Photo Op 2012

Photo Op 2012

The John B. Aird Gallery presents PHOTO-OP 2012 from May 1 to May 25, 2012. An opening reception and award ceremony will take place on Thursday, May 3rd from 6-8 pm.

For this 4th annual juried exhibition, 128 photographs were submitted by 63 artists. Thirty works were selected for the exhibition. The jurors were Melissa Bennett, Curator of Contemporary Art at the Art Gallery of Hamilton; Steven Beckly, a Toronto-based photographer whose work is exhibited nationally and internationally; and Dale Barrett, Director of the John B. Aird Gallery. First Prize was awarded to Amy Friend for a photo entitled, "What is done in the darkness will be brought to the light". Two Second Prizes were awarded. One to Taimaz Moslemian and Joan Lillian Wilson for a photo entitled, "Personal and Still Political 1"; the other to Darren Rigo for a work entitled "Peregrine". The Curry's Art Supplies Award was given to Tom Ridout for his image, "Deconstructing 631D".

Other artists selected to participate in the exhibition include Sylvia Adamcik, Sally Ayre, Ioana Bertrand, James Blake, April Braund, Marco Buonocore, Shirin Divanbeigui, Amy Friend, Joanna Katchutas & Christina Spina, Ladron, Lulu Ladron, Sandy Middleton, Natasha Milijasevic, Taimaz Moslemian and Joan Lillian Wilson, Oliver Pauk, Tom Ridout, Darren Rigo, Silva Mafalda, Anuta Skrypnychenko, Akas Tarmaji, Bill Wadman, Meryem Yildiz, Olga Zamora.

The John B. Aird Gallery is located at 900 Bay Street, Toronto. The gallery hours are Monday to Friday, 10 am - 6 pm.

The gallery gratefully acknowledges the support of this month's exhibition sponsor:
RESTORATION ENVIRONMENTAL

 

 

Panel Presentation/Discussion: On Being Japanese Canadian

On Being Japanese Canadian
Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Japanese Canadian Dispersal
 

Tuesday, June 19, 7 p.m.

Panel presentation and discussion:
David Tsubouchi, Natalie Higashi, Bryce Kanbara, Lillian Michiko Blakey

PRESENTERS:

David Tsubouchi
- a sansei (third generation Japanese Canadian), born in Toronto in 1951.
- during World War II his mother, Fumiko Takahashi was interned in Lemon Creek and his father, Kiyoshi Tsubouchi spent his time in P.O.W. Camp 101
- the first Japanese-Canadian to hold political office in Canada and has held numerous posts including Chair of Management Board of Cabinet, Solicitor General and Minister of Culture
- received several awards of recognition including the Bruce Bryden Leadership Award and the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre Award of Merit for Contribution to the Nikkei Community
- serves as a Member of the Board of Governors of York University, Seneca College, the Markham Stouffville Hospital and the Varley McKay Art Gallery
- chaired the Rising Sun Campaign for the people of Japan as a result of the earthquake and tsunami and is the Chair of the JCCC “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” $15M capital campaign

 Natalie Higashi
- a  sansei (third generation Japanese Canadian)  and a “Hapa”  mixed race Japanese/Chinese
- graduate of the London Film School as a Producer with several of her films winning recognition and awards at festivals around the world, including the Trailblazer Award for new, upcoming UK talent at the Edinburgh Film Festival (2008)
- In 2010, Natalie Higashi was attending City University in London, England, completing a Masters Degree in Journalism. For a graduation project she was required to do a professional project in either radio or television. As she already had a Masters in filmmaking it was an easy decision to make a film and she chose as her subject the changing face of the post-war Japanese Canadian community, a change brought about by the high intermarriage rate—95% according to Statistics Canada. The resulting film, The New Faces of the Japanese Canadian Community, was filmed partly at the 2010 Powell Street Festival and the Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre in New Denver. Through discussions with scholars and community members, the film looks at reasons behind the high rate of intermarriage and the effect of it on how Japanese Canadians perceive themselves.
- after returning to Canada, Higashi had the opportunity to revisit the topic of intermarriage, this time for radio, creating “Marrying Outside”  for CBC Radio’s The Current in 2011. The program was aired as part of series, Shifting Demographics in Canada.

Bryce Kanbara
- a sansei (third generation Japanese Canadian) whose father was in POW camp at Angler         
- member of team who worked for Redress to compensate Japanese Canadians for suffering and loss of property and livelihoods
- artist, curator and writer
- owner of you me gallery in Hamilton
- founder and first Administrator of Hamilton Artists Inc.
- curatorial positions at Burlington Art Centre, Art Gallery of Hamilton/ Visual Arts, Crafts & Design Officer at the Ontario Arts Council
- Executive Director of the Toronto Chapter of the National Association of Japanese Canadians
- Co-Chair of the Workers Arts & Heritage Centre, Hamilton.
- recipient of the Hamilton Arts Award, the Carnegie Art Award
- many public exhibitions at the regional and national levels.

Lillian Michiko Blakey
- a sansei (third generation Japanese Canadian), born in Coaldale, Alberta in 1945
- graduate of Fine Art, U of T and Faculty of Education, U of T
- former Art Head, Consultant for Literacy and Equity in the Curriculum in the North York Board of Education  and the Toronto District School Board
- professional artist for over 35 years, currently exploring her family story through paintings, collages and bookmaking
- former Art Head and Consultant for Literacy and Equity in the Curriculum in the North York Board of Education  and the Toronto District School Board
- co-author of inclusive language series “What a Wonderful World”, Pearson Publishing Inc.
- writer for  “ Talking About Identity”, Behind the Lines Publishing
- past president of the Ontario Society of Artists
- Chair, Board of Directors for partners: a collaboration
- Member, Board of Directors, John B. Aird Gallery

On Being Michiko a sansei artist’s journey

On Being Michiko a sansei artist’s journey

Lillian Michiko Blakey

Tuesday, May 29 – Friday, June 22, 2012

Opening Reception: Thursday, May 31, 6-8 p.m.

