Art Photography in a Historic Toronto Building : Scotiabank Contact Festival
Toronto's "Contact Photography Festival" is an impressive month-long event that is now in it's twentieth year. May has been a month filled with opportunities to see a wide range of photographic art, in galleries big and small, all around the city. Not all, but most of the shows are free to see.
I previously posted about a couple of great shows I attended -- TM Glass at Onsite Gallery and Robert Mapplethorpe at Olga Korper Gallery, and I'm here with more.
As the month came to an end on Friday, I found myself dashing around the city last week, trying to see as much of the Contact exhibitions as I could, before it ended. I need not have rushed, though, as there are some great shows that went up specifically for the festival, but which will remain on display for some time yet.
Today, I'd like to tell you about one of those extended-run exhibits, and to show you the beautiful historic building it is hanging within. The show is Carrie Mae Weems - Blending the Blues, and the building is 80 Spadina Avenue.
Big News at the AGO and a Party to Celebrate it
There are several pieces of exciting news at The Art Gallery of Ontario and last weekend they held a big party, called "AGO All Hours", to celebrate. The mega art event lasted 14 1/2 hours, beginning at 10:30 am on Saturday morning and going right through until 1am on Sunday.
Attendees of all ages were invited to come to the gallery whenever they wanted to during the party, and were able to enjoy all kinds of special events and art-making opportunities. I was happy to have been invited and my mister, Nick, was glad to join me.
But first, the news ...
Live Music : Imogen Heap at The Queen Elizabeth Theatre
I received the gift of a concert ticket from my friend Andrea, as part of my birthday gift last month, and the show happened a week ago Thursday. We saw Imogen Heap at The Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
This was the first of two Toronto shows on her Mycelia Tour. Good thing there were two, as the Friday night show was completely sold out.
Robert Mapplethorpe’s Unforgettable Photographs at Olga Korper Gallery
I use the term "unforgettable" to describe Robert Mapplethorpe's photographs with intention, as I saw a collection of his work, mostly the flower images, years ago during a high-school trip to New York, and remember them distinctly. It was a life changing experience for me, actually, and my passion for cameras and picture taking was borne.
So, I was excited that a solo exhibition of his photographs was going on here in Toronto, as part of the Contact Photography Festival. Not only is the show -- called "Robert Mapplethorpe: The Outsiders" -- wonderful, the space it's hanging in, The Olga Korper Gallery, is pretty spectacular itself.
The gallery is easy to get to, located just off Dundas Street West, east of Roncesvalles, at the end of a short avenue called Morrow. It's within part of a former factory built in the early 1900s, called "The Canadian Hanson and Van Winkle Company". As far as I can determine, they made supplies for the silver-plating of metals. Today, the small cluster of historic buildings are home to galleries and offices.
A Delicious Dinner at Touhenboku Ramen on Queen Street West
Before my friend Andrea and I unexpectedly met Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, at an art gallery last week *, we went out for a meal that was so delicious that I just have to tell you about it. (* really we did, you can read about it here if you'd like!).
Now, I've only ever had ramen in a restaurant three times before so I'm not much of a connoisseur, however Andrea once lived in Asia and is quite familiar with the dish -- including knowing how to eat it with some semblance of grace! -- and she confirmed my opinion, that the "Authentic Japanese Ramen" we had at Touhenboku, (261 Queen Street West, near Duncan Street), was indeed, delicious. To quote her, "A good bowl of ramen is determined by the flavour of the broth, and theirs was very good".
