What's the difference?

Often people who visit or call the Art Gallery of Mississauga are confused about who we are and how the arts organizations in Mississauga are distinguished.

The organizations listed below are all in Mississauga but are separate and distinct. Here is a handy little guide for your reference. For more information visit their websites or call.

Visual Arts Mississauga (aka VAM)
Location: Visual Arts Mississauga is located at Riverwood, 1475 Burnhamthorpe Road West, corner of Credit Woodlands and Burnhamthorpe.

Contact Info:
Tel: 905 277 4313
info@visualartsmississauga.com
www.visualartsmississauga.com

Purpose:
"Visual Arts Mississauga is committed to enriching the lives of the citizens of the City of Mississauga by encouraging the appreciation in the visual arts through the provision of affordable educational programs, exhibitions, sales, meetings and workshop facilities"
What does that really mean? Traditional arts and craft classes for all ages, summer craft type camps and rental gallery space. Think of it as a place to go if you wish to try your hand at painting or develop a hobby, find programmes to keep kids occupied, try selling and exhibiting some of your work locally without the professional rigour which is demanded in other more formal settings. The context is local rather than reflective of the larger art world.
Why it gets confusing... People confuse Visual Arts Mississauga and the Art Gallery of Mississauga because VAM provides an annual opportunity for local artists to show through a juried exhibition. The exhibition is housed/hosted by the Art Gallery of Mississauga not at Riverwood/Visual Arts Mississauga. This means that these two distinctly separate organizations partner to deliver this one event. Also VAM's location is slightly hidden on the grounds of Riverwood park. This lovely property is well worth the visit.

Mississauga Arts Council (aka MAC)
Location: Mississauga Civic Centre, 300 City Centre Drive, Suite 1055
Contact info:
Tel: 905 615 4278
info@mississaugaartscouncil.com
http://www.mississaugaartscouncil.com/

Purpose: MAC is a non-profit registered charity governed by a Board of Directors. Our mission is “to foster and develop, support and champion a vibrant, dynamic arts community in the city of Mississauga through services, to enrich the lives of its citizens.”
What does that really mean? Working on a smaller scale, the Mississauga Arts Council does not provide funding opportunities like the Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council and Canada Council For the Arts do. The primary funding or recognition opportunity provided through MAC is via the Mississauga Arts Awards. Nominations are accepted in performing, literary, media and visual arts annually. Recipients receive a cash award and trophy at a gala diner with entertainment. MAC also publishes information about local activities in weekly listing in The Mississauga News, 'Arts Scene' column; MACtivities – weekly e-mail newsletter; It's Here in Arts and Entertainment Calendar – a quarterly publication of members’ events, exhibitions, sales, performances, workshops, meetings and festivals. There are also various other networking and development opportunities through MAC, consult their website or call to find out the schedule of events.
Why it gets confusing...The Mississauga Arts Council and the Art Gallery of Mississauga are separate organizations. Both are located in the same building, the Mississauga Civic Centre, but, they do not share the same space.

The Living Arts Centre (aka LAC)
Location: 4141 Living Arts Drive, Mississauga ON L5B 4B8
Contact info:
General Information/Reception 905 306 6100
info.lac@mississauga.ca
Box Office & Registrations 905 306 6000
toll-free 1 888 805 8888
Purpose: The Living Arts Centre is a 225,000 square foot multi-use facility. The facility houses performance theatres, an exhibition gallery, eight professional art studios, corporate meeting facilities and a restaurant. The Centre is a registered not-for-profit organization, governed by an active 18-person community based Board of Directors, and managed by a team of arts and hospitality industry professionals. Each year the Centre programs a range of performing arts events, multi-disciplinary workshops, camps and courses offering hands-on arts experiences, and fine art & craft exhibitions. The Living Arts Centre also serves as home to dozens of community and professional arts organizations; and as a venue where numerous grassroots community theatre, dance, music and ethno-cultural organizations can showcase their work. What does that really mean? LAC offers residency opportunities for artists working in wood, sculpture, textiles, photography, ceramics, painting, drawing and flamework. There are school workshops, camps, youth and adult classes in a range of mediums which include dance and photography. Laidlaw Hall is the Gallery at LAC. Opportunities to exhibit are offered to community groups, resident artists and on a rental basis. Artist's fees are not paid. The Living Arts Centre is a place where you can go to see live entertainment without the hassle of going to Toronto and the parking is free.

