For those of you who have been reading my blog and keeping up to date with what has been happening in Mississauga you will know that we still don't have any informal exhibition space with walking traffic and accessibility. I have begun the negotiation for a space that is west of the bridge on Lakeshore in Portcredit in an attempt to give some artists (mostly local) a chance to show their work. For me this was important because not all artists in Mississauga are focused on creating and showing work that can be displayed in a private gallery or a commercial setting.
I plan on packing the space and having an opening the week of the southside shuffle in order to maximize visibility and attendance. I have a number of people on board that are interested in being a part of this project already and am always looking for more. I have not begun the auditing process to see who has what work to show, but since there will be a fee to show work for the weekend I believe that this will sort out those who are not serious about showing the work.
Contact me if you read this and you are interested. I am encouraging everyone from the very experienced to the beginner. It will be a great chance to increase your network, learn about hanging a show and selling work (if that is your goal) and meeting the general public.
I come from a strong art community (OCAD) where these sorts of endeavours are quite common and are most of the time put together by students who are looking for exposure. It is sad and predictable that this has not happened repeatedly in Mississauga as of yet. At one point there were a few scattered student run projects but nothing that ever lasted. Of the three major spots to show work in Mississauga, not one is dedicated to giving local artists a solo show or a professional development. Workshops which aim to develop artists in the region are few and far between and are almost always run by our local community Non profit Mississauga Arts Council. It is sad that they are expected to do all the work.
There are a number of well run private galleries in Mississauga but they do nothing to increase awareness and expand the perspective of Mississauga's inhabitants. Bazgasht at the AGM proves that there are very large groups of culturally driven enthusiasts in Mississauga who are also being ignored when it comes to cultural development. If it wasn't for Asma Mahmood and her partner organizations they would most likely still not have a forum for expression of their cultural interests.
I am hopeful that things will begin to change. There is a social theory described by the phrase broken window. This simply means that all it takes is one person to throw a rock through an abandoned building's window for other people to begin doing the same. That first broken pane of glass says that we don't care even though that may not be the case. And the arts, much like an abandoned building doesn't have the interested parties financial backing to repair every window that is broken. However, in the exact reverse of this theory is the hope that when some good is done, it also spreads contagiously through a population. Positivism breeds positivism.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
David Suzuki and the City of Mississauga Strategic Plan
This evening I attended the David Suzuki lecture series that followed the strategic plan by the City of Mississauga.
I checked the foundation website (Suzuki) and found that this talk was not on his list of scheduled stops. The crowd clapped at in opportune times. There were moments during the unveiling of the plan that seemed as if masses of rhetoric were being rained upon the audience in order to disguise the fact that there were key problems with the way the city is run, and how it is growing.
"A city built for cars" is how Hazel describes it. Their solution? To build not one, but two mass transit corridors that will run the length of Dundas and Hurontario. The true length on Dundas was not apparent (and was not mentioned in any other strategic plans but may have been trumped up in an effort to placate the public consensus that there is next to no reliable and affordable public transit). This bandaid solution seems to only fix a minor issue that faces Mississauga in their apparent 40 year strategic vision that will culminate in an enviable and vibrant city.
David Suzuki, invited into our house (the LAC) was politically minded and did not make any open comments directed at the lack of leadership when it comes to the building of a sustainable future. Having sat through his lectures previously it was disheartening to hear the same descriptions, same anecdotes and similar laments.
Of five strategic "Pillars" that the city plans to help build this city on, Green lists as fifth. The looming fuel crisis (which will undoubtedly call for more energy generators one of which is being slated for Clarkson here in south west Mississauga) is not addressed. Unchecked growth is not addressed. The commuter population and amount of Condos, Apartment buildings and Town house complexes that add to the amount of Carbon Load Mississaugans put on the local environment is not addressed.
We as a community were asked by the city what we needed. We told them what it was that we needed. Now, they are giving it to us, promises.