On Being Michiko: A sansei artist's journey

    Who am I?  This is a question asked by all people whose roots are  two cultures. Even though I was not born until the end of World War II and my parents were both born in Canada,  I inherited the shame of all Japanese Canadians who were caught in the  dilemma of being both Japanese and Canadian.  Like many sansei, third generation Japanese Canadians, I grew up denying my cultural heritage, my first language and my people.

    It is only in recent years that I have tried to reconcile my dilemma by depicting my family's story in my art work.  I have attempted to bring past and present together  by including myself, as I am now, looking back at events which had taken place so long ago which have shaped my worldview.

    Alienation and persecution continue to be suffered by people all over the world.  As a result, many people have come to Canada, seeking a peaceful existence in a just society.  I hope that my work serves as a tribute to the courageous people who came before me and as a visual warning that the persecution suffered by my family can be repeated even in the most democratic of countries - even in Canada - if we do nothing to stop it.

                - Lillian Michiko Blakey

RCA PRINTS TODAY: 2012

PRINTS TODAY: 2012 showcases art works by 22 printmakers from Ontario and Québec who are members of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. On view from April 3 – 27, the exhibition brings together artists from different cultural backgrounds and offers an overview of what is current in printmaking today. Participating artists from ONTARIO: Ed Bartram, Rudolf Bikkers, Jane Buyers, Tony Calzetta, Susan Collett, Pat Durr, Naoko Matsubara, Stu Oxley, Penelope Stewart, Otis Tamasaukas, George Walker; from QUEBEC: Paul Béliveau, Monique Charbonneau, Paul Cloutier, Catherine Farish, Carl J. Heywood, Harold Klunder, Ann McCall, Louis Pelletier, Marc Séguin, Francine Simonin, François Vincent.

Ontario Society of Artists 139th Open Juried Exhibition

Ontario Society of Artists' 139th Open Juried Exhibition
March 6 - March 30, 2012

DRAWING 2012: February 7 - March 2, 2012

DRAWING 2012: 13th Annual Juried Exhibition February 7 - March 2, 2012 The John B. Aird Gallery is pleased to present its 13th annual juried drawing exhibition. Running from February 7 until March 2, DRAWING 2012 presents 35 original works by emerging and established artists that demonstrate the skill and creativity of the discipline at its best. The Aird, one of the few galleries in Canada to showcase a juried exhibition where drawing is promoted as an art form unto itself, is on the ground floor of the Macdonald Block, an Ontario government building at 900 Bay Street in Toronto. It is open Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This year, 78 artists from across Canada submitted more than 150 works in a variety of styles, media and techniques for consideration. From these, two jurors selected the 35 works in the exhibition and awarded prizes. The jurors for DRAWING 2012 were Olexander Wlasenko and Dale Barrett. Olexander Wlasenko is a respected artist and curator of the Station Gallery, Whitby, Ontario. In 2011, Wlasenko’s large scale charcoal drawing “The Waiting” was awarded the DRAWING 2011 First Prize. Dale Barrett is Director/Curator of the John B. Aird Gallery. The following artists’ works have been selected for the exhibition: Amanda Burk, Martha de la Fuente, Kendra Gadzala, Peter Large, Nancy Oakes, Lois Schklar, Susan Farquhar, Joel, Fullerton, Kelly O'Neill, Irene Vaisnoras, Ivo Arnaudov, Toni Hamel, Phyllis Gordon, Pamela Dodds, Nomi Drory, Lilian B. Lampert, Ruth Greenlaw, Erin Finley, Pegi Kosa, Lulu Ladron de Guevara, David Woodward, Julia Vandepolder, Victor Gad, Arash Akhgari, Monika Raciborski, Neil Harrison, Jaymie Lathem, Marie-Eve Martel. The jurors awarded two First Prizes, one to Erin Finley of Toronto, Ont. for an ink, watercolour and gold leaf drawing entitled “Conversion of Saint Paul in Brogues”; and one to Julia Vandepolder of Hillsburgh, Ont. for a charcoal, graphite, oil/chalk pastel & conté drawing entitled “The Green Room”. The second prize went to Amanda Burk of North Bay, Ont. for a large scale charcoal drawing entitled “Dual”. Two Honorable Mentions were awarded. Peter Large of Stella, Ont. received the Japanese Paper Place Award for a graphite and colour pencil drawing entitled, “Spike’s Nest”. David Woodward of Kingston, Ont. received the Curry’s Art Store Award for a colour pencil drawing entitled “The Century Lost Its Hold”. Background to the Aird: Established in 1975 under the auspices of the Ontario Government Services Branch as the Macdonald Gallery, it was renamed in 1985 in honour of the 23rd lieutenant governor of Ontario. At the same time, responsibility for selecting the exhibitions and for day-to-day operations was handed over to a volunteer management committee. The Aird became a registered charity in 2008 and today’s volunteer board of directors are as dedicated as ever to fulfilling the aims of the gallery, notably creating awareness and enjoyment of art works by contemporary professional artists and encouraging excellence in a variety of disciplines and styles of visual art. For further information, please contact: Dale Barrett, Director director@airdgallery.org www.airdgallery.org