Why it gets confusing...The Living Arts Centre is across the street from the Mississauga Civic Centre where the Art Gallery of Mississauga is housed. LAC does have a gallery but, is differentiated from the Art Gallery of Mississauga by both exhibitions and purpose

Blackwood Gallery
Location: On the grounds of the University of Toronto at Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Rd. North, Mississauga ON L5L 1C6

Purpose: The Blackwood Gallery started in 1969 as the Erindale College Art Gallery which was the first public art gallery in Peel. On May 15, 1992, it was reopened as the Blackwood Gallery in the present gallery space in the Kaneff Centre. It was named in honour of Canadian artist, David Blackwood, who was an artist in residence at Erindale College from 1967-71.
What does that really mean? The Blackwood Gallery is a not for profit, University Gallery. When curator of contemporary art, Barbara Fischer took over she brought with her curatorial rigour, critical theory and exhibitions which reflected the practices of contemporary artists. Since then, the Gallery has grown to include an E-gallery and video wall. To see exhibitions of work from a larger context which address contemporary issues, visit the Blackwood Gallery. The current curator is Seamus Kealy.

Artists exhibited at the Blackwood likely have nationally or internationally recognized practices in contemporary art. Artists who are exhibited at the Blackwood have likely been sought out through curatorial research and investigations rather than culled from general submissions. However, submissions are accepted. To have your work considered, submit a professional quality proposal with images in digital or slide format with image list, proposal, artist statement and cv. The Gallery does not sell work or provide rental space.

The Blackwood Gallery does offer day summer camps for children. The camp engages children through a fun programme of activities that stimulate creative and critical thinking and relate to art creation through concept. Offering a valuable experience beyond craft and child care, this approach inspires creative thinking and problem solving skills which are useful in all facets of life.

Why it gets confusing...With so few not for profit art galleries/institutions in Mississauga, the Blackwood Gallery is confused with the Art Gallery of Mississauga. In addition, the two galleries have partnered to present outreach programming including the Mississauga Film Series. The Blackwood Gallery is on the campus of the University of Toronto at Mississauga which may be difficult for the general public to find.

Art Gallery of Mississauga (aka AGM)
Location: Mississauga Civic Centre, 300 City Centre Drive, Ground Floor, South East Corner, Mississauga, Ontario L5B 3C1

Purpose:
"The Mission of the Art Gallery of Mississauga is to promote awareness and the appreciation of the visual arts through the operation, development and growth of a public, not-for-profit art gallery."

Mandate: Through the efforts of its volunteers and staff, the Gallery will achieve this mission by providing leadership and expertise in matters related to the visual arts; and by exhibiting historical and contemporary works of art from local to international sources; and by encouraging the development of artists with special emphasis on those residing in the city of Mississauga;
and by organizing educational programmes to stimulate knowledge and interest in the visual arts; and by acquiring, managing and caring for a Permanent Collection.The Gallery will carry out its mandate in accordance with professional museum standards and practice. What does that really mean? As a public, not for profit gallery, the AGM's primary purpose is to exhibit art and educate the public by bringing exhibitions of work that reflect important issues and practices both contemporary and historic. Regional galleries generally exist to bring culture to a region and to serve the cultural and educational needs of that region rather than represent, soley, the artists of the region. However, most regional galleries wish to develop a relationship with the community which will foster understanding of visual art and encourage the growth and development of a local audience and artists. The AGM strives to be the community's window to art practices nationally and internationally. The Gallery serves the community by providing access to art in a number of ways including the Mississauga Film Series, exhibitions performances and events both in and outside the gallery, tours, artists' talks, panel discussions, professional development workshops and publications. The AGM does not have rental gallery space and with a few exceptions, does not sell work. To have your work considered for exhibition at the Art Gallery of Mississauga artists must submit professional quality proposals with digital or slide images, image list, proposal, artist's statement and cv.


Stay tuned for a blog entry on the difference between public galleries, artist run centres, art foundations and commercial galleries.

Visual Arts Mississauga Juried Exhibtion

Visual Arts Mississauga 30th Annual Juried Show of Fine Arts
December 13, 2007 to February 2, 2008

Since 1987, the Art Gallery of Mississauga has hosted this Visual Arts Mississauga event. The call for entry brings in hundreds of submissions from working artists across Ontario. Awards are given in each of the media categories.

For more information about entry, please contact Visual Arts Mississauga at 905 277 4314 or visit www.visualartsmississauga.com

Exhibition opportunity at the Living Arts Centre

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS – NEW AND EMERGING ARTISTS FOR JURIED ART SHOW

The Living Arts Centre is accepting submissions from new and emerging artists for a juried art exhibition. Selected works will be exhibited in the centre’s on-site gallery, Laidlaw Hall from May 3 - May 25, 2008. Eligible artists must be living, working, or attending school in the City of Mississauga or Peel Region. Works in all media will be considered. Works must be original and completed within the last two years.

