Toronto Craft Alert

Lots of exciting editorial developments are brewing behind the scenes here at TCA, and we’re excited to introduce this new feature, Craft Theory, where the meatier (tofuier?) dimensions of craft culture are unpacked by TCA writers.

Please read on for an exploration of the contentious (it’s true!) term “Craftivism” by Nicole Dawkins, who currently has her own craftivist works on display at Come as You Are until the end of July.

Revolutionary Knitting Circle Workshop presented as part of Super String, curated for Stride Gallery by Anthea Black. Photo courtesy of Stride [...]

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Reykjavík is a really intriguing place.  Though it’s a very small city (only about 100 000 people live in the downtown core), it is completely filled with art spaces: designer-run shops, tiny galleries, national galleries, public art exhibitions, city-sponsored street art.

One especially interesting part of the Reykjavík art and craft scene is the number of women’s art collectives.  There is the Icelandic Love Corporation, a small group of recent grads from the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts in Reykjavík who have a major following outside of Iceland for their performance and [...]

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by Tara Bursey

antipersonnel, knitted yarns, detail landscape.

Barb Hunt is a Newfoundland-based artist and educator, whose work I was lucky enough to be introduced to by a beloved teacher in art school a few years ago. Her political and often poignant work employs craft processes to explore rituals of mourning and address the devastation of war.

You refer to your work as influenced by the history and customs of Newfoundland. Can you talk a bit about the role of craft in both Newfoundland’s [...]

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If the image in the flyer looks familiar, it’s because Catherine had her amazing Muffy Bed in the DIwhy? exhibit we co-presented with the Ontario Crafts Council this past winter.  Can’t wait to check out a whole show of her work!

PLEASURE PRINCIPLES
April 24- May 17, 2009
Opening reception: Friday 24, 6-11pm
Location: Keep Six Contemporary, 938 Bathurst Street, Toronto
http://keep6c.com/exhibition.html

Catherine Telford’s work is concerned with how ideology shapes and trains the body infusing it with historical forms of gendered selfhood. Through the process in making [...]

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An exciting time for feminist artists and fans of politically engaged art:  plenty of opportunity to meet Judy Chicago and see her work & inspired works in town this month and beyond!

1. Textile Museum of Canada

February 11 to September 7, 2009
55 Centre Avenue (Dundas St. W & University Ave., St. Patrick subway)
Toronto, Ontario

Join us for the opening reception
Wednesday February 11, 6:00 to 8:00 pm

When Women Rule the World
Guest curated by Allyson Mitchell

When Women Rule the World: Judy Chicago in Thread

Living legend of feminist art, Judy Chicago’s place on [...]

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Worth the trip to Hamilton…

Allyson Mitchell: Ladies Sasquatch
January 29 – March 21, 2008
Curated by Carla Garnet

Opening Reception: Thursday January 29, 6 – 9 pm
Book Launch and Artist Interview: Thursday March 19, 6 – 8 pm

Neither a teddy bear’s picnic, nor a pack of ferocious beasts, Allyson Mitchell’s newest installation presents an epic gathering of figures, each one a monumental symbol of female brains, brawn and sexuality – a community of Lady Sasquatches. The freestanding, sculptural works by Toronto-based Mitchell marry feminist [...]

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