OUT OF SITE:
Contemporary Art Works on Queen Street West
Oct. 3, 2009, 7PM - Oct. 4, 2009, 7AM
Out of Site exhibits five works of art by important Toronto artists - Daniel Borins, and Jennifer Marman, Anne Fauteux, Lisa Neighbour, Kerri Reid and Kathryn Walter - all drawing inspiration from Queen Street West. These art works respond to the fashion industry’s historic presence, to the neighbourhood’s status as an entertainment centre, to the loneliness often experienced on a crowded street, and to the urban landscape in general. Well-attuned to the exhibition’s context of an all-night street party, the artists encourage the engagement and participation of the public who can join a fashionable night club lineup, try on faux-designer clothes, and take part in a video chat with strangers.
The works by the following artists curated by Earl Miller: Daniel Borins & Jennifer Marman, Anne Fauteux, Lisa Neighbour, Kerri Reid and Kathryn Walter
» Works curated by Earl Miller» Bravo!FACT screening
» Art Windows and independent installations in the BIA
 |
Daniel Borins & Jennifer MarmanPages Books and Magazines(until 6am) |
In Sit You
Referencing Queen West's status as an entertainment hub, Daniel Borins and Jennifer Marman's Night Clubbing comprises a lineup of trendy club goers standing behind a hefty bouncer. They are waiting for entry to a venue from which pedestrians can hear the bass of club tunes and see artificial fog seeping through the door. They may want to join the line for what could be the latest A-list spot. But they are soon informed this club is non-existent. The ruse of a nightclub suggests being seen as hip enough to meet the standards of a scrutinous bouncer is more important than actually enjoying oneself.
 |
Anne FauteuxCartel |
BOLM Label Project
Anne Fauteux's "BOLM Label Project" is an audience participation performance where passersby are invited to donate their clothing labels to the artist, who will sew them on a handmade straitjacket. A temporary catwalk and change-room is installed in Cartel. Funky music plays in the background. Extroverted audience members can model the straitjacket in a mock fashion show for pedestrians and store visitors alike that comments on how designer brands can constrict identity.
 |
Lisa NeighbourKops Records |
Night School
Lisa Neighbour's installation, Two Places at Once, encourages pedestrians to overcome their inhibitions of talking with strangers by allowing them to video chat with other Out of Site participants several blocks away. Furniture placed on the street suggests a casual lounge or bar atmosphere, an environment where, unlike a street, one often strikes up a conversation with people from different walks of life. Two Places at Once warms up the cold city.
 |
Kerri ReidPull |
Box
An archaeologist of the everyday, Kerri Reid takes ordinary objects that have often been discarded and transforms them into works of art. For Out of Site, Reid goes on a scavenger hunt along Queen Street West for things that have been overlooked, a styrofoam coffee cup, for example. She then makes drawings of them that she displays for the duration of Nuit Blanche in the window of Pull. Passersby will certainly recognize this detritus of the urban environment; in fact, they may even have come across her actual subjects.
 |
Kathryn WalterFashion Crimes |
Remnants
Kathryn Walter’s Remnants is a tribute to the garment workers and independent designers that Queen Street West has been defined by. It centres on a sewing machine Walter designed to power a film projector. Working from a store window, she sews scrap felt material or remnants. The faster she sews, the clearer the film projection behind her is. The sewing machine and the projection’s industrial age image of a factory with smokestacks suggests that her performance marks the "remnants" of a passing era of finely-crafted clothing made by dedicated individuals.
Join us for an all-night screening of some of the best comedic short films from across the country produced with grants awarded by CTV’s Bravo!FACT. Featured filmmakers and artists include Doug Karr, Andy Jones, Colin Mochrie, Debra McGrath, Larry Weinstein, Ann Marie MacDonald, Cara Pifko, Les 7 Doigts de la Main, Tapestry new opera works, Denis Villeneuve, and Joe Cobden. CTV's Bravo!FACT was established in 1995 by the national cable arts channel Bravo!
Watch more shorts every week on “Bravo!FACT Presents” on Bravo!, Fridays at 8 pm., Sundays at 7:30 p.m.
