New website: akin.art

Hello, thanks for visiting our old blog. Info about Akin can now be found at akin.art.

Colouring Book II - Now available!



The launch of Colouring Book II was a grand success! We would like to extend our thanks to everyone who joined us for our combination book/studio launch party in our newest Dupont studio space last week.

For those of you that didn't make it to the party - never fear! You can purchase a copy of the book in our online shop or send an email to jen@akincollective.com to arrange a time to pick up a copy in person at our Lansdowne studios.

Containing 48 original works by members of Akin Collective and artist friends old and new, each page is a unique artist creation - get your copy today and start colouring!

Click here to buy a copy of Colouring Book II


AKIN COLOURING BOOK 2 + NEW STUDIO LAUNCH PARTY



Saturday April 23 / 6pm-2am / 1485 Dupont Street

AKIN Collective is thrilled to announce the launch of it's second artist publication, Colouring Book #2, and the opening of a new studio at the AKIN Dupont location- 1485 Dupont St.

Come grab a copy of the book, party til late in an industrial building that used to be a clock factory, and enjoy cheap drinks + free beer samples courtesy of Collective Arts Brewing.

Put it in your calendar.

ps. Looking for studio space? info@akincollective.com

https://www.facebook.com/events/1704473549809575/

AKIN COMMUNITY & CAMH: Call for Submissions - Youth Arts Programming


FORGE: Workshop - Free Legal Advice for Artists & Creatives






 








April 18 / 6:30pm - 8:30pm / City Hall, Committee Room 2

Presentation, Discussion & Q& Q

FREE- Must Reserve Seat- https://www.universe.com/freelegaladvice

When is a lawyer necessary? How do protect my images? Is this contract binding? Is this agreement fair?

In this workshop participants will discuss the various legal concerns or issues artists and creatives should be informed about- ranging from copyrights, consignments, trademarks, patents, agreements and more.

After providing advice on each of these topics, Matthew Wiens and the Pro Bono Ontario team will offer specific advice to participants about any questions or concerns they may have and help you get find free legal help.

**Have something you'd like to make sure is discussed in the presentation? Let us know on our Facebook Event Page**

Akin Spring Gallery Crawl



 











Please join us for special tours of the current exhibitions at some of Toronto's best and brightest galleries on Dupont.

Saturday, April 16: 12-4pm

1. MEET AT COOPER COLE

2. VISIT ANGELL GALLERY

3. VISIT ERIN STRUMP PROJECTS

4. VISIT OUR FAVOURITE AFTERNOON WATERING HOLE ON DUPONT.

Bring friends! All are welcome, open to the public. 
#SPRINGSTROLL

Click here for more information

Thesis Award Winners






































Congratulations to Annunziata Morant and Jennifer Byrnes, the recipients of our first annual student Thesis Award, a collaboration between ARTiculationsGraven Feather and AKIN Collective!
Annunziata and Jennifer will both receive two week solo exhibitions in addition to credit for studio. Overwhelmed by the response, we extend a huge thank you to all of the applicants from post secondary institutions across the province and we look forward to seeing you at the opening receptions in May!

Cloth Dripping, Solo Exhibition by Mary Grisey at Xpace Cultural Centre

























Opening Reception: Friday, March 18, 2016 7-10pm
Location: Xpace Cultural Centre, 303 Lansdowne Avenue, Unit 2, Toronto
Exhibition dates: March 18-April 30, 2016

“…cloth dripping…” (Sappho, fragment 119).


Sappho was an ancient poet whose words were meant to be sung. Cloth Dripping weaves together sculptural and sonic elements inspired by fragments of Sappho’s poetry to create a continuous fabric of a multi-sensorial environment. Ruinous forms of terra cotta structures will be situated among the weavings with traces of fingerprints, gestures and lost scripts. In this exhibition, the audience is welcomed into a liminal space where traces of the past echo the fragments of her poems and the ruinous materiality of Grisey’s sculptural work.

www.marygrisey.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ABOUT THE ARTIST
Mary Grisey is a sculptural installation artist currently based in Toronto, Ontario. She received an MFA in the Visual Arts program at York University in Toronto, a BFA in Fiber and Material Studies from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and a BA in Painting and Drawing from Marist College. She has exhibited her work in New York, Chicago, Kentucky, San Francisco and Toronto. She was recently awarded the Windgate full fellowship to the Vermont Studio Center for the Spring of 2016. Select solo exhibitions include Of Becoming at York University (2014), Sung From the Mouth of Cumae at The Art Gallery of Mississauga (2015) and Cloth Dripping at Xpace Gallery (2016). Select group exhibitions include Refined Linen at Katzman Contemporary (2014), Long Winter at The Great Hall (2015) and Escape Plans at YTB Gallery (2015).