SUBMISSION INFORMATION:

· $20.00 application fee made out to the Living Arts Centre
· artist statement (max. 100 words)
· current CV
· 2 images of current work (jpegs on CD), including: title, medium, size, date, artist’s name.
· SASE (self addressed and stamped envelope) – please ensure correct postage for return of CD (The Living Arts Centre assumes no responsibility for images sent without return postage)

Email submissions will not be accepted

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: January 17, 2008 at 5pm

Please send submissions to:

Laidlaw Hall Gallery Emerging Artist Exhibition
Studio Arts Department
Living Arts Centre
4141 Living Arts Drive
Mississauga, ON
L5B 4B8

For more information, please email exhibitions@livingarts.on.ca or call 905.306.6161

Submissions will be reviewed by a selection committee.

Notification of Acceptance: Artists will be notified by phone or email on Monday, February 18, 2008 if their piece has been selected to be in the exhibition. Only those accepted will be notified. Accepted artists will receive details pertaining to the exhibition, including delivery of artwork, insurance coverage, opening reception and awards, etc.

Get in the loop

Want to be informed about visual art and related events? Subscribe to these email postings...

Akimbo http://www.akimbo.biz/

Akimbo is a Toronto-based company that promotes contemporary visual art, video, new media and film locally, nationally and internationally via the internet. You can visit the website for the latest news on exhibitions, films, readings, job postings and more or subscribe to have announcements delivered to your email address. Receiving info is a free service, you can also pay to have Akimbo publicize your event.

Instant Coffee http://www.instantcoffee.org/

Instant Coffee is an art collective. They also maintaing a website and compile email listings of art related stuff. To sign up for the list or submit a posting visit the website and click on "email lists". You can subscribe to lists for various regions. It's totally free.

Artifice http://www.e-easel.org/artifice/submitting-to-artifice/

Artifice is a free weekly email list promoting art and culture in Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, Cambridge and surrounding areas. To post or subscribe, send an email to artifice@e-easel.org. It's free.

Now you know!

Mississauga Film Series

November Film

Film: The Bubble, Israel, 2007, 117 minutes

Hebrew & Arabic with English subtitles

Director, Eytan Fox

Date: Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Location: AMC Courtney Park, 110 Courtney Park Drive, Mississauga

Time: 7:00 pm

The Mississauga Film Series showcases international and independant cinema. Held at the AMC Theatre, Courtney Park, Mississauga, the screenings will take place on the last Wednesday of each month.

The Bubble

Downtown Tel Aviv’s Sheinkin Street is as sexy, cosmopolitan urban landscape – cafes, alternative record shops, gay bars, student protests, the works. It could not be further from the nearby reality of occupied Palestine. Gifted Israeli director Eytan Fox (YOSSI & JAGGER, WALK ON WATER) pricks this “bubble” in his new film. It is a breathtakingly urgent, convulsively funny and then impossibly tragic love story. Lulu (Daniella Wircer) lives with two gay guys: brooding music lover Noam (Ohad Knoller, MUNICH) and flamboyant café owner Yali (Alon Friedmann). The roommates’ days and nights are spent in typical slacker fashion – hanging out, watching TV, getting laid. They are secular and progressive, but not overly political.

Everything changes when Noam meets Ashraf (Yousef “Joe” Sweid, WALK ON WATER), a cute and intense Palestinian guy, at a checkpoint. Ashraf becomes part of their group, while Lulu and Yali also fall dramatically in and out of love. One almost believes that the two men could inspire change as symbols of peace, but their affair is already doomed.

Tickets available in advance at the Art Gallery of Mississauga, Blackwood Gallery, UTM Student Union or the evening of the screening from 6:30pm at the AMC Courtney Park

Admission:

Art Gallery of Mississauga Members/Students/Seniors: $10.00

General Admission: $12.00

Series Pass: $30.00 (4 film package)

Photographing Your Artwork

If you are serious about the business of being an artist, creating a professional submission package is crucial. In order to do that you must understand how to propose an exhibition, write about and present your work.

The expectations of a proposal package include professional documentation of your work. Images of your art are necessary so that the galleries you hope to exhibit at can see what they are being asked to show. Whatever the medium you work in, photography skills will help you represent your own work in the best possible way.

Take your artistic practice to the next professional level with this super affordable workshop!

Back by popular demand!
Photographing Your Artwork is a two-day professional development workshop that will introduce participants to the tools and techniques in creating the visual components of a submission package. Participants will receive an overview and resource manual consisting of how to operate a digital camera to utilizing lighting techniques, equipment and correct exposure to achieve professional looking results.

Workshop 1: How to Digitally Photograph your Work
Saturday November 17, 2007 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
Art Gallery of Mississauga
This workshop is a practical information session with hands on training to digitally photograph your work in creating documentation and submission proposal packages to galleries, funders and residencies. Focusing on lighting techniques the course will teach participants how to successfully document two and three dimensional work as well as capturing performances and event based-activities.

