreault is the Canadian artist behind the SuzieB Art brand. She had numerous solo and group shows. Her artwork is in private and corporate collections in North America. SuzieB, is a visual artist native of Montreal, Quebec. Her preferred medium is acrylic. Her main studio is in Toronto,Ontario. She has a second studio in St-Emile de Suffolk, Quebec –near Mont-Tremblant. SuzieB is a member of “Visual Arts Ontario”, “Paintings”, ‘’Visual Artists and their Advocates” and “Visual Collaborative”. SuzieB’s style is naive: colourful and candid. Her painting methods are intuitive and capture the energy of the subjects that are her source of inspiration. She leverages recycled materials to produce her art in the studios whenever possible.

A Unique Technique
o Each SuzieB painting is partly painted with the left hand and with the right hand. She occasionally paints with both hands, painting simultaneously different subjects.
o The artist was left-handed as a child, but was convinced at school to be right-handed. It turns out to be an advantage as an artist, since she is now ambidextrous.

SuzieB Paintings – Each one is unique… like you!
o Each SuzieB painting is an original creation.
o Each SuzieB painting includes a very small self-portrait of the artist – it can be hard to find. A philosophical Secret, associated with the self-portrait and with the conception of the painting is created for each original artwork. The Secret is sealed in a removable tube and attached to the painting. The concepts are unique to SuzieB™, they are copyrighted and registered.
o You can commission a painting – choose a landscape that means a lot to you. You can choose to have your self-portrait – with your spouse – included in the painting. The philosophical Secret will be related to the painting and to your small self-portrait in the painting.

View and purchase her work by clicking here

- Artistically Connected
www.artisticallyconnected.com

Serge Chriqui

My images are created by happenstance – that’s to say that I rarely set out to photograph anything specific. I photograph the world around me. The notion that my images capture a specific moment in time has always held great appeal for me. Digital imaging has given me complete control over the end result – I now have control of not only the creative process (actually composing and taking the photograph), but also in the editing process to bring my vision to fruition! In essence, this is the world through my eyes and I welcome you to it – enjoy and thanks for your time!

View and purchase his work by clicking here

- Artistically Connected
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Ruth Thomas

Ruth Thomas is nature photographer living in Alberta Canada.

You can view and purchase her work by clicking here

- Artistically Connected
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Martina Shapiro

Born in Czech Republic Martina now lives and paints in Vancouver, Canada. She attended art school in Czech Republic and received Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Canada. Martina is an active member of the Federation of Canadian Artists and has her work collected internationally and can also be found in the collection of the Supreme Court of Canada.

View and purchase her work by clicking here

- Artistically Connected
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Marina Hanacek

After growing up in Czechoslovakia and spending many years in West Germany, Marina immigrated to Canada. Getting into art later on in life has allowed her to use her life’s experiences to explore the canvas. Her art is an extension/reflection of her passion for the city and the city life which has enabled her to portray the architectual, organic as well as the orinmental elements in her compositions. Using xerox transfers, acrylic glasing and collage or wax services over a texture of primer, Marina is able to achieve multilevel imagery.

View and purchase her art by clicking here

-Artistically Connected
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Graeme Stover

Graeme Stover is committed to supporting Micro Finance in the Third World though the awareness generated from the purchase of his photography. All proceeds are directed towards a third world entrepreneur of the buyers choice.

View and purchase his work by clicking here

-Artistically Connected
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Lisa Rotenberg

Listed with the National Gallery of Canada,  Lisa Rotenberg is a published author and illustrator.  Her art work can be found in corporate and private collections around the world. Recently, she has opened rocketfuelcoffee.com, am online coffee company which carries one of her original works on the label!

View and purchase her work by clicking here

-Artistically Connected
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Elena Henderson

Born in Russia in 1965 Elena Henderson was able to accomplish her degree in Computer Arts in 1989, but since an early age Elena Henderson was drawn to paint and discovered her natural ability for Design.
Her strong passion for Design brought her to Toronto, Canada in 1996. Since that time she has been pursuing her carrier as full-time artist.

In 2005 she enrolled in International Academy of Design (Toronto, Ontario) and successfully graduated with Diploma in Interior Design. At the same time she was attending visual arts courses in Halliburton School of Art (Flemington College, Ontario) and also studied with Lila Lewis Irving, Peter Kolisnyk and Bram Wolf.

Since 2006 she lives and works in her studio in Amaranth, Ontario.

She is now working on several new projects. They include a new series of abstract paintings, using raw canvas and acrylic textured paint.