» find out more
Art Windows and independent installations in the BIA:
 |
Jeff BlackburnQuicksilver |
Jeff has been involved in the arts since he was first peer pressured to drink dirty paint water at the age of four. Now, he applies paint and other media to paper, canvases, or whatever comes along. You could say it's in his blood, but it's really just in his blood stream
 |
Darren DumasThe Hideout |
Darren Dumas is probably best known as energetic lead vocalist, Mista D, from Toronto-based reggae-rock band, The Salads (www.thesalads.com). Over the past few years, he has been revisiting his love for painting. He has mainly been creating pieces for his "Singer Series", portraits of popular singers/musicians who have influenced him. Select works from this series, plus a few other large, colourful, abstract original pieces are on display for public viewing for the first time as part of Out of Site. Darren is showing his works at one of his favourite rock bars in Toronto, The Hideout.
 |
Zorica VasicEarth & Fire |
Antipope
“Legends of the Sea” claims its title from fairy-tale figure Zwarte Piet, Santa Claus’ helper servant who every year on December 4th sails from Spain to Holland. The exhibition features imaginary portraits of Zwarte Piet combined with portraits of documented historical pirates who sailed the seas of Europe from the 15th -19th Century. These pirates invented names and personas for themselves, becoming self-appointed nobles. Vasic’ series confronts the viewer with symbols of the exotic: on the one hand repulsive, brutal and barbaric, on the other hand attractive, colorful and seductive. The exhibition blends the historical with the imaginary, falling somewhere between a thrilling yarn of the sea and an illustrated encyclopedia.
Nuit PsyFeaturing the Blacklight Activists, Upbeat Connection, Gelatinous Constructs, Michael Casselman & othersNocturne Nightclub |
On October 3rd, experience a unique showcase of blacklight-sensitive artwork which will cover more than 1000 sq ft in both rooms of Nocturne Nightclub. This one-night only exhibition will take place as part of the "Out of Site" showcase on Queen Street West, featuring the work of numerous artists including the Blacklight Activists, Upbeat Connection, Gelatinous Constructs, and others. A special exhibition entitled "Seven glowing figures amidst a crowd" will be on display inside, as well as Nocturnal Paintings outside in the street-level alcove. Artist Michael Casselman will be producing live oil paintings on special black 5' x 4' canvasses inspired by the night. He will be painting on-site depicting abstract interpretations of nocturnal urban scenery during the Queen Street West "Out of Site" showcase. This is a 19+ event, subject to cover charge. RSVP to info@nocturneclub.com for special admission.
 |
Lillian S. McKinnonShanghai Cowgirl |
Lillian has been painting for many years both before and after her education. She finds herself mostly inspired by the flowing lines commonly found in organic form while enjoying the free flowing, yet controlled aesthetic of Art Nouveau and the luscious richness of traditional Catholic iconography. Not concerned with function or deeper meaning as much as believing the aesthetic itself is the meaning, she hopes what she creates will be perceived and appreciated as beautiful - nothing more.
 |
Dimitrije MartinovicBovine Club |
The Exquisite Folly of the Event and
its Participants
Within these Kama Sutra-like series we find everything to meet our desire as the voyeur in us is vicariously fulfilled. But a temporal pause in our shared reverie cautions: Somewhere in this bucolic garden of effulgence and beauty we are tipped off that these subjects acknowledge their ideal level of pleasure will never be met. And in their pursuit of pleasure, their limits of desire have pushed all boundaries into a perilous region, the moment unknown to them.
 |
Alison ThompsonOuter Layer Window |
Fabricated Sweet
Fabricated Sweet #1 is an installation visually exploring the hyper-pleasures we derive from sweets. Using re-purposed fabric, the artist has sewn a collection of playful large soft sculptures for the window. It is a literal eye candy piece utilizing “sweet” colours as decoration for forms pulled directly from the sweetshop itself. The use of shape and colour in this work is pushed over the top for the mere sake of fun. The artist transforms this historic storefront into a window of delight.