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Best of Fall 2013: the six best art exhibitions in Toronto this autumn
| September 30, 2013
1 | David Bowie Is
David Bowie released the song “Golden Years” in 1975, but only now, at 66, has he officially reached retirement age. The Thin White Duke doesn’t like to spend much time looking back, and so this exhibition—which was assembled with his blessing—does it for him. Curated by London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, and making its North American debut here, David Bowie Is presents a stunning multimedia exhibition of more than 300 objets from his incandescent career. It’s an absolute glamgasm, with Ziggy Stardust bodysuits, sketches, self-portraits, the elaborate props and set designs from the 1974 Diamond Dogstour and entries from Bowie’s personal diaries. Relentless reinvention has always been Bowie’s obsession; this is the first time his cultural mutability has been captured in one place. Sept. 25 to Nov. 27, Art Gallery of Ontario.
2 | The Cronenberg Project
Our creepy film maestro is celebrated with a multi-part exhibition that includes art inspired by his work, a virtual reality experience and, of course, screenings of his flicks. Sept. 5 to Jan. 19, TIFF Lightbox and MOCCA.
3 | Micah Lexier
Lexier, renowned for his cheeky conceptual art, gets to transform the entire Power Plant with a survey of recent creations and work in a similar spirit by more than 100 GTA artists he has selected himself. Sept. 21 to Jan. 5, The Power Plant.
4 | Festival des Métiers
Hermès’s travelling circus of luxury gives a glimpse into how the legendary house produces its to-die-for handbags, jewellery and, of course, scarves. Eleven artisans will show off their skills at this mini-atelier. Oct. 2 to 6, Design Exchange.
5 | Animal Stories
This wild exhibition presents 400 years of bestial figures in Asian porcelain, European ceramics and work by contemporary artists (including our resident china doll Shary Boyle). A truly toothsome menagerie. Oct. 10, 2013 to Jan. 12, 2014, The Gardiner Museum.
6 | Elaine Stocki
Winnipeg photographer Stocki built an international reputation on uncanny images that have the shock quality of Diane Arbus and the warts-and-all documentary spirit of early Errol Morris. Oct. 25 to Nov. 23, Stephen Bulger Gallery.
By Andrew D’Cruz, Sue Carter Flinn, Emily Landau, Alison Mah, Jason McBride, Courtney Shea, Stéphanie Verge, Chris Webster and Nathan Whitlock | Photographs: Aladdin Sane by Brian Duffy, courtesy of AGO; McQueen coat by Frank W. Ockenfels III, courtesy of ago; Cronenberg courtesy of TIFF; Lexier courtesy of The Power Plant; Métiers by Sandra Steh, courtesy of Hermès; Animals courtesy of Gardiner Museum; Stocki by Elaine Stocki, courtesy of Stephen Bulger Gallery
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