Workshop 2: Creating a Digital Submission Package
Sunday November 18, 2007 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
Art Gallery of Mississauga
By providing professional portfolio guidance participants will enhance the necessary skills in creating a digital submission package. Exercises will cover the handling and organization of digital files from re-sizing and cleaning up images to the creation of the final CD. Learning Objectives: " Examining the tools of the trade " Lighting and light sources " Camera techniques: How to utilize them " Discover the fundamentals of composition and shooting detail work " Working with digital files " Scanning from photographs " Creating a professional CD of images.

To register or for more information please contact
Suzanne Carte-Blanchenot at 905-896-5507, 647-892-4603
or suzanne.carte-blanchenot@mississauga.ca

Saturday November 17, 2007 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
Sunday November 18, 2007 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
Art Gallery of Mississauga
300 City Centre Drive,
Mississauga ON L5B 3C1

Registration fee:
Art Gallery of Mississauga Members $30
Visual Arts Mississauga Members/Students $30
General $45

Instructor Chris Blanchenot is an artist, communication assistant for Canadian Actor's Equity and principle of Carte-Blanche Photography. After earning a BFA at the University of Windsor Blanchenot went on to study and teach at Louisiana State University. Teaching photography, printmaking and framing courses for Dundas Valley School of Art and Burlington Art Centre for over five years Blanchenot has a breadth of experience and expertise. He has documented events and exhibitions for such galleries and associations as The Power Plant, Mercer Union, Museum of Canadian Contemporary Art (MOCCA) and Ontario Association of Art Galleries (OAAG) and as well as contributing to C Magazine and This Magazine.

Gallery On Call

Art Gallery of Mississauga
GALLERY ON CALL
905-615-3200 ext. 4707

Have you ever wanted more information about an exhibition? Would you like another perspective on the art? Just take out your cell phone and dial...or you can call from home while you are thinking about what you saw at the gallery!












Gallery On Call is a new audio guide installed to extend programming to the current exhibitions. Lasting five minutes in length the recordings can be activated on site by calling the number above. The program will be a permanent fixture to aid in exhibition interpretation and provide an educational element to the programming.

October 25 – December 7, 2007
Duncan Farnan, Independent Curator comments on the exhibition
Viktor Tinkl: Making Things

Viktor Tinkle: Making Things

Viktor Tinkl: Making Things
Curated by Robert Freeman & Linda Jansma
presented in collaboration with the Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa

On view until December 7th
Art Gallery of Mississauga
300 City Centre Drive, Ground Floor
Mississauga, ON

tel: 905 896 5506
http://www.artgalleryofmississauga.com/

Viktor Tinkl is driven by a compulsion to make things, a compulsion he describes as being brought on by “bugging”. Tinkl’s fantastic assemblages, sculptures and kinetic works, all things he makes from other things, seem to pour from the artist, into his home, studio and property. Bits of wood, ribbon, denture molds, fur and cans are just some of the materials which are detritus to the rest of us but, are compelling to Tinkl. His making is not compelled by the promise of exhibitions, theory and academia. He is familiar with both the former and the latter. Tinkl was a faculty member at the Ontario College of Art, as it was then known, from 1973 to 2000. He is also a graduate of the same institution.

Tinkl was initially unreceptive to this exhibition. It required the persuasion of all parties involved, including Viktor’s wife Judith, for the artist to agree, albeit with reluctance. His reluctance was brought on by his seasoned knowledge of the time commitment required for an exhibition including, discussions with curators and preparation of artworks, activities that take away time from his making.

The multitude of works selected for this exhibition include, two central pieces never seen outside the artist’s property: The Meeting (1999) and Circle (2006). The Meeting incorporates denture moulds into over twenty characters while, Circle includes the heads of skinned foxes among other found objects.

Providing further insight into the practice of Viktor Tinkl is a fifty-five page colour catalogue which accompanies the exhibition with introductions by Robert Freeman and Linda Jansma. Also included are a revealing interview with the artist by Linda Jansma and essay by Duncan Farnan.

“You just make stuff and you make more stuff.
...like a tin can-when you drink enough apple juice and rum mixture you save all the tin cans and you stuff smaller things in them and you have an abundance of these cans. And then one day you take a pair of shears and start cutting into the cans because you need a piece of tin and then you realize that cutting into the can is quite a good experience and the cutting itself is the exciting part.”
-Viktor Tinkl

A public art gallery sponsored by the City of Mississauga, the Ontario Arts Council, The Canada Council, Ontario Trillium Foundation, Corporations, Private Citizens and its Membership

Get on the Bus

Art Gallery Hop

Join us for tours and refreshments at the Art Gallery of Mississauga, Blackwood Gallery, Living Arts Centre Laidlaw Hall Gallery, Gallery Streetsville, Art Gallery of Peel, Whitney Gallery, and Visual Arts Mississauga.


