Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition: The Best of 2011

Related Event: Best of 2011 TOAE (Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition)

For the last fifty-one years, the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition has showed the works of over 20,000 artists in and around Toronto. As Canada’s largest outdoor art exhibition, many emerging and professional artists get the chance to display their artistic talents to the city’s art lovers in Nathan Philips Square on the second week of July.

The 2011 Toronto Outdoor Art exhibition came to a successful end on Thursday January 19, 2012 with a casual cocktail reception. Many people gathered in the First Place Gallery in the First Canadian Place, located inside the ever-confusing PATH underground shopping concourse. This exhibit features the innovative works of winners from the 2011 outdoor show. The winning pieces were chosen based on the following criteria: originality, design excellence, quality, workmanship, and consistency in style. Both professional artists and art students received monetary awards and honourable mentions for their work in their respective traditional and experimental mediums.

One of the highlights of this show was Alison Fleming’s creation entitled “Beauty Box” (2011). Selected as the “Best in Exhibition” piece, this oil on wood painting explores the visual impact and aesthetic appeal of abandoned storefronts. Fleming’s sharp attention to detail draws the life out of this abandoned establishment. The cracks and faded lettering on the sign and the weeds growing out of the sidewalk adds to its dilapidated appeal. The only signs of life in this salon are the two plants that are on the ledge of the store window. The presence of the barely seen broomstick and vacuum cleaner makes the viewer wonder what else may be hiding inside that store.

Another crowd-pleaser that evening was another oil painting entitled “Hot as Ice” (2010) by Carina Francioso. This painting was one of the two winners for the Prime People’s Choice Award, with the other winner being Sandra MacGillvray. In this particular piece, a pair of plump and glossy bright pink lips is simply holding an ice cube between the model’s teeth. The light reflecting off the ice cube and perfect lips highlights the in-your-face sexuality. At the same time, there is a hypnotic and subtle sensuality to this painting and compels one to wonder what the rest of the model looks like and if her lips are as hot as her lips. This painting exemplifies her theme of the negative and positive aspects of consumerism. Although this theme has been repeated by many artists—-i.e. “Lips” by Andy Warhol—- this is still a provocative and well-done piece of work. In other words, this painting proves that if the object is bright, colourful, sexually suggestive, and leaves the viewer wanting more, then it will appeal to the masses!

Other stand out works in the exhibit include a mixed media painting by Uros Jelic (Honourable Mention in Mixed Media), and an earthenware clay vase created by Dawn Pettigrew (Honourable Mention in Ceramics), and photography from Elise Windsor (Best Student in Exhibition, Best Student in Photography). Heather Rathbun’s “Adjustable Necklace” (2011) won the Best Jewellery in Exhibition Award for her industrially inspired necklace. This piece is part of her series that explores the functionality and interactive nature of sprockets and roller chains. Many people loved the versatility of this necklace. It’s a piece that is necklace can be stylish, modern, and functional.

Overall, this exhibition features the work of some of Toronto’s most exciting and up-and-coming artists today. It’s a celebration of the extremely impressive amount of creativity and talent that is present within the Ontario arts community.

The Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition: Best of 2011 runs from January 16, 2012 to March 30, 2012.