Canadian Art’s young patron group holds an intimate tour of Art Toronto
Paul Morris, Vice President at Art Toronto owner MMPI, welcomes the New Contemporaries group to the fair / photo Richard Rhodes
On Friday, October 23, the New Contemporaries, Canadian Art’s young patron group, held their first exclusive program event at the Toronto International Art Fair, where they were introduced to art world personalities and toured selected galleries.
"I loved the talks and tour of Art Toronto," says New Contemporaries member Jeremy Tabarrok. "It was great to speak directly with artists about their creations and what motivates them. I can't wait to buy some new art!"
The group, including co-chairs Jennen Phelan, Tatiana Read, Karelle Steiner and Emily Thring, were welcomed by Canadian Art Executive Director Ann Webb and Vice President of MMPI Art Events Paul Morris.
At Canadian Art’s booth, the group then heard a special presentation from Canadian Art editor Richard Rhodes on “The News at Five,” his series of daily exhibitions that highlighted some of Canada’s most exciting younger artists: Adad Hannah, Kelly Richardson, Corin Sworn, Gareth Moore, Emily Vey Duke and Cooper Battersby, Valérie Blass, Jennifer Marman and Daniel Borins, and Jed Lind. These artists are profiled in Canadian Art’s 25th anniversary issue. Rhodes’ exhibitions on the theme of promise meditated on the imaginative power of art that can expand horizons and raise expectations.
The group then visited a selection of galleries from across the country, getting an overview of the gallery program at Vancouver’s Blanket Gallery, where they were introduced to work by Jeremy Hof. At Montreal’s Pierre-Francois Ouellette art contemporain, members met the Toronto-based Taiwanese artist Ed Pien and Montreal artist Adad Hannah, whose video installations are taking the art world by storm. At his booth, artist Paul Butler showed the group his own work and described the challenges of being both artist and art dealer.
During the gallery tour, Robin Anthony, Curator for RBC Financial Group, gave a talk alongside art from the winners of this year’s RBC Canadian Painting Competition, a national prize that supports painters in the early stages of their career.
The Canadian Art New Contemporaries promotes and creates access to our vibrant visual art community through specially designed programs and events where members meet and mingle with art world personalities and fellow members. Members also have the opportunity to directly engage with artists, critics, curators, collectors and leading art world figures through exclusive programs designed to deepen an understanding of contemporary art.
Contributions from the New Contemporaries directly support the work of the Canadian Art Foundation, a charitable organization that fosters and supports the visual arts in Canada. The foundation unites art, ideas and people from coast to coast through a diverse arrangement of national and international educational programs.
Canadian Art New Contemporaries Co-Chairs: Jennen Phelan, Tatiana Read, Karelle Steiner, Emily Thring
For more information and to join, please visit our New Contemporaries microsite.