FREE Visual Art Bus Trip Mississauga and Peel region galleries celebrate the visual artists with the third Art Gallery Hop on Sunday October 21 from 11:00 am - 4:00pm.


A FREE shuttle will take visitors on a regional tour of the visual art centres and spaces.


BUS #1
Leaves at 11:00 am from Peel Heritage Complex, 9 Wellington St E, Brampton, returning at 4:00 pm


BUS #2
Leaves at 11:00 am from Visual Arts Mississauga, 1475 Burnhamthorpe Road West Mississauga, returning at 4:00 pm


For more information or to book a seat on the bus please contact Suzanne Carte-Blanchenot at 905-896-5507 or suzanne.carte-blanchenot@mississauga.ca The Art Gallery of Mississauga and Blackwood Gallery would like to acknowledge the generous support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation.


Don't worry, this is neither the actual bus nor the driver

Escape from Hollywood

Mississauga Film Series
Presented by the Art Gallery of Mississauga & Blackwood Gallery

The Mississauga Film Series showcases international and independant cinema. Held at the AMC Theatre, Courtney Park, Mississauga, the screenings will take place on the last Wednesday of each month.










Director: Adrian Shergold
United Kingdom, 2007, 90 minutes

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman is an award winning film which chronicles the fascinating macabre life of Albert Pierrepoint, Britian's best-know public executioner and last official hangman.
The awkward, simple-mannered, working-class Pierrepoint takes on the same job that his mother claims drove his father to alcoholism and an early grave. He quickly rises through the ranks but becomes increasingly unsure of his moral imperatives.

Tickets available in advance at the Galleries, UTM Student Union
or the evening of the screening from 6:30pm at the AMC Courtney Park

Admission:
AGM Members/Students/Seniors: $10.00
General Admission: $12.00
Series Pass: $30.00 (4 film package)

Screening Location: AMC Courtney Park 16 110 Courtney Park Dr. Mississauga, ON L5T 2Y3 Hwy 10 and the 401

Info: suzanne.carte-blanchenot@mississauga.ca or 905 896 5506

Happy 20th Birthday

In October, the Art Gallery of Mississauga will turn 20 years old! We will be celebrating with two parties. All are welcome to attend!



















A party for the grown-ups!
Thursday, October 4th 7pm - 10pm
Great Hall, Mississauga Civic Centre, 300 City Centre Drive
Please help us celebrate our 20th birthday at this FREE event!
Enjoy cake, karaoke, badge making and more...
Ask Puffy , the Guidance Clown: An artist's project by Ulysses Castellanos
Ask Puffy, the Guidance Clown is the latest in a series of explorations into what constitutes "Professionalism" and professional/client relations. Ulysses Castellanos, this time, dons the guise of a clown, as he gives free advice to party goers. As well as dispensing free advice, Castellanos gives balloon sculptures and provides a "manicure" service, whereby the artist applies and paints "customized", brightly-colored press-on nails.

Friendly Rich & The Lollipop People
Nine-member band, The Lollipop People, play avant-vaudeville music on instruments from bassoon to banjo. The show has been described as "a twisted carnival sideshow including puppetry, crank calls, costumes and homemade multicoloured stage props" with music that is expertly composed and borrows from a broad range of influences, from klezmer to Captain Beefheart.Friendly Rich is a composer from Brampton, Canada. Mr. Rich has composed background music for MTV's The Tom Green Show. Since 1994, he has recorded exclusively for his own eclectic record label, The Pumpkin Pie Corporation. Friendly Rich is also the founder and director of the Brampton Indie Arts Festival. Friendly always says, “one can either produce, or become produce”.

A party for the whole family!
Sunday, October 28th 1-4pm
Great Hall, Mississauga Civic Centre, 300 City Centre Drive
Please help us celebrate our 20th birthday at this FREE event!
Enjoy cake, karaoke, badge & party hat making and more...












Happy Birthday Project by Aritist Sandy Plotnikoff
Sandy Plotnikoff brings his hot-foil stamping workstation to our party printing "Happy Birthday" on whatever is offered by the public. He can print on paper, leather, plastic, and wood; the possibilities are pretty endless. Improvisation and creative collaboration are encouraged, and visitors keep the stamped results! Similar to ideas explored in Plotnikoff's postcard multiples (see image above), the artist is interested in testing the universality of a familiar greeting in contrast to unlikely, yet sometimes fitting contexts. Bring your greeting cards, wallet, belt, bag, t-shirt, whatever grabs your imagination to participate/collaborate with Sandy.











iNSiDEaMiND Performance & Turntable Workshop
With the definition of the word "DJ" continually expanding, InsideAmind (Prof. Fingers & Steptone) emerges from Toronto as a two man scratch band, further stretching artistic boundaries by performing live original compositions with vinyl. The "scratch musicians", as they call themselves, bring forth a unique angle to what a pair of DJs/Producers armed with instruments called turntables can create. Prof. Fingers & Steptone also teach through their Off Centre DJ School whose mandate is simple: have fun with records! Following their performance, the duo will teach creative expression through playing with sound.