She developed her own original approach to the painting process, using her imagination and intuition that lead her all the way. The creative dialogue between the artist and media she is working with let her express the emotions in her paintings without any limits.

Her art lets the viewer escape from reality into a magical world of colours and texture, harmony and natural balance. Surrounded by nature she discoverers her style, which is based on inner harmony and a great awareness of the beauty of forms.

She really believes that the artist of the future will be a Designer. She believes that only the power of good Design makes any art piece complete. Her Passion for Design makes each of her works an unforgettable experience.

You can view and purchase her work by clicking here

-Artistically Connected
www.artisticallyconnected.com

Edward Goodon

Edward’s artwork and sculptures were a hobby in the past but after many
compliments and much encouragement from everyone who seen his work, he
decided to take it to the next level. So with the help of his wife (an
accountant/business manager), they created Metal Dream Designs 6 years
ago.

Since then, we have participated in several juried art shows, displayed
artwork in a local gallery and sold more than 200 pieces of artwork.
The following is some of the shows that we have displayed in (most were
juried shows):
ARTWALK 2005 to 2009
Lake Country Art Gallery show from March 15 to April 30th
RCA Potters and Artisans Show 2009
Carr’s Landing Art Tour from 2005 to 2010,
Canada Day Celebrations for the past 3 years
Wilden Art Promenade
Caetani Gardens Garden Art Fair,
Kelowna Garden Show
ARTSCO Open Studio
Alternator Gallery
Kelowna Life Camp; Arts Festival

His artwork has been displayed in many residential gardens and homes
around Kelowna, Winfield, Carr’s Landing, Whiterock, Victoria and
Calgary. He have taken on several commercial projects and custom pieces
as well and has made several donations of artwork to public gardens and
fund raising events including Summerland Ornamental Gardens, Carr’s
Landing Yacht Club and Armstrong Riding Club.

We complete 6 to 8 custom projects every year, starting with a quote for
price, drawings and timelines for the past 6 years. All of our
projects have been completed on time, within budget and our customers
are very happy with the finished pieces. Several of the projects have
been over $5,000 and one was over $10,000.

We are one of the founding members of the Carr’s Landing Art Tour
(successful for the past 5 years) and serve on the Society of Lake
Country Public Art Gallery as the Director and Accountant.

View Edward’s Work here

-Artistically Connected
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Christopher Durocher

Christopher Durocher was born in Windsor Ontario in 1982. He holds a BFA from the University of Windsor, and a MFA in photography from Cranbrook Academy of Art. Durocer’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. Most recently at the Toronto Art Centre (Toronto, ON), Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, (Gatlinburg, TN), college for creative Studies (Detroit, MI), Cranbrook Art Museum (bloomfield Hills, MI), Museum of New Art (Pontiax, MI), Thames Art Gallery (Chatham, ON) and the Broad Street Gallery (Athens, GA).

View and purchase his work by clicking here

-Artistically Connected
www.artisticallyconnected.com

Alicia Surveyer

Alicia Surveyer was born in Lachine, Quebec in 1980. Although she may be young in age, Alicia is mature in her artistic achievement and has been showing her work for over then years. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Concordia University, and has extensive experience in the many aspects of her field; teaching art, showing her work, publishing projects, modeling for artists, gallery work and representation including exhibits at 10 different galleries, as well as extensive travel to art-historical centers.

View and purchase her work by clicking here

- Artistically Connected
www.artisticallyconnected.com

Adi Zur

Adi Zur was born in Tel-Aviv, Israel. She grew up close the sea and was very influenced by its beauty. Near her house were archaeological digs with ancient graves, and she would spend a lot of my time playing there with friends. Adi studied philosophy in the University of Tel-Aviv and studied art after her graduation before becoming an art teacher for 12 years. In 1991 Adi and her husband decided to move with their three children to Toronto, Canada. Here she studied at OCAD in the faculty of Drawing and Painting and graduated with an Honours degree. Since then she has been a Mixed Media Artist.

To view and purchase her work click here

- Artistically Connected
www.artisticallyconnected.com

Giclee

What is Giclee?
Giclee (pronounced"zhee-clay") refers to the process of making fine art prints from a digital source using ink-jet printing. In giclee printing, no screen or other mechanical devices are used and therefore there is no visible dot screen patterns. The image has all the tonalities and hues of the original painting!

How long do they stay looking sharp?
When the giclee is made the artists uses special light-fast inks, which, if kept out of the sun, will remain true for up to 25 years. The giclee printing process provides better colour accuracy than other means of reproduction. The quality is so great it is commonly found in museums, art galleries, and photographic galleries.