I checked the foundation website (Suzuki) and found that this talk was not on his list of scheduled stops. The crowd clapped at in opportune times. There were moments during the unveiling of the plan that seemed as if masses of rhetoric were being rained upon the audience in order to disguise the fact that there were key problems with the way the city is run, and how it is growing.
"A city built for cars" is how Hazel describes it. Their solution? To build not one, but two mass transit corridors that will run the length of Dundas and Hurontario. The true length on Dundas was not apparent (and was not mentioned in any other strategic plans but may have been trumped up in an effort to placate the public consensus that there is next to no reliable and affordable public transit). This bandaid solution seems to only fix a minor issue that faces Mississauga in their apparent 40 year strategic vision that will culminate in an enviable and vibrant city.
David Suzuki, invited into our house (the LAC) was politically minded and did not make any open comments directed at the lack of leadership when it comes to the building of a sustainable future. Having sat through his lectures previously it was disheartening to hear the same descriptions, same anecdotes and similar laments.
Of five strategic "Pillars" that the city plans to help build this city on, Green lists as fifth. The looming fuel crisis (which will undoubtedly call for more energy generators one of which is being slated for Clarkson here in south west Mississauga) is not addressed. Unchecked growth is not addressed. The commuter population and amount of Condos, Apartment buildings and Town house complexes that add to the amount of Carbon Load Mississaugans put on the local environment is not addressed.
We as a community were asked by the city what we needed. We told them what it was that we needed. Now, they are giving it to us, promises.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Master Plan April 17 2009
Over the last 6 months I have been involved in workshops hosted by the office of arts and culture in Mississauga (soon to be under community services). A large shift in the way that all arts and culture (including Hertitage Mississauga) will take place changes soon. An amalgamation and redevelopment of the current Cultural Infrastructure in Mississauga is under way. This particular reformation in administration has not taken place before. Many years ago similar plans were developed to help target problem areas in the cultural develoment and creation of neighbourhoods. Now, however a different kind of plan has been set forth that will see the most problematic areas of cultural policy in Mississauga recieve a tune-up.
Many things will change, including the overall amount of funds the city itself invests in the arts annually. this number, which sees an increase of almost 200k a year will go a long way to filling the gap in public arts and culture programs between now and 2013. The increase will see our percapita spending on arts and culture rise from just over 1.40 to 3.00. Some of these improvements may even include additional satelite galleries that act as tributaries to the current AGM, as well a redefinition to the role that MAC plays as well. The current trend appears to be a strengthening of current arts and culture providers.
UCI has also suggested a independent review of LAC. This is met with mix reaction among the arts and culture community as some believe it is long overdue, and others believe the Masterplan does not address what this institution already offers. The LAC is the only venue that currently offers hands on instruction in wood working, glass blowing and the material arts through classes and residency programs.
After attending the workshops offered by the office of the arts and culture I believe I now have a comprehensive view of what they hope to accomplish. Many of the individuals that attended the workshop hadnt read the entire plan. The presentation by UCI was not completely exhaustive in their presentation of the material at large as that would take hour upon hour. The 85 page report has daunted many in their attempts to gain a grasp on the material. UCI gave an overvue of the strategic directions and expect follow up by the attendees as they reivew their 40 plus implementations expected to be completed in a 5 year time span. Some of the changes include a creation of a public art mandate and policy that would include a public art coordinator.
In response, I had a lot of information thrown at me. I heard many different takes on the report and various responses from stakeholders who had been through similiar proposals in the past only to see them pushed aside, shelved and consequently forgotten until they were dusted off and brought out again. Some left before the completion of a Q&A session in reaction to fielded questions with unsatisfying answers.
Although many changes are suggested no particular unifying philosophy towards the arts and culture, and what Mississauga, as a proposed cultural centre plans to do.
