Fall Art Shows Better Than Nuit Blanche
Thoughts | Dan Rona
Sights | Oliver Husain, Isla Santa Maria 3D (still), 2016
Ah, the start of fall, the arrival of all things pumpkin spiced and spooky themed. It also marks the infamous Saturday night that is Nuit Blanche. The event runs from dusk till dawn and introduces over 85 popup projects across downtown. This used to be an exciting night, but for many it has lost its appeal, and for good reason. From drunk teenagers, ridiculous crowds, and, quite frankly for the most part, very mediocre art. So if you want to see some good art without the drunken youths or suffocating crowds, here are a few options for you.
Where: Daniels Spectrum
When: Saturday, September 30th from 1:30pm-11pm
This year marks the first ever Venus Fest which is a feminist music and arts festival. This event is a celebration of art, music, and love featuring local and international artists such as Weaves, Grouper, Madame Gandhi, and Emel Mathlouthi to name a few on the lineup. With the goal of curating a truly representative lineup, Venus Fest welcomes people of all identities hoping to foster inclusivity and celebration of art from all walks of life.
Guillermo del Toro: At Home with Monsters
Where: Art Gallery of Ontario
When: September 30, 2017 - January 7, 2018
This is an exciting and rare chance to look into the world of the celebrated filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. This major exhibition is based on del Toro’s illustrious career in film, literature, and visual art. The exhibition is a glimpse into the filmmaker’s life and creative process featuring his personal notebook sketches, props, sculptures, paintings, prints, photography, and costumes among other personally curated items. The AGO is the final destination for At Home with Monsters after only two other stops in Los Angeles and Minneapolis, so this will be your only chance to witness the exhibition.
Where: Metro Toronto Convention Centre
When: October 27, 2017 - October 30, 2017
In its 18th year, Art Toronto is one of the most important annual art events in Canada. Being Canada’s only international fair for modern and contemporary art, this is a must see for art lovers. This year features programming curated by Santi Vernetti. His goal is to explore the role of Los Angeles in the art world as seen from the perspective of LA’s redefinition as a major centre for artistic production.
Where: Mercer Union
When: September 15, 2017 - November 4, 2017
A commissioned solo exhibition by Toronto-based artist Deanna Bowen. In this exploration of traumatic episodes and invisible histories, Bowen looks at film, sculpture, performance, installation, drawing, and photography. By doing so she uncovers the histories of slavery, oppression, migration, and Civil Rights movements in North America through personal work that is made possible due to the historical. Bringing light to current and past race relations, this exhibition is a testament to the intertwining of art and activism. So, go see some astonishing art and #StayWoke (or get woke, you know).