Toronto in the autumn is hot, and I am not talking about our recent heat wave. From international film festivals, exhibits, art fairs and auctions, the arts and culture scene in Toronto seemingly explodes with the coming of the new school year. In this edition, I’ve decided to showcase the must-sees and dos this coming fall season in our glorious city.
Artist Textiles: Picasso to Warhol
Until 4 October 2015
Students: $6, pay what you can 5 – 8 pm on Wednesdays
www.textilemuseum.ca
Nestled in Toronto’s downtown core and neighbours to City Hall and the Superior Courts of Justice is the Textile Museum of Canada. Artist Textiles: Picasso to Warhol showcases a major international exhibition of textile design by some of the world’s most acclaimed twentieth century artists. Organized in conjunction with the Fashion and Textile Museum in London, UK, the exhibit displays a blend of fine art and industrial design and includes rare clothing from the 1950s made with artist designed fabrics. Major highlights of the exhibit include Picasso’s Fish Print dress and works by Salvador Dali, Henri Matisse, Marc Chagall, Henry Moore, Joan Miró and Andy Warhol. Join Dr. Elizabeth Legge of the University of Toronto on September 16 for the lecture Inside Story: The Art History of Artist Textiles as she explores artists’ movements from painting canvas to cloth.
Scotiabank Nuit Blanche
3 October 2015
Free
www.scotiabanknuitblanche.ca
Scotiabank Nuit Blanche 2015 is projected to be bigger and better than the past nine years. With more than 110 projects by 400 artists, the event runs from dusk till dawn as a mixture of public and independent art projects across the city. Internationally acclaimed artist JR curates a special exhibit entitled Black and White Night that includes interactive installations, film, and photographs around City Hall and down Bay Street. From the 27th of September to the 28th of October, a series of themed lectures provide behind the scenes insight into this year’s event and are held at AGO First Thursdays, Art Toronto, and The Power Plant Gallery. Make sure to plan your night ahead of time, dress in layers, and keep in mind that the TTC is extending all night subway service.
Art Toronto
23-26 October 2015
Student: $15
www.arttoronto.ca
Founded in 2000, Canada’s premier international art fair will be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Galleries and dealers from around the world including Israel, Europe, Latin America, Canada, and the United States are registered to showcase the best of the visual art world with hopes to find a spot in private and public collections for their works. Although considered the little brother to other global art fairs, Art Toronto has grown to rival the likes of Art Basel and the Frieze. As the biggest international art event Canada offers, it is the definite place to rub shoulders with the who’s who of the Canadian art world. Art Toronto offers two special preview events that benefit the Art Gallery of Ontario, with tickets ranging from $225 to $325. I would suggest skipping the preview parties and instead attending on the Monday afternoon when crowds have thinned and you can actually get up close and personal with some phenomenal artwork.
Waddington’s Canadian Fine Art Evening Sale
Previews: 20-23 November 2015
Sale: 23 November at 7 pm
Free
canadianart.waddingtons.ca
Have you ever seen a painting sell for the price of a house in under a few minutes? This November you can experience just that at the bi-annual Canadian art auction held at Waddington’s Toronto galleries. Curated by Specialist and Vice President Linda Rodeck, the sale includes a spectrum of works including members of the Group of Seven and other prominent Canadian twentieth century artists. Rodeck has over twenty years of experience in the international art business and is one of Canada’s most respected experts, with her sales never wavering in excitement. Make sure to arrive to the sale early, as it is always standing room only, for some people watching and a few blood pressure elevating hours.
Warhol Revisited
Now until 31 December 2015
Students: $5
www.warholrevisited.com
The largest Andy Warhol exhibit ever to come to Canada opened its doors in a former Guess Jeans store at Bay and Bloor. Primarily owned by music mogul Ron Revlin, a Thornhill native who now resides in Los Angeles and founded Revolver Gallery, the collection is a fantastic survey of Warhol’s works and includes his iconic Campbell’s soup cans, portraits of Queen Elizabeth II, Marilyn Monroe, Santa Claus and Mickey Mouse. The exhibit follows on the heels of the highly successful Jean-Michel Basquiat show Now’s the Time that showcased collaborative works between Basquait and Warhol during the mid-1980s. This exhibit is unlike any you will find around the world and has a fabulous gift shop where you can score some pop art trinkets (including a Warhol skateboard for those who want to express their inner Tony Hawk). Warhol Revisited is on until 31 December at 77 Bloor St W.