A mural for the coming spring.
I travelled across the city to Greek Town.
I found 5 works of art worth posting, 2 ruined by the sun’s shadows, 1 for just in case and 1 WTF.
All in all a fabulous day!
The day was made even better by the wonderful vibes, shops, restaurant patios and people in Greek Town.
I would definitely consider moving there when we eventually downsize. It’s a beautiful lifestyle.
Pics taken by Resa – March 4, 2024
Toronto, Canada
The Artists:
This truly unique and fascinating collection of sculptures has caught my imagination.
It’s found in the temporary space of John B. Aird Gallery, housed in the Artscape building at 906 Queen W. during renovations of its home at MacDonald block.
Artist Adrienne Trent (pictured below) says, “the focus of installation work is not usually about sales, unless to a museum”.
Therefore she is able to project her mind’s eye without the yoke of commerciality. Hers is an honest exposé of “art for art’s sake”.
About 2 years ago, photos of Adrienne’s art was fed into an AI program. It came up with the image you see below. She decided to create an actual sculptural collection based on what she saw.
Below is the result. So, a reflection is added to the mirror of art imitating life and/or life imitating art : Art – imitating artificial intelligence imitating art imitating life that is possibly life imitating art, ad infinitum.
Adrienne created the sculptures using gesso plaster and old curtains from The Goodwill.
When I asked Adrienne how she came up with the title “Burdens”; she replied that she was at home when asked, on the spot, for the working title. She looked around her home, and answered “Burdens”.
Although not raised in the house she bought as an adult, it had been in her family for 6 generations. This has kept her reticent to fully renovate the original heritage. That respect was a burden. The name stuck.
John B. Aird Gallery is one of the few avant garde galleries to show in Toronto. For me it was a breath of fresh air, after strolling through certain posh downtown galleries where there’s seemingly a second coming of Andy Warhol, and commercialized street art on canvas.
The collection of 4 at the rear of the room is sustainable art from an earlier show. I love this. Some of the items include:
An old used easel, baskets, snowshoe, baseball mitt, license plate, violin, muffin tin, plaster head, rusty can, broken chair, wheel of sorts and is that a paper cup?
The show runs until March 23, 2024. Go on a Saturday, and Adrienne will be there to talk with.
Photos (except for poster) © Resa McConaghy
March 8 is International Women’s Day.
Looking around the globe, especially beyond Europe, Canada and the U.S.A., a day seems a token.
“What is the color of International women’s Day 2024?
“The colours associated with International Women’s Day are purple, green, and white, each carrying symbolic significance. Purple represents justice and dignity, while green symbolizes hope. White, although a contentious concept, signifies purity.”
Emmiline and Christabel Parkhurst of the UK changed purple to violet to fit the slogan “Give Women the Vote,” Women would wear these colours, as a secret language. Peridots, emeralds, pearls, diamonds, amethysts, and garnets were worn. Jewelry with chains & bars denoted she had been to jail for the cause.
I made the above “Message in a Bracelet” in 2014, a precursor to celebrate 100 years of women voting. I’m also now calling it my “International Woman’s Day Bracelet“
Owls are largely nocturnal hunters.
They might hunt from a tree like my tree (aka Resa’s Tree), which lives on Tim’s Magic Tree Sanctuary
However, I found this owl in the daytime.
You’ll notice no owls in my daytime tree!
This owl is actually sitting on rocks by porch steps.
As day closes…
My tree awaits.
Owl Pics taken by Resa – February 21, 2024
Toronto, Canada
The Artist:
Tree pics © Timothy Price.
Yes, it’s spelled different.
KISMET
a hypothetical force or personified power that determines the course of the future events : fate, destiny.
Kizmet 32 is the artist who painted this box.
Although it was kismet that I bumped into this art,
… on a sunny day along Lake Ontario.
That meant shadows, but I think they work here. They are barely noticeable on the east side of the box.
None at all on the north side. The lake is in the background.
Can’t see any on the west side. Ha! Suddenly I see KIZ.
I’m luvin’ the shadow on the south side.
I had to get in on it.
Back to the beginning.
Pics taken by Resa – February 9, 2024
Toronto, Canada
The Artist:
Once upon a time, I got to meet Fay Wray.
Holly encouraged me to draw Fay. Somehow with the drawings to go with the story and Holly publishing them, I got the nerve up to share out in the open. Thank you dear Holly!
Thank you to Trent for turning me onto to this bit of homage to Fay!
I was chatting in comments with Liz Gauffreau recently.
It got to a point where someone else might have said: I need a drink now, I’m going for a smoke, time for a coffee & some chocolate or think I’ll go for a walk.
.. but Liz, what does she say?
“I think I need some art now.”
How cool is that? Well I have art and told Liz, I have some art for you!
Then, while picking out some art, it was like ..well what does Liz like?
After sweating it out in photo files for a week, the choices were narrowed down to two.
There is this piece, which is avant garde, open to interpretations and I’m sure not everyone’s cuppa tea.
OR a HOT PINK GOD!
HOT PINK GOD is magnificent, classic, sculpture like although flat and accessible in meaning.
Of course there are other art forms, such as music.
I could sing a song for Liz, but I’m sure that would just drive her to needing more art.
It was hard for me to leave this location. I wanted to stay.
After much reflecting on the choice, it was evident that art love is subjective. Therefore it’s difficult to select for anyone other than self.
Pics taken by Resa – October 25, 2024
Toronto, Canada
The artist:
The pristine window across the street added 1 more opportunity to admire.
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