How are they made?
Giclee prints are created typically using professional 8-Color to 12-Color ink-jet printers. These modern technology printers are capable of producing incredibly detailed prints for both the fine art and photographic markets.

What's the difference between a C-type and a Giclee print?


To see an example of giclee prints click here

Hanging Wall Art

There are many ways to hang your art. Here are a few tips and tricks when it comes to the where and the how's of hanging your art.

The where...

Walls:
OUTSIDE WALLS
Outside walls can become cold and damp inside. If you hang your artwork on these walls you can attract mold. That outside wall really needs art? That’s okay you can avoid this by tilting the picture slightly forward and then cutting a piece of cork from a bottle of wine (another reason to drink more wine :) ) and placing it behind the piece at the bottom and in the center.

** This can also solve glare issues.

WATERCOLOURS AND PHOTOGRAPHS
Watercolours and photographs can fade under constant sunlight and white paper will turn yellow. So we suggest you rotate your pieces around the house during different seasons. This will also allow you to refresh your home and show off old pieces in new places!

DOORWAYS
We do not suggest you hang pictures behind open doors for two main reasons: the door will block the work (as doors are usually left open) and second, if the door is opened quickly the back of the door can damage it or if its slammed shut you run the risk of it falling and damaging. Put your work where it can be seen and admired!

SMALL PICTURES
When hanging small pictures remember that you will have to get close to admire them and their detail. So avoid placing large objects (beds, tables, etc.) in front blocking access to get in close.

FIREPLACES AND RADIATORS
Fireplaces and radiators give off heat but can also be the focal point in your space. Do not be discouraged from hanging your work above these but do monitor the amount of heat being generated. We suggest you rotate your work so one piece isn’t always in the hot spot.

BATHROOMS AND KITCHENS
Bathrooms and kitchens are really only an issue if steam and condensation are a factor. Both these spaces are a great spot to put pieces so choose art that is made from more durable medias like glazed tiles and mosaics.

Aesthetics
PLAIN, DARK WALLS
If you have plain dark walls this is your chance to be BOLD choose bold pictures done in oils, acrylics or maybe tribal art. Also consider a great frame to complement your work.

PLAIN, LIGHT WALLS
With plain, light coloured walls we suggest you consider pastels, watercolours and more delicate work. Avoid using a frame with a strong contrast to the wall or the artwork.

LARGE, BARE WALLS
Large bare walls look best with ONE very large piece, or a mixture of large and medium-sized pieces. Keep scale in mind when choosing art for this space - small work looks silly and out of place on a large wall.

WALLPAPERS
Wallpaper is a challenging background for displaying artwork (especially wallpapers with patterns). The bolder the pattern the more the fight for attention you will get between the art and the wall. Don't be discouraged however, simply mount around the work as much as possible to give it a solid background as much as possible.

LARGE BOLD PAINTINGS
When you see a large piece, what is the first thing you do? You stand back to see the full picture. Large work must have the space available to step back and view it. This does not mean that you can not use a large piece in a small space, just make sure to give it the entire wall to itself.

GROUPINGS (IN A LINE)
If the pieces are all the same size, keep exact spacing between them. With any line grouping, make sure the bottom of the work is in a straight line (its okay if the tops are uneven!). If the are different sizes put the largest in the middle and try to create balance on either side.

GROUPINGS (IN A SQUARE)
If you have a mix of sizes and wish to hang them in a square formation, get painters tape (or a pencil, just don't permanently mark the wall) and measure out a square. Put the larger pieces on the outer edges of the square and fill the center with your smaller pieces. The key here is to make sure your top and bottom lines are straight.

ALIGNMENT
Hang pictures straight. Do not try to line up the work based on the ceiling or floor lines (they are not always straight). If your work is placed somewhere it can be brushed against (stairs) place a piece of double sided tape or sticky tack behind the bottom edge of the frame.

HEIGHT
The guide line for hanging artwork is the center of the piece at eye level (of the average person). Keep in mind the activity in the room, for example, if its the dining room eye level is when you are sitting.

DON'T HANG IT AT ALL
You can also consider leaning your work against a wall while it sits on a mantel or shelf or maybe on an easel!

The How's


WALL STRENGTH
Check the wall that you are planning to hang your work on. Brick or concrete walls will require heavy-duty concrete nails. Panel or partition walls will only need standard picture nails. Also, keep in mind the ability of the wall to take the weight of the work. If the wall is crumbly, put a piece of tape over the place you are about to put the nail. That way the wall around the hole will be able to absorb the impact.

STRINGING
Do not use garden wire or general use string. Use picture cord or wire when attempting to maintain a specific height because they have less give.

- Artistically Connected
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