Toronto Art Expo

Toronto's Fine Art and Cultural Event of the Spring
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Click here to access more information about special features at the show
April 10-13, 2014
Metro Toronto Convention Centre
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PAST FEATURES OF THE TORONTO ART EXPO:
In 2012 the Expo featured the works of Midori Toda of Japan: Her style (Nihonga) employs pigments that she grinds from mineral and organic sources (e.g. oyster shells) - a popular medium in Japan. She uses silver leaf and natural pigments such as oyster for white, malachite for green and azurite for ultramarine on hemp paper. She presented several compounded screens, 6 feet high, under a series called Living Waters, an abstracted format. Midori has had many shows in the USA and Japan.
In 2011 we were pleased to present the work of internationally renowned Japanese artist Matsutani Takesada at the Toronto Art Expo.
Matsutani attended the Expo both for his installation performance of ‘Relations’ and to exhibit his exceptional works.
On display was a rerospective of his significant signature works such as the ‘Stream’ series described by Edward M. Gomez in his Art in America review as vast expanses of metallic black graphite on mural-size sheets of paper as well his more intimate mixed media paintings and prints. For more information on
Matsutani click here.
 

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The 2010 Expo presented a major exhibition of China’s leading master of monumental work on the medium of rice paper (zhii), Zheng Hui Lan, with both vertical and horizontal pieces up to 12 feet by 40 feet. Merging contemporary influences and traditional perspectives these installations were simply breathtaking. This exposition within the “Paper-Washi-Hanji-Zhii-Papier” feature of the 2010 Expo offered for the first time in Toronto that a collection of such noted works were shown.

Thought provoking seminars related to art:

In 2009 David McClyment, writer, educator, visual artist & acting coordinator of Visual Arts at Centennial College, chose themes and artists for a 4-lecture series “Why this is good art.”

Alan Bryce of Passagesart, author of Art Smart presented two lectures focusing on buying art as an ‘Investment in Art that you love.’

Features in 2010 included:

An exclusive presentation of: PAPER, the exquisite art form of the Print (original works in lithography, woodblock, etching and monoprints) as well as painting on paper and mixed media works incorporating paper within the constructs. Works of leading Canadian and International contemporary artists and past masters. (click here for details)

The Fine Art of Sculpture: Centering around world-renowned sculptors presented by Masterpiece Publishing of California & Galerie Roccia from Montreal who will be joined by the largest number of specially invited sculptors from Canada, the U.S.Israel and Japan. From Netsuke to monumental works. (click here for details)

JAPAN NOW: Contemporary art from Japan both traditional and avant-garde. Seven award-winning artists from Tokyo, presenting works in traditional styles as well as that country’s sophisticated modern contribution to world art. Netsuke, sumie, anime, modern abstractions and drawing. Complimenting this will be a presentation of rarely seen woodblock prints from Japanese masters of the 60’s and 70’s on loan from the Japanese Government.

EXPERIENCE TORONTO ART EXPO video

Thursday Opening Night, April 11, 6-10pm Canada’s largest art party at takes place the Metro Toronto Convention Centre:

Join us along with thousands of visitors for this spectacular and luminous event welcoming light, colour and sound to Toronto’s spring. A night to sip wine, peruse the aisles for that perfect piece of art, and listen and dance to exciting world rhythms

Our Opening Night will feature the spellbinding tradition of the Whirling Dervishes of Turkey.
Click to see the Whirling Dervishes performing live
Click to see the Whirling Dervishes performing live
Visitors will be treated as well to a unique performance experience of Toronto's own Moshe Hammer, world-renowned voilinist, who will play as his son Mike Hammer, an artist exhibiting at the Expo, paints: a synergy of sound and colour.
 
Opening Night (2012)
Our Opening night last year featured the thrilling Dance And Drum tradition of Korea-Salmunori as presented by Jeng Yi, Toronto 's foremost artists of the genre led by Hong, Chul Wa who studied with Kim Duk Soo. Kim Duk Soo reinvigorated this form of music and dance in the last 40 years Jeng Yi had audiences screaming and clapping with their energy raising performance) Kim Duk Soo has worked with Peter Gabriel in the world wide WOMAD festival.
Our 2011 Opening Night Preview

Many witnessed Matsutani’s ‘Moment’ during the Opening Night Preview, Thursday April 14, 6pm to 10pm when he inaugurated for the first time in Toronto, his inspiring installation performance of ‘Relations’.

"To start the piece, the artist pricks small holes in the bag, allowing the thick ink to drip onto the canvas. As the fabric becomes saturated, the ink drips through it into the pan below, darkening the pool of water. Nearby, one of Matsutani’s enormous graphite drawings will cascade down to sprawl along the floor, setting up a contrast—or “relation”—between its blackness. (and the manner in which it was achieved) and the black-splattered, self-creating painting-in-progress, giving viewers a sense of the inherent drama and discipline that are to be found in Matsutani’s art, from the predictably unpredictable nature of a work that can be seen creating itself to the daunting size of a handmade piece whose craftsmanship is as obsessive as it is precise." Edward M. Gomez, Matsutani’s Moment, Art in America, 12/31/09
 
Opening Night: Highlights of past Expos
Korean Salmunori dance & drum group JENG YI
Whirling Dervishes from Turkey
NagataShachu Taiko Drumming with Kiyoshi Nagata
Korean Salmunori dance & drum group JENG YI
Korean Salmunori dance & drum group JENG YI
Menaka Thakkar Dance Company 2007
Juno-nominated Jane Bunnett for a smash performance with special guests in a Cuban Extravaganza which included the legendary Jon Hendricks in 2008.

The Art of Jazz presented the Divas of Jazz in 2009:
Elizabeth Shepherd Trio with special guests Telmary with the Toronto Cuban All Stars

 
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