Be adored at the Art Gallery of Mississauga

Mike Hansen: Hoi Polloi
September 13 to October 21, 2007
part of A Month of Photography

The Art Gallery of Mississauga welcomes you with the red carpet, the clamour of adoration and flash bulbs popping.

Mike Hansen's Hoi Polloi addresses photography in a figurative rather than literal sense. An encounter based installation, complete with red carpet, stanchions, flash bulbs and adoration, the work situates image and constructed circumstance, in relation to the phenomenon of fame. Photography is the spoon with which the frenzied cult of celebrity is fed. Paparazzi churn out images of red carpet deities and fallen celebutants by which we measure and lose ourselves. Mike Hansen addresses the contrivance of celebrity through its devices.
A Month of Photography is a photographic arts festival in Mississauga and Brampton. The festival is sponsored by Nikon Canada and aims to expand the understanding and appreciation of photography as an artistic medium - developing new and emerging artists, promoting established artists, uniting the arts with the public, and promoting the awareness of curated shows within the community. For the month of September, artists will exhibit their photographic works in assigned locations such as galleries, community centres, hospitals, and restaurants. Now in its 3rd year, the festival has gained support from notable galleries such as the Art Gallery of Mississauga, Art Gallery of Peel, the Living Arts Centre, UTM Mississauga Campus, Gallery Streetsville and The Village Gallery - all of which will provide exhibition space. Get your free artists' catalogue available at the Art Gallery of Mississauga as well as local art galleries, libraries and community centres. Or download the catalogue here.

-Fausta Faccipointe, Festival Co ordinator

Endagered species at the Art Gallery of Mississauga

Flora: Fragile Habitats
Julie Aubin & Darlene Benner
September 13 to October 21, 2007

The ambitious undertaking of artists Julie Aubin & Darlene Benner interprets fifty indigenous Canadian vascular plants. Each work is meticulously rendered in clay with surfaces created through a variety of primitive firing methods, glazes and a non silver photographic printing technique.

Summer, in the not so distant past

The Best of Film Fort

Tuesday, August 28, 2007 on the grounds of the Mississauga Central Library.


Many turned out for the final Art Gallery of Mississauga summer 2007 event. A lovely night under the Film Fort lit by the silver screen, the stars and our city centre's condo lights.

Summer 2007 has come to a close but, be sure to visit the Gallery for an exciting season of exhibitions and events including two exciting birthday parties....details to come.

Art Gallery of Mississauga would like to acknowledge the generous support of the Pendle Fund at the Community Foundation of Mississauga.

Special thanks to Yasmeen Abubakar, Eleni Alpous, Dominique Asselin, Bryan Belanger, Nika Belianina, Katie Bethune-Leamen, Chris Blanchenot, Sherrese Bleary, Patrick Borjal, Christopher Bowes, Deanna Catania, Calvin Chan, Kimberley England, Iris Fraser, Alexandra Fronckiewicz, Jeff Garcia, Eric Glavin, Jesjit Gill, Nilsson Gonsalves, Liisa Graham, Winston Hacking, Andrea Jagodzinski, Steve Khan, Jelani Lee, Brett Long, Lindsay MacDonald, Nicole Mara, Airin McGuinty, Marissa Neave, Hri Neil, Marc de Pape, Mariya Prokopenko, Geoffrey Pugen, Jon Sasaki, Anna Shen, Sheida Sims, Kristina Smiltnieks, Anita Solomon, Nick Wallace, Alice Xian, Yelin Yang, and Andrew Zukerman

Paying taxes does not equal absolute ownership

Not uncommon to the ears of those who are employed by public galleries is a disgruntled visitor commenting "that's what my tax dollars goes to".

Well, don't be disheartened gallery goer. Exhibitions not to your liking are not staged as a personal attack on your wallet, I promise you. When I began working in a gallery, I said "I pay taxes and I even work at a public gallery". Why then, can I not curate exhibitions of black velvet paintings exclusively? They are classical, big eyed children, Elvis and the Bullfighter (who doesn't love Elvis?), soft (as velvet) and black (goes with everything!).











I was helped to understand that after the health care and education I have received, the roads, streets and walkways I travelled in on, the relative safety I enjoy through emergency services, the pick up of the trash I produce and on and on there is little chance that I have personally bankrolled the exhibitions at a public gallery.

No one (that I know) enjoys paying taxes but, it is a collective and cumulative effort that does afford us a Canadian standard of living not the catering to of my personal whims (as much as I want that).