PROSPECTOR Solo Exhibition by Sara Pearson at Project Gallery































Opening Reception:
 Thursday March 17, 6-9pm
Location: Project Gallery, 1109 Queen Street East, Toronto

Exhibition Dates: March 17 - April 3, 2016
The paintings and sculptures in PROSPECTOR, inspired by geological and gemmological formations, remind us of the strange and sublime beauty of nature. Gemstones, as coveted objects, present a complicated relationship between the natural world and us; As we hunt, collect and refine them, they become instilled with human values. In this body of work, Sara Pearson deconstructs and reinterprets their forms, removing facets and breaking stones into abstract shards, highlighting internal depths and building new structure. By pulling apart our vision of the perfect gem, she removes preconceived notions attached to it and focuses us on its extraordinariness. Pearson navigates this course through her early relationship to these materials; Growing up in her father’s jewellery studio instilled a sense of wonder in the presence of these otherworldly objects. She continues to live in awe of them, relating her art practice to that of an explorer, a treasure hunter.

Pearson chooses subjects and materials for their relationship to the natural world, using the optical phenomena that exist within cut gemstones to inspire her oil paintings; bronze, copper, marble, and terra-skin paper made from stone are some of the materials that form her sculptures and installations. Working primarily with “analogue” methods, she plays with the dichotomy of traditional process in an increasingly digital world, pushing abstraction while honouring the process of mimesis.

Sara Pearson is a Toronto based artist who graduated with a BFA from the Ontario College of Art and Design University.

www.sarapearsonart.com

Assembled by Philip a show of Artist's Work & Found Objects

Opening night: Thursday March 17th from 4-9pm at 651 St Clair West

AKIN CRIT 42
















AKIN CRIT 42: Lansdowne Studio
Ideas + Discussion + Brews + Food + Debate

Wednesday, March 30, 7pm
Studio 101, 87 Wade Avenue

BYOA - Bring Your Own Art
BYOI - Bring Your Own Ideas

Discuss what you're working on and get useful, friendly feedback and answers from Toronto's creative community and fellow artists. 

*Free and all are welcome to participate or just come and listen*

Also, feel free to BYOB


JOIN THE EVENT ON FACEBOOK


www.akincollective.com
www.facebook.com/groups/akincollective/

FORGE: $5 Life Drawing Session















Tuesday March 22, 2016: 6:30- 9:30pm

AKIN Dufferin - 444 Dufferin St. Unit E

Fee: $5- Purchase tickets here: https://www.universe.com/forgelifedrawing

AKIN is excited to host our first ever life drawing session at our Dufferin studios! All artists are welcome to join for this evening of uninstructed life drawing. No experience necessary, but all experience levels welcome.

Space is limited, reserve your spot by purchasing a ticket.

The session will consist of gestures and short poses followed by longer sustained poses by a costumed model. There will be short breaks throughout to chat and share your work but no talking during the poses, please.

BYOB but eat your snacks during the breaks. After the session feel free to share your work with each other.

BYOM- Bring your own materials please- paper, drawing materials and drawing board if you have one.

See you there!

Akin Projects - Skill Share for Creative Professionals







Tuesday March 8 / 7pm - 9pm / 87 Wade Ave - Studio 203 / 

FREE / Please RSVP Here- https://www.universe.com/akinskillshare

Akin Projects is excited to host our first Skill Share for Creative Professionals at our Lansdowne studios. Connect with your peers through practical experience at this collaborative event. This will be a casual moderated discussion where you can share your skills, resources, and ideas, and have your questions answered about running a creative business in Toronto.

This event is free and open to the public. It is ideal for anyone running their own creative business, but anyone is welcome to attend no matter what stage you are at in your career.

