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TIAF 2009: Six Essential Stops

The Toronto International Art Fair opens this weekend at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Some might think that commercial art fairs are only for those in a position to buy. But as the diverse schedule at this weekend’s Toronto International Art Fair suggests, viewing and learning opportunities can make a worthwhile visit for art lovers old and new. Here’s a rundown of some of the must-sees:

1. Heartland

The biggest special project at this year’s fair is “Heartland,” a special exhibition designed to bridge historical and contemporary Canadian art. Curated by Jeffrey Spalding, the exhibit promises to add some contextual heft to TIAF’s role as the nation’s biggest art fair. A related lecture by prominent art historian Roald Nasgaard on Sunday at 1pm will also tie in lessons from a just-opened Automatistes survey at the Varley Art Gallery.

2. Power Talks

The Power Plant’s series of talks, which run in parallel to TIAF, continue to be a big draw at the fair, bringing in internationally known art personalities to speak on cogent issues of the day. This year its star attractions are Guardian art critic Adrian Searle, who lectures on Sunday at 3pm, and New Museum chief curator Richard Flood, who speaks on Friday at 6pm. In between, Saturday forums will discuss curating in times of economic hardship and art publishing in the digital age. (The former features Flood and Albright-Knox director Louis Grachos, while the latter features Searle with e-flux creator Anton Vidokle and Canadian Art publisher Melony Ward.)

3. Buy-Sellf Collective

Working playfully with the commercial impetus of the art fair is Buy-sellf, a French art collective known for mail-order catalogues. Their creations, rarely seen in Canada, will definitely be worth a stop-by at the Art Gallery of York University’s TIAF booth.

4. RBC Canadian Painting Competition

The winners of this year’s RBC Canadian Painting Competition were announced earlier this month in Montreal. Now the first-place winner, Vancouver’s Brenda Draney, and a selection of semifinalists get their Toronto debut at TIAF with a compact exhibit.

5. Next Lounge

With a space created by innovative firm Castor Design, the Next Lounge will preview other exciting art events and exhibitions happening around the city, like the concurrent UpArt fair at the Gladstone Hotel, the Leona Drive Project in north Toronto and Dean Baldwin’s Fattening Frogs for Snakes, which is installed in the financial district.

6. The News at Five

Each year at TIAF, "The News at Five" provides a bricks-and-mortar window onto the pages of Canadian Art magazine, with editor Richard Rhodes curating daily exhibitions of up-and-coming artists. This year, Rhodes is focusing on the theme of promise and highlighting work from artists featured in the 25th anniversary issue of Canadian Art: Jed Lind, Adad Hannah, Corin Sworn, Valérie Blass, Emily Vey Duke and Cooper Battersby, Kelly Richardson and Daniel Borins and Jennifer Marman. Accessible, engaging talks take place Saturday and Sunday at 5pm, providing art lovers with even greater insight into these must-know names.

Finally, don’t forget to give the many commercial gallery booths at the fair a good perusing—each will be bringing what they feel to be some of their most compelling art and artists, in many cases providing a portal onto art scenes from across the country and around the world.

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