| Public reception is on August 5, 2010, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm. All are welcome! Admission is free. |
Join us for the 10th annual juried art exhibition, Being Scene, produced by Workman Arts for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Following a seven-week stint at Hart House, the show is now moving to the second in a series of several downtown Toronto
venues. A public reception will be held at the Gladstone Hotel on August 5th from 6:00 p.m – 9:00 p.m. to kick off a seven-week installation in this historic hotel’s third and fourth floor gallery.
Being Scene will be open to the public from 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily at the Gladstone, August 5th - September 19th, a venue renowned for hosting signature art events, the Queen West Art Crawl and numerous exhibitions throughout the year.
The installation is the work of artists who have lived experience with mental illness and addiction, and presents a cross-cultural portrait of the healing power of art. The exhibit features works by over 30 aspiring, emerging
and established artists including bill bissett, a painter and Canadian poet famous for his anti-conventional style. Joey DAMMIT!, who has been awarded the “Best Visual Artist” award three times from NOW magazine, is also among the contributors.
Since its inception, Being Scene has partnered with some of Toronto’s leading artistic figures, galleries and institutions,
making it an integral part of the city’s cultural landscape. Selected works of art that were initially displayed in the CAMH buildings have gone on to hang at such prestigious Toronto locations as Queen’s Park and the Lieutenant Governor’s Suite, in addition to Ottawa’s National Art Centre.
“This annual exhibition has brought forth a host of new opportunities for the artists - to paint and exhibit, to be commissioned,
to collaborate with other artists around the city and to sell their work to the public,” said Lisa Brown, Executive Director, Workman Arts. “CAMH is going through an exciting redevelopment in the next few years, and we look forward to continuing our support for
the artists and showing their art in new locations to larger audiences. Our first installation at Hart House was overwhelming,
and we look forward to opening at the Gladstone.”
A jury comprised of Carol-Ann Ryan, art historian and writer, Barbara Gilbert, artist, curator and arts administrator and
John Molnar, Workman Arts’ artist in residence, selected the art out of 300 submissions. After careful thought and deliberation,
the works chosen are representative of a rich and diverse forum of expression. These dynamic pieces are showcased to tantalize
art connoisseurs, enthusiasts and the general public alike. Artworks are for sale with 100% of proceeds going directly to
artists.
Taking the exhibition out to the community for the first time, 57 pieces representing 30+ artists are installed in four different
locations over six months. Having debuted at the University of Toronto’s historic Hart House, June 3rd – July 25th, the exhibition will remain at each location for several weeks. After its run at the Gladstone, the show will then be re-mounted
for the third time in the Workman Arts Theatre from November 6th to November 13thduring the Rendezvous With Madness festival: (www.rendevouswithmadness.com).
The exhibition will have its last viewing at CAMH, 1001 Queen Street West, on December 2nd. Come out and join us to see the unique talent that these artists possess, it’s guaranteed to be an enlightening experience
for all! A full colour catalogue is available at: http://www.workmanarts.com/VisualArts/beingScene.cfm.
Please mark the dates of the Being Scene exhibition and receptions in your calendar!
Sponsored by Hart House, Gladstone Hotel, CAMH, Ontario Arts Council and Imagine Canada.
For more information please contact:
Chris Mitchell, Workman Arts
Telephone: 416-583-4339
Centre for Addiction
