The Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition is the largest outdoor art show in the country. It takes place early each July, and draws over a thousand applicants, each one hoping to be awarded one of a few hundred spots that are avaliable. Normally, I avoid shows with application or jury fees on the grounds that it’s a rip-off for young artists, but my friend Raf convinced me that this event is worthwhile. I applied and got in.
Following this advice turned out to be a wise decision. At this show, some galleries had a number of scouts how were out poking around, looking for young blood for a show. It was through the outdoor show that I was found by Arta Gallery, who picked me up for two shows.
I brought along a little point and shoot to document my experience at the Outdoor show. I made this little video out of the footage. Click here to jump to the video, (or scroll to the bottom of this page).
Artworks on Display
Untitled, 10″ X 10″, acrylic on canvas, 2009
Untitled, 10″ X 10″, acrylic on canvas, 2009
Untitled, 10″ X 10″, acrylic on canvas, 2009
Untitled, 10″ X 10″, acrylic on canvas, 2009
Untitled, 26″ X 40″, acrylic on canvas, 2009.
Untitled, 22″ X 40″, acrylic on canvas, 2009.
Untitled, 24″ X 24″, acrylic on canvas, 2009.
Untitled, 20″ X 24″, acrylic on canvas, 2009.
Untitled, 14″ X 20″, acrylic on canvas, 2009.
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Untitled, 6″ X 6″, acrylic on canvas, 2009.
Untitled, 6″ X 6″, acrylic on canvas, 2009.
Untitled, 16″ X 16″, acrylic on canvas, 2007.
Untitled, 16″ X 16″, acrylic on canvas, 2007.
Untitled, 15″ X 23″, acrylic on canvas, 2008.
Untitled, 20.75″ X 23.5″, acrylic on canvas, 2009.
FRiDAYS, 20″ X 26″, acrylic on canvas, 2009.
Untitled, 24″ X 24″, acrylic on canvas, 2009.
Untitled, 12.5″ X 12.5″, acrylic on canvas, 2006.
Untitled, 16″ X 18.75″, acrylic on canvas, 2006.
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Brain Candy: complex language that hides the fact that I have nothing to say. 12″ X 16″, acrylic on canvas, 2005.
Brain Candy: redundant justification for following my passion and not having to get a real job. 12″ X 16″, acrylic on canvas, 2005.
Brain Candy: something that would be better expressed in essay form. 12″ X 16″, acrylic on canvas, 2005.
Brain Candy: cheeky insider artists’ joke. 12″ X 16″, acrylic on canvas, 2005.
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Event Documentation
My booth. I thought black would set off my paintings nicely. Instead, it seemd to scare people away.
Toronto City hall. This was my view from 7am to 8pm for three days.
This was my East wall, dedicated to showing older work.
Some shots of how I set up my booth. I had to change it up a little bit each time something sold, and each day, my layout and set-up techniques improved noticably. And yes, the ‘Brain Candy’ series was on display!
Random shot of Toronto. Just because.
My friends Dave and Jeff made an apearance (and brought coffee!).
The booths are ready for the downpour. Why is there always rain at a big outdoor festival?
Yet another shot of the inside of my booth.
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I brought my little canon point and shoot along with me to the show. I wanted to document the experience of my first show of this scale, and possibly assemble a video out of the footage. That video is posted below.