Art & Poetry Events
ART WITH HEART & ART BARRAGE
In October I was out to two art based fundraisers. The Casey House Art with Heart Auction (Oct. 18, 2011) is always a significant art based fundraiser. It was at The Carlu and there was no shortage of corporate and private buyers. Over $830,000 was raised.
In contrast to the seasoned, polished and significantly corporately supported Casey House auction, my friend Walter Willems along with Kelly McCray from Art Barrage curated a terrific first fundraiser, Freehand: A Unique Art Auction in Support of War Child at The Glass Factory, 99 Sudbury on Nov. 8, 2011. While Walter likes to make apologies for the scale of the event, he is too modest. It was a wonderful event, and I expect will become a great fundraiser for the cause and an opportunity to bid on art from some accomplished artists.
POETRY POETREE POETHREE
I focus most of my time on art, and most of the rest on poetry. The Toronto poetry scene is outrageously vibrant. Many nights a week there is an event on and now that I have this blog I will be commenting on my weekly outings.
On Nov. 19, 2011 Jay MillAr of Book Thug (founder along with Jenny Sampirisi of the Toronto New School of Writing Spring 2010) hosted an amazing evening at St. Stephens-in-the-Field featuring Anne Waldman, Victor Coleman and AroarA (musicians Andrew Whiteman and Ariel Engle). AroarA performed a beautiful set with lyrics from the 14 poems in Alice Notley’s In the Pines, vocals by Ariel, with her also playing the electric cigar box banjo and accompanied by Andrew playing guitar.
When I was in NYC for the Affordable Art Fair, it was fortuitous timing to be able to enjoy the launch of The Best American Poetry Reading 2011, hosted by David Lehman, Sept. 22, 2011 at The New School. Contributing readers included Matthew Dickman, Alan Feldman, Farah Field, Patricia Smith and Mark Strand.
THE LEAGUE OF CANADIAN POETS
This organization has been functioning since 1966 and fosters the growth of Canadian poetry and Canadian poets. I was proud to become an Associate Member in 2011.
At the Holiday Gathering on Dec. 15, 2011 it was great to meet Maryanne Casasanta, Ingel Madrus, Joanna Poblocka from the league office, Renu Mehta and poets Alan Briesmaster, Sonja Dunn, Sheila Hyland and Honey Novick. The League office is located at 312-192 Spadina Avenue.
My New Website!
I now have a new website and a blog!
It came about because of a lot a frustration with my previous website manager who has been unresponsive over the last few months. I always tried to keep it current but now that it is self managed I will be able to update as events, art, poetry or life happens.
Any comments on the new website format are welcome – always trying to make it better.
NEW YORK CITY
I really enjoyed the trip to New York to exhibit at the Affordable Art Fair (Sept. 21-25, 2011). I sold work, made some positive connections and was featured in two Art Tours guided by Chad Kouri. Thanks to AWOL Gallery for including me in the group of artists.
SEPTEMBER SHOWS
It was a really busy fall. As soon as the New York show was over I was involved with Colourshift Abstract Art Collective in upArt, The Gladstone Hotel’s Contemporary Art Fair. I sold work and received a commission.
The talented folks at AWOL Gallery also had a show The Manhattan Project/twenty eleven (Oct. 21-Nov. 6, 2011). It was a re-launch of the New York show for artist and clients that couldn’t make it to New York.