I have simply come to accept that the act of paying taxes does not allow me the exclusive right to dictate that a public gallery should produce exhibitions that are especially pleasing to me. Yes, public, meaning for all, not just my rarefied desire to have exhibitions of velvet paintings exclusively. Nor is it safe to assume that what I enjoy is enjoyed by all other tax payers. Believe it or not, while I may grumble about a particular exhibition, others have been heard praising the exact same art!

However public does mean that the gallery likely wants to offer you, as a member of the public, something which is meaningful and enriching. So, rather than grumbling sideways in an indirect effort to make your disappointment heard, speak directly to the gallery staff. You may not own the gallery but, you can take ownership of your needs and how you would like to see that reflected.

Perhaps you will not find an exhibition pleasing to your sensibilities today, but there are many, many more exhibitions and more public galleries to be visited. Often galleries have art in several forms such as, music, performances, film series and talks. Why not try one of those?

The 905er asks, if you were channelling the tax payers' art dollars, what would you fund?
Bateman or Altmejd? Neither? Both?

(Below) Work by Robert Bateman, Canadian artist and environmental advocate.













(Left) Work by David Altmejd, Canada’s official representative at the 2007 Venice Biennale of Visual Art.

Welcome to the Fort

The Best of Film Fort
Tuesday August 28, 2007
8:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Main Stage, on the grounds of the Mississauga Central Library,

301 Burnhamthorpe Road West
The Film Fort collective will transform the Civic Centre into a series of large child-like theatres. Creating the sense of wonder and nostalgia of home-movies and family slide shows each fort will house a different video programme. Prepare for a cozy night in - out.

With support of the Pendle Fund at the Community Foundation of Mississauga

The Sights & Sounds of Rhapsody

Art Gallery of Mississauga Video Programme II
Karoke Rhapsody
Tuesday August 21, 20079:00– 10:30 pm FREE!
Main Stage, grounds of the Mississauga Central Library,
301 Burnhamthorpe Rd. W.

Curated by Suzanne Carte-Blanchenot
The works presented in the video programme Karaoke Rhapsody utilize karaoke as a vehicle. Stylistically mimicking its form and function, the artists rely on the repertoire of karaoke's highlighted text, current songs, and moving symbols. Guiding the viewer through a narrative, they emphasize or dismiss the lyrics and (re)contextualize them in a separate and distinct way, soliciting a response that was not the original intent of the song.












Benny Nemerofsky Ramsay
Subtitled, 2005 2 min
Utilizing the lyrics of the pop-dance song recorded by Australian singer-songwriter Kylie Minogue Can't Get You out of My Head for her eighth studio album Fever (2001), artist Nemerofsky Ramsay fantasizes in bed.

Daniel Cockburn
Rocket Man, 2000 5 min
Rocket Man is a karaoke video which takes the lyrics and sentiment of the Elton John classic written by Bernie Taupin for the 1972 album Honkey Chateau.

Jubal Brown
Children of the Grave, 2000 3 min
A Karaoke video created for the classic Black Sabbath song Children of the Grave from their 1971 album Master of Reality. A group of youths out for a night of fun, drinking and driving in the country in the parents mini van, play fighting, and running through graveyards.

Emelie Chhangur
PASSING FOR WHITE; PASSING FOR BLACK IN SÃO PAULO, 2007 3:04 min
Singing over Bob Marley and the Wailers’ Three Little Birds from their 1977 album Exodus Chhangur responds to being a first generation Canadian, who passes for black in her home country, finds herself passing for white in Brazil.

Stefan St-Laurent / Minnie St-Laurent
I Want You to Need Me / J'veux qu' tu m'veux, 2001 4 min
Part of St-Laurent’s ongoing series of autobiographical performance videos named Overmelodramas, the artist explores our relationship to violence and culture. Written by Diane Warren, I Want You to Need Me is the fourth and last single from Celine Dion's All the Way...A Decade of Song album, released in 2000.

Clark Nikolai
An der Nordseeküste, 2003 3:40 min
A German language homo-romantic karaoke video set to the classic drinking Irish folk song Black Velvet Band.

Queen
Bohemian Rhapsody, 5:55 sec
Recommended as one of the top four performed Karaoke songs by Peter Styles of the famous Gladstone Hotel Karaoke nights every Thursday to Sunday in the Melody Bar, Toronto, Bohemian Rhapsody is a song written by Freddie Mercury and originally recorded by the band Queen for the 1975 album A Night At The Opera. The video was supplied by Karaoke Canada, serving Canada and other countries with high quality Karaoke products.



With support of the Pendle Fund at the Community Foundation of Mississauga

Suburban Cinema

Art Gallery of Mississauga Video Programme I
Bedroom Community
Tuesday August 14, 2007
9:00– 10:30 pm FREE!
Main Stage, grounds of the Mississauga Central Library,
301 Burnhamthorpe Rd. W.

