Thirty must-see pieces from the Artist Project
Thirty must-see pieces from the Artist Project
By Kevin Naulls | March 2, 2012
By Kevin Naulls | 03/02/2012
The Artist Project (Images: Kevin Naulls)
Two hundred artists, one venue: that’s the concept behind the Artist Project, an annual jury-selected event bringing together creators from a variety of disciplines, with a diverse array of talent. We took in the impressive spectacle last night at the Queen Elizabeth Building at Exhibition Place, where we saw everything from landscape paintings mimicking Group of Seven works to impressive photorealism to sculptural oddities. Everything was for sale, and the art was flying off the walls.
120646 (Image: Kevin Naulls) The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject_intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject_intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject_intro.jpg 656 380 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject_intro/ mar12artistproject_intro 0 0
120647 (Image: Kevin Naulls) No one uses VHS anymore. That’s what we assumed Matthew Sweig was trying to say The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject30-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject30.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject30.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject30/ mar12artistproject30 0 0
No one uses VHS anymore. That’s what we assumed Matthew Sweig was trying to say
120648 (Image: Kevin Naulls) Dana Filibert’s blue horse sculpture was something everyone had to stop and look at The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject29-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject29.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject29.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject29/ mar12artistproject29 0 0
Dana Filibert’s blue horse sculpture was something everyone had to stop and look at
120649 (Image: Kevin Naulls) Aislinn Caron’s sculptural oddities The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject28-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject28.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject28.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject28/ mar12artistproject28 0 0
Aislinn Caron’s sculptural oddities
120650 (Image: Kevin Naulls) Tel Aviv’s Nisim Ben Aderet creates pattern and texture with the repetition of his figures The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject27-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject27.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject27.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject27/ mar12artistproject27 0 0
Tel Aviv’s Nisim Ben Aderet creates pattern and texture with the repetition of his figures
120651 (Image: Kevin Naulls) Bailey Govier’s fantastic use of colour The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject26-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject26.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject26.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject26/ mar12artistproject26 0 0
Bailey Govier’s fantastic use of colour
120652 (Image: Kevin Naulls) Elly Smallwood’s eerily beautiful portrait (we couldn’t look away) The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject25-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject25.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject25.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject25/ mar12artistproject25 0 0
Elly Smallwood’s eerily beautiful portrait (we couldn’t look away)
120653 (Image: Kevin Naulls) Sarah Ammons creates movement with her subject on the canvas The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject24-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject24.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject24.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject24/ mar12artistproject24 0 0
Sarah Ammons creates movement with her subject on the canvas
120654 (Image: Kevin Naulls) Artist Dwight Baird’s baseball scene uses a minimal colour palette so the eye focuses on the striking figures The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject23-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject23.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject23.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject23/ mar12artistproject23 0 0
Artist Dwight Baird’s baseball scene uses a minimal colour palette so the eye focuses on the striking figures
120655 (Image: Kevin Naulls) Artist Dwight Baird tugs at our heartstrings with his vivid representations of nostalgic scenes The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject22-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject22.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject22.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject22/ mar12artistproject22 0 0
Artist Dwight Baird tugs at our heartstrings with his vivid representations of nostalgic scenes
120656 (Image: Kevin Naulls) Keita Morimoto’s portraits are as pretty as soft-focus photos, but much more striking with their monochromatic palettes The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject21-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject21.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject21.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject21/ mar12artistproject21 0 0
Keita Morimoto’s portraits are as pretty as soft-focus photos, but much more striking with their monochromatic palettes
120657 (Image: Kevin Naulls) Harv Glazer’s beautiful women get a geometric treatment The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject20-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject20.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject20.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject20/ mar12artistproject20 0 0
Harv Glazer’s beautiful women get a geometric treatment
120661 (Image: Kevin Naulls) Maureen O’Connor’s vivid photographs of what appears to be an abandoned children’s hospital The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject16.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject16/ mar12artistproject16 0 0
Maureen O’Connor’s vivid photographs of what appears to be an abandoned children’s hospital
120659 (Image: Kevin Naulls) Richard Anhert creates an animal with layers The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject18-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject18.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject18.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject18/ mar12artistproject18 0 0