As artists and the community at large what is expected of us is a VERY tall order. We are going to have to get on eachothers nerves from time to time. Offer up constructive and critical advice to get where we want to be. Is the office going to be there to defend cultural identity and growth? The growing pains other communities have had to endure for the growth of their art have been great. OCAD, the school that trained me, taught me that. Sometimes members of your community will do or say something that will not be met with positivity. Is the office ready to go to the bat if I break convention? Will the office help communities to better understand eachother? The responsibility is ours to help create a stronger and more vibrant Mississauga. We have to take the same advice that we have given.
Many things will change, including the overall amount of funds the city itself invests in the arts annually. this number, which sees an increase of almost 200k a year will go a long way to filling the gap in public arts and culture programs between now and 2013. The increase will see our percapita spending on arts and culture rise from just over 1.40 to 3.00. Some of these improvements may even include additional satelite galleries that act as tributaries to the current AGM, as well a redefinition to the role that MAC plays as well. The current trend appears to be a strengthening of current arts and culture providers.
UCI has also suggested a independent review of LAC. This is met with mix reaction among the arts and culture community as some believe it is long overdue, and others believe the Masterplan does not address what this institution already offers. The LAC is the only venue that currently offers hands on instruction in wood working, glass blowing and the material arts through classes and residency programs.
After attending the workshops offered by the office of the arts and culture I believe I now have a comprehensive view of what they hope to accomplish. Many of the individuals that attended the workshop hadnt read the entire plan. The presentation by UCI was not completely exhaustive in their presentation of the material at large as that would take hour upon hour. The 85 page report has daunted many in their attempts to gain a grasp on the material. UCI gave an overvue of the strategic directions and expect follow up by the attendees as they reivew their 40 plus implementations expected to be completed in a 5 year time span. Some of the changes include a creation of a public art mandate and policy that would include a public art coordinator.
In response, I had a lot of information thrown at me. I heard many different takes on the report and various responses from stakeholders who had been through similiar proposals in the past only to see them pushed aside, shelved and consequently forgotten until they were dusted off and brought out again. Some left before the completion of a Q&A session in reaction to fielded questions with unsatisfying answers.
Although many changes are suggested no particular unifying philosophy towards the arts and culture, and what Mississauga, as a proposed cultural centre plans to do.
As artists and the community at large what is expected of us is a VERY tall order. We are going to have to get on eachothers nerves from time to time. Offer up constructive and critical advice to get where we want to be. Is the office going to be there to defend cultural identity and growth? The growing pains other communities have had to endure for the growth of their art have been great. OCAD, the school that trained me, taught me that. Sometimes members of your community will do or say something that will not be met with positivity. Is the office ready to go to the bat if I break convention? Will the office help communities to better understand eachother? The responsibility is ours to help create a stronger and more vibrant Mississauga. We have to take the same advice that we have given.
Friday, March 27, 2009
I have dug out this painting and I am planning on painting another layer. I havent showed this piece in Canada before but always felt that it was stronger than the pieces that it was shown with at the time. It was really a piece to the puzzle that I am sorting out with my current work. The application of the paint and the beginning layers of colour are very much like my current technique of application. So I am posting this work as a before and after kind of experiment. Should be interesting.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Past pieces still in progress
The following images have been shown a couple of times but not as part of a finished show. They are in various states of being painted still or are sold.
Images from mid 2008 that were done on their own and arent part of a greater whole.
Beginnings of the most recent work permeate these pieces as I figure out how to use the oil medium better. My colours are less cohesive than the current work but still have a certain amount of life.
Images from mid 2008 that were done on their own and arent part of a greater whole.
Beginnings of the most recent work permeate these pieces as I figure out how to use the oil medium better. My colours are less cohesive than the current work but still have a certain amount of life.
I have returned from documenting the works hanging at the gladstone (since I ran out of time before installing them in the space)... For those friends who were unable to make it down check these out and let me know what you think, I am looking for feedback as I will most likely still be working on them after I bring them home.
Thanks again for all those people who came out to see the show, without your support there really wouldnt be any reason for a show at all.
Paul.
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