Opening Nov. 22:
Holiday Art Market: Nine Artists
Looking for unique gifts for friends, family or yourslf? Drop by our studios from Nov. 22-24 for an exhibit that brings nine artists together. Join us for an opening party, Friday, Nov. 22, from 6:00 – 9:00 om, Saturday, Nov. 23, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm, and Sunday, Nov. 24, 12:00 – 5:00 pm. Meet the artists, and find some inspired holiday gifts. The artists are showdcasing paintings, photographs, sculptures, drawings, illustrations, collages and greeting cards!
Past Events:
Making the Ordinary Extraordinary, Nov. 1-17
Local artist and photographer Gwen Zezulka opened her show “Reframed” at our studio on Nov. 1 (photo below). The show continues weekends until Nov. 17 (weekdays by appointment only). Gwen will be using old window frames to showcase her stunning photos, which reveal beauty she finds in the most mundane of objects. As she says, “The ordinary things in life inspire my extraordinary pictures, and I hope that by telling their stories in unique ways the viewer will reconsider the appeal of everyday objects.”
Gwen, who lives in the Roncesvalles-High Park neighbourhood, is also a web developer, a writer and a professional organizer. She has two children and a very cute dog!
Matices: Three Artists
Opening: Saturday, Oct. 19, 6:30-9:00 pm
Hours: 4:00-8:00 pm. Closed Tuesday, Thursday. Continues to Sunday, Oct. 27.
Matices is a visual celebration where three artists immerse themselves in a creative journey, intuitively exploring a vast range of media, forms, processes, and emotions. Through abstract art, collage, and mixed media techniques, each piece becomes a portal that invites viewers to discover the richness and diversity of the nuances that emerge from artistic creation, capturing the essence of deep and subtle emotions.
Jacqueline, Constanza, and Carmen, united by their Chilean roots, bring with them a combination of personalities that feel an imperative need to share their personal visions. With an intuitive sensitivity, they guide us to explore the intangible and the ephemeral in their creative process.
Artist Statements:
Jacqueline
Jacqueline Berton’s artwork emerges from a deep-seated desire to engage in the creative process as a form of introspection. Her practice channels inner energy, allowing her to express herself intuitively. This exhibition features a vibrant collection of abstract paintings and collages, where she explores the possibilities of diverse mediums such as acrylics, inks, and cold wax, creating layered and dynamic compositions.
Constanza:
Constanza Durán Vidal is a poet and visual artist who weaves together deep emotions with vivid imagery. Her poetry evokes powerful feelings, while her “magical realism”paintings bring those emotions to life with vibrant colours and enchanting scenes. She says words, images and colours are her own way of expressing emotions.
Carmen:
As a graphic designer, Carmen Reyes is used to structure and logic in their work. In contrast, their recent floral paintings embrace freedom and spontaneity. The abstract forms reflect the artist’s emotional state during creation—ranging from calm to anxious to hopeful—capturing a deeply personal journey through unrestrained expression.
Jennifer Joiner: T(r)opical in Thailand
Opening: Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, 1:00 pm at Back Lane Studios
Hours: Saturdays and Sundays, 1:00-4:00pm to Sept. 29.
Bangkok River Boat, 30×24 in., oil on birch board, 2024.
For her second show at Back Lane Studios, artist Jennifer Joiner explores the experiences and visual imagery she encountered during a three-week trip to Thailand last November.
Here’s what she says:
“As a tourist last fall in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Pai in the north, I spent my very first time in a tropical environment. It was sensational. November is not too hot, not rainy, and in the mountain elevations, just right. My experiences in Pai, in the hills, among hot springs, inspired the watercolours in this exhibit. Through my oil paintings, I’ve attempted to explore the imagery of street graffiti and medieval temple art.
“I’ve only the bare beginnings of an understanding of Thai and Lanna culture, starting with seeing Thailand as a highly decorated place with flowers, garlands, lanterns, decorative tiling, and immense amounts of imagery in religious and secular spaces. The Thai pay homage to the elephant and to many spirits, entities, and gods in an ancient blend of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Animism.
“A Western tourist like me will see these images for a brief moment without a lot of understanding. Even with studying and painting these images, one just has to step back and let them resonate.”
Jennifer will be showing a dozen watercolours and a half dozen larger oil paintings, based on Thai scenes and cultural themes. The exhibit will also include a floral-styled installation, intended to convey the atmosphere of that remarkable country.
A painter who studied at York University’s fine art department and other art schools in Toronto, Jennifer first exhibited in the mid-1990s. With the decades of earning a living behind her, she now has time for more frequent exhibits, such as “T(r)opical Thailand” at Back Lane Studios.
The show opening coincides with the Roncy Polish Festival on the Sept. 14-15 weekend. Jennifer’s show will offer a quiet retreat!
Jennifer’s exhibit will continue weekends to Sunday, Sept. 29.
Rob Gill: Opening April 12, 6:00-10:00 pm
Artist Rob Gill has been experimenting and making art for almost three decades. For his first exhibit in Toronto, he will be showing his digital work, paintings and prints. He combines all three media in his new series High Park Branches. He’s been collecting branches in the park in recent months and creating 3D models of them. He then activates the models in a virtual space, and when the digital branches come to rest, he uses the images as inspiration for paintings and prints.
Join us for the opening of his show Friday, April 12 at Back Lane Studios from 6:00 to 10:00 pm. He will explain what’s behind his art in a presentation on Friday. The show continues Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from the opening to April 28.
You can also visit by appointment. Email Rob Gill at robgillthings@gmail.com
About the Gallery:
The studio was used as a gallery for the first time when former judge Kevin Whitaker had his inaugural exhibit about five years ago. This past November, he had his 10th show at the studio.
Kevin took up painting as a new profession after being diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia, a particularly virulent form of Parkinson’s. Since that first exhibit, with the help of his partner in life and love, Marie Moliner, he has raised some $200,000 for research into Parkinson’s and dementia through the sale of his paintings and through donations.
It has been an honour to host Kevin’s shows over the years. Now, Marie is working on another project, a graphic autobiography, The Accidental Caregiver, about their lives before and after Kevin’s diagnosis. Her aim is to share their experiences and highlight resources for others living with dementia.
Call us at 647-313-1654 or email ellen@backlanestudios.ca if you or someone you know may be interested in having an exhibit.