Topics may include, but are not limited to:

- Brand development
- Building a web presence
- Social media marketing
- Direct mail, email promotions, cold calling
- Conducting market research
- Handling your finances
- Funding your business
- Pricing
- Licensing and wholesale
- Copyright and royalties
- Contracts, quotes and invoices
- Networking
- Professionalism
- Time management
- Professional development
- Online & local resources for your business

Please bring any questions you have, and come prepared to talk about your business and your experiences. If there is anything you would like feedback on, such as packaging for your product, or your business cards, bring those along as well!

We also request that attendees bring a written list of your favourite resources to share with the group. This could include your favourite books, websites, city resources, print companies, service providers, or anything that you find useful to operate your business. These lists will be compiled into a pdf document that will be shared with everyone after the event.

Please RSVP - space is limited.

Feel free to bring snacks to share
BYOB
Coffee and Tea will be provided, BYO Mug

Claire Correia @ Gallery 50

Come and see work by the wonderful Claire Correia. Akin member, artist and human extraordinaire.


Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition Celebrates 55th Anniversary with $5500 Award


Ricky Sosa, Revolucionario Design Co., Red Skull, Sculpture, 2014
Winner of Best of Exhibition at Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition 2015

The Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition recently announced a special award of $5,500 to the winner of Best of Exhibition for this years' 55th anniversary event.

Artists who apply to exhibit at the 2016 Exhibition are automatically entered into the awards competition. Professional jurors, comprised of industry leaders, will select the participating artists for the upcoming 2016 Exhibition. Award winners will be selected by a panel of critically acclaimed judges, on site during the event. The winners are granted direct entry into 2017 Exhibition.

The Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition is Toronto’s first, largest, and longest running outdoor art fair – providing fresh art, fresh faces, in the fresh air since 1961. Showcasing the works of over 320 artists, the fair attracts an audience of over 100,000 people annually.

This years event is taking place July 8-10, 2016. Applications are open until March 6, 2016
For more information click here:  http://www.akimbo.ca/91787

Thesis Award Show

Super excited about this new opportunity with Articulations & Graven Feather. Please have a read below.


Click here for more info:http://articulations.ca/earl-selkirk-gallery/special-projects/2016-tas


StreetARToronto 2016 Program Information Session

image

The City of Toronto's StreetARToronto (StART) program is embarking on its 5th year! StART is a proactive program that aims to support, and increase awareness of street art throughout the city. StART's mission is to see Toronto as a 'living work of art' by creating partnerships (between the City, residents, businesses, and the creative community), reducing graffiti vandalism, encouraging civic discussion about public art, using art to foster place making, and providing grants, materials, and mentorship opportunities.

StART will be holding the following 4 information sessions highlighting what to expect for this year's programs (updated guidelines, deadlines, etc.):

Downtown Toronto
Monday, January 18, 2016 from 3:30-6 pm
Location: The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen St West, Toronto, ON M6J 1J3)

Scarborough
Monday, January 25, 2016 from 4-6 pm
Location: Y+ contemporary (1345 Morningside Ave, Unit 15, Toronto ON M1B 5K3)

Etobicoke
Tuesday, January 26, 2016 from 3-5 pm
Location: Arts Etobicoke (4893A Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M9A 1B5)

North York
Wednesday, January 27, 2016 from 3-5 pm
Location: Toronto Centre for the Arts (5040 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M2N 6R8)

If you are an artist or non-profit arts/community organization interested in creating street art projects in the city, this is the time to learn more! Help spread the word and get involved in StART's exciting 2016 opportunities!

Please RSVP to an information session (specifying the session you will be attending) by email to streetart@toronto.ca

More information about StART is available at:
www.toronto.ca/streetart

logos

Simon Zsolt Jozsef

“When I’m sculpting, a casual onlooker probably thinks I’m massaging or dancing with my clay. If somebody watches me during sculpturing he or she says it looks like massage or a dance with clay. When I teach movement or I do movement, I feel like sculpturing with the space around me. I don’t want to catch the forms but the process of forming. Not the fruit or the flower, which are always changing and growing but the growth and change itself, which will form the material.” – Simon Zsolt Jozsef

More info and images HERE




Zimra Beiner and Nathan Prouty: 'Fabricated Fictions' at the Sculpture Center in Cleveland, Ohio,

More info and images HERE








Guy de Cointet at Museum Leuven



























More images HERE

ShareThis