Richard Anhert creates an animal with layers
120660 (Image: Kevin Naulls) And here’s Richard Anhert’s take. Society meets <em>Animorphs</em> The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject17-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject17.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject17/ mar12artistproject17 0 0
And here’s Richard Anhert’s take. Society meets Animorphs
120662 (Image: Kevin Naulls) We’re not going to lie, we have a thing for humans with animal heads. Here’s Tony Taylor’s take on this timeless tradition The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject15.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject15/ mar12artistproject15 0 0
We’re not going to lie, we have a thing for humans with animal heads. Here’s Tony Taylor’s take on this timeless tradition
120663 (Image: Kevin Naulls) Another work by Peter Barelkowski The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject14.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject14/ mar12artistproject14 0 0
Another work by Peter Barelkowski
120664 (Image: Kevin Naulls) Painter Peter Barelkowski carves elements into his canvases—a simple but effective technique The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject13.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject13/ mar12artistproject13 0 0
Painter Peter Barelkowski carves elements into his canvases—a simple but effective technique
120665 (Image: Kevin Naulls) Sarah Tacoma’s waxy treatment created the illusion of a tilt-shift photograph The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject12.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject12/ mar12artistproject12 0 0
Sarah Tacoma’s waxy treatment created the illusion of a tilt-shift photograph
120666 (Image: Kevin Naulls) Lynne Schumacher’s breathtaking paintings of trees were totally worth getting your nose up to the canvas for—the detail is incredible The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject11.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject11/ mar12artistproject11 0 0
Lynne Schumacher’s breathtaking paintings of trees were totally worth getting your nose up to the canvas for—the detail is incredible
120667 (Image: Kevin Naulls) John Ovcacik’s vivid, almost-perfect homes required thoughtful inspection The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject10.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject10/ mar12artistproject10 0 0
John Ovcacik’s vivid, almost-perfect homes required thoughtful inspection
120668 (Image: Kevin Naulls) David Marshak’s look at a vacant street reminded us of the calm before a storm The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject9-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject9.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject9/ mar12artistproject9 0 0
David Marshak’s look at a vacant street reminded us of the calm before a storm
120669 (Image: Kevin Naulls) Casey Roberts, who came from Indianapolis, was one of the standouts this year. He paints with cyanotype, which when exposed to light creates vibrant blues. That, combined with layers of a baking soda solution, peroxide and bleach, is what makes his work so special The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject8-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject8.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject8/ mar12artistproject8 0 0
Casey Roberts, who came from Indianapolis, was one of the standouts this year. He paints with cyanotype, which when exposed to light creates vibrant blues. That, combined with layers of a baking soda solution, peroxide and bleach, is what makes his work so special
120658 (Image: Kevin Naulls) The brightness of this Eric Robitaille piece makes it seem like we’re looking at an overexposed photograph The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject19-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject19.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject19.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject19/ mar12artistproject19 0 0
The brightness of this Eric Robitaille piece makes it seem like we’re looking at an overexposed photograph
120670 (Image: Kevin Naulls) Montreal’s Eric Robitaille pairs photorealism with fantasy The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject7-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject7.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject7.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject7/ mar12artistproject7 0 0
Montreal’s Eric Robitaille pairs photorealism with fantasy
120671 (Image: Kevin Naulls) Kyle Stewart adds tangible imagery to his typically abstract shapes The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject6-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject6.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject6/ mar12artistproject6 0 0
Kyle Stewart adds tangible imagery to his typically abstract shapes
120672 (Image: Kevin Naulls) Kyle Stewart’s rich colour palette made his work worth a closer look The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject5-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject5.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject5/ mar12artistproject5 0 0
Kyle Stewart’s rich colour palette made his work worth a closer look
120673 (Image: Kevin Naulls) Ali Golkar’s ladies had people coming in droves The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject4.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject4/ mar12artistproject4 0 0
Ali Golkar’s ladies had people coming in droves
120674 (Image: Kevin Naulls) See? We actually meant everyone The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject3.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject3/ mar12artistproject3 0 0
See? We actually meant everyone
120675 (Image: Kevin Naulls) Artist Jennifer Wigmore has a dog painting for everyone The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject2.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject2/ mar12artistproject2 0 0
Artist Jennifer Wigmore has a dog painting for everyone
120676 (Image: Kevin Naulls) Kelly Grace’s Date Night series The Artist Project: Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject1-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12ArtistProject1.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/the-artist-project-toronto-2012/slide/mar12artistproject1/ mar12artistproject1 0 0
Kelly Grace’s Date Night series