Curated by Su-Ying Lee
Join us for a night of video with a suburban theme which will reveal the fantastically banal, mystical, and absurd all residing in bedroom communities.







Heather Keung & Michael Connor
City Centre, 2006 4:30 min

Emily Vey Duke & Cooper Battersby
A Cure for Being Ordinary, 2004 6:00 min

Aleesa Cohene
Supposed To, 2006 7:00 min

Alex Grant
Magic Memory, 2006 2:55 min

Libby Hague
Our Town, 2001 9:10 min

Alison S.M. Kobayashi
From Alex To Alex, 2006 6:11 min

Emily Vey Duke & Cooper Battersby
Songs of Praise for the Heart Beyond Cure, 2006 14:40 min

With support of the Pendle Fund at the Community Foundation of Mississauga

Artists' collectables from the AGM

Art Gallery of Mississauga pinning project sneak preview

The Art Gallery of Mississauga has produced limited edition 1.5 inch pins, designed by four artists. One design will be available FREE at each of the events listed below!


This is a sneak preview only. To see the entire design and get your pin, come out to any of the following events! To collect all four, attend all events.










PRINT E-Z: DIY screen-printing
Demonstrations:
Wednesday August 1, 2007 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Activity Tent, Civic Square
Focusing on the entire process of screen-printing, the demonstrations will cover every aspect of the print-making process from drawing the initial designs to the finished product. Do it yourself and join the exciting assembly line of poster art production.

An exhibition of Jesjit Gill’s recent work and pieces resulting in the collaborative efforts of the participants from the Square One Youth Centre will be on display in the gallery space from July 19 – September 9.

AGM Video Programme
Bedroom Community
Tuesday August 14, 2007
9:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Main Stage
Video programme curated by Su-Ying Lee, Curatorial/Administrative Assistant, Art Gallery of Mississauga

AGM Video Programme
TBA
Tuesday August 21, 2007
9:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Main Stage
Video programme curated by Suzanne Carte-Blanchenot, Outreach Programmer, Art Gallery of Mississauga

The Best of Film Fort
Tuesday August 28, 2007
8:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Main Stage
The Film Fort collective will transform the Civic Centre into a series of large child-like theatres. Creating the sense of wonder and nostalgia of home-movies and family slide shows each fort will house a different video programme. Prepare for a cozy night in - out.

With support from the Pendle Fund at the Community Foundation of Mississauga

DIY screen-printing - This week!

PRINT E-Z: DIY screen-printing

Demonstration: Wednesday August 1, 2007 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Activity Tent, Civic Square, Mississauga Civic Centre

Focusing on the entire process of screen-printing, the demonstrations will cover every aspect of the print-making process from drawing the initial designs to the finished product. Do-it-yourself and join the exciting assembly line of poster art production.
An exhibition of Jesjit Gill’s recent work and pieces resulting in the collaborative efforts of the participants from the Square One Youth Centre are on display at the Art Gallery of Mississauga until September 9th.














If you have any questions please contact Suzanne Carte-Blanchenot at 905-896-5507 or suzanne.carte-blanchenot@mississauga.ca.




With support of the Pendle Fund at the Community Foundation of Mississauga

Cull of the Wild

Cull of the Wild

Saturday, July 14, 2007, 9pm, Main Stage

Artist Geoffry Pugen with Museum, musicians Brendan Koen & Patric Colosimo
























A rapt audience at The Cull of the Wild, live performance which featured artist Geoffrey Pugen's extraordinary hybrid of video mixing, projection, and electronic soundscape creation. A meditative, transformative experience.




































Visit Geoffery Pugen's Utopics project at
www.utopics.ca

Images thanks to Carte Blanche Photography





With support of the Pendle Fund at the Community Foundation of Mississauga

The suburbs isn't the city and vice versa

Don't get me wrong, I adore Toronto but, why compare? Mississauga is it's own distinct city. People choose to live here for many reasons.

Recently I was paid a visit by an artist from Toronto. He commented several times about how dead quiet it all seemed. It wasn't peculiar to me that at 10:30 am on Monday that it wasn't a bustle of activity. He spoke about Mississauga as if it were an oddity for one coming from far off Toronto.

My answer is that Mississauga shouldn't be measured by the same criteria as Toronto. I don't measure Toronto's success as a city by what it lacks in comparison to Mississauga.

One valid question he did pose was "why is it so hard to get anything going?". He was referring to the momentum, energy and attendance excitement behind successful festivals and events.

I think Mississauga hasn't created an atmosphere/culture for such events yet. However, there are definitely many people trying!

What do you think? Why isn't there more momentum for public events, festivals, film, performance? Have you organized or, are organizing something here in Mississauga. How's it going?