Nuit Talks Toronto: Exploring Boundaries of Contemporary Art

Screenshot: A Special Program Marking the Five-Year Milestone of Scotiabank Nuit Blanche:
Nuit Talks: Five lectures exploring the boundaries of contemporary art. September 28 to October 3
Credit: scotiabanknuitblanche.ca

Nuit Talks
A series of five lectures exploring the boundaries of contemporary art

September 28 to October 3, 2010

To commemorate the 5th anniversary of Scotiabank Nuit Blanche, Nuit Talks offers a revealing and introspective tête-à-tête series covering five topics in five venues over five days. The talks will explore different aspects of the event through dialogues that probe the boundaries of contemporary art in public space and target the many diverse audiences of Toronto’s free all-night contemporary art event.

Please note: pre-registration is not required for these FREE lectures, but capacity is limited.

From Galleries to Alleys
Tuesday September 28, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
An interdisciplinary panel discussing the repositioning of art from galleries into public space. This panel examines how art in public spaces reframes and challenges historical standards of “high art” and will include a look at the ‘commodification’ of art and artists.
Venue Partner: Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen Street West
Programming Partner: Manifesto Community Projects and Well and Good

Does Scotiabank Nuit Blanche influence the Art Market?
Wednesday September 29, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
A panel discussion with gallerists, art dealers and artists discussing the value of contemporary art within the context of the commercial market.
Venue Partner: Studio Theatre, Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West

An intimate conversation with Artist Daniel Lanois
Friday October 1st 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Host: Jian Ghomeshi, Broadcaster, Writer, Producer
Venue Partner: Rotunda, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West

When Curators Speak...
Saturday October 2, 3:00 - 4:30pm
An in-depth look at curating and past curators as creative agents of Scotiabank Nuit Blanche.
Venue Partner: Jackman Hall, AGO, 317 Dundas Street West

When Critics Speak...
Sunday October 3rd, 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 pm
Taking a critical look at this year's Scotiabank Nuit Blanche from an art critic's and art writer's point of view, and an exploration of the future of the event within the context of public art programming. The discussion will focus on whether public art events affect the development of a new audience for contemporary art and the potential long term future for events like Scotiabank Nuit Blanche.
Venue Partner: Underground, The Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen Street West

Information: http://www.scotiabanknuitblanche.ca/nuitTalks.shtml

+ Share Your Nuit Blanche Toronto 2010 Night — on October 2

+ tweet: use #snbTO or follow @sbnuitblancheTO

Rococo Brocade Book Launch & Fundraising at Latitude 44 Gallery

Invitation: Rococo Brocade Book Launch & Fundraising
September 23, 2010 at Latitude 44 Gallery Framing Décor
Photo: Olga Goubar

You are cordially invited to the book launch of "Rococo Brocade", a new novel written by Kara Bogaz-Gol and a fundraising event for the Junction Historical Society.

When: Thursday, September 23rd, 7 - 11 pm

Where: Latitude 44 Gallery Framing Décor
Location: 2900 Dundas St. W, Toronto ON M6P 1Y8

"Rococo Brocade" is basically an eighteenth century farce with a creative philosophy of social justice.
Proceeds from wine sales and the auction of 3 framed pieces of original 18th C. silk brocade, along with copies of the book, will go to the Junction Historical Society.

R.S.V.P. to either...
Latitude 44 Gallery
416•769•2900
latitude44gallery@bellnet.ca

Cara Reeves
905•967•2920
kbogazgol@gmail.com

Please come if you can,
This is going to be fun !!
Best wishes,
Cara

links:
latitude44gallery.ca: For Evite to Rococo Brocade in PDF format please click here

Twitter realtime results for "Rococo Brocade"

First Edition of "Rococo Brocade" arrived yesterday, 5 boxes of heaven on earth. Launch: Latitude 44 Gallery,Thurs Sept 23rd, 7-11pm. R.S.V.P
@karabogazgol

Rococo Brocade Book Launch & Fundraising at Latitude 44 Gallery: Invitation: Rococo Brocade Book Launch & Fundrais... http://bit.ly/donXlL
@High Park Web

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2010 Junction Arts Festival: Seeing Is Believing

Photo: The Junction's Updated Legacy
West Toronto Junction Arts Festival, September 11, 2010

Photo: 2010 Junction Arts Festival: Seeing Is Believing
Poster: The Junction Arts Festival September 8 - 12, 2010
"... and you thought you had seen everything!
we'll make you think again!
www.junctionartsfest.com"
Credit: junctionartsfest.com

Discover what’s happening right now,
in the Junction @ the Junction Arts Festival
twitter: realtime results for Junction Arts Festival
twitter: realtime results for #JunctionTO
Or just come and see it!

2010 Junction Arts Festival Is Here: September 8 - 12

Screenshot: Downlodable Festival Footprint map [pdf]
The stretch of Dundas Street West from Indian Grove to St John’s Road is where it all takes place.
Have a look at the map to help you find your way to the neighbourhood, where you can also enjoy many popular and award-winning shops and restaurants.
Credit: junctionartsfest.com

2010 Junction Arts Festival from Wednesday, September 8 to Sunday, September 12, with a two day closure of Dundas Street West between Indian Grove and St John’s Road the weekend of September 11 and 12.

2010 Junction Arts Festival Opening Night Ceremonies Held This Friday September 10th on Dundas Street West at Pacific Ave.

A weekend festival 'Where the Arts meet the Street' in the heart of the West Toronto Junction is the basis for this ever-growing multi-ARTS Festival that includes visual art, galleries, installation art, main stage music, dance, theatre, performance art, travelling minstrels and anything in between and beyond.

The Junction Residents Association e-newsletter:

Junction Arts Festival – September 8 to 12

With summer coming to an end the Junction arts community is preparing to welcome thousands of people to our great neighbourhood for this years Junction Arts Festival.

The Junction Forum for Art & Culture (JFAC) is moving away from the street festivals of the past few years and returning to its origins with a "thousand percent increase in art". The out of town street vendors which lined Dundas last year will be replaced with art installations, performance art, entertainment for the kids and extended patios from our favourite local restaurants. Our local business and storefronts will no longer be hidden behind tents so they can also enjoy and benefit from the festival.

Traffic will be closed this year on Dundas from Runnymede to Annette Street with Keele being the only north/south route. See below for closure times.

Art installation will start at Malta Park with an outdoor living room and continue to the vacant lot on Indian Grove which will stage the Poetry Village and Film Centre.

JRA presents the Community Stage at High Park Avenue

The stage is sponsored by your Junction Residents Association and we will be hosting a Community Forum on local issues as well as promoting local talent in the multi-talented Junction.

Here are just some of the acts that we’ll be presenting. Check the Junction Arts Festival website or Facebook for an updated schedule.

Junction Community Forum – 11am Saturday and 1pm Sunday

Your JRA is hosting a Junction Community Forum on the Community Stage on High Park Ave.

We are inviting leaders from other nearby resident associations to take part in a question and answer discussion on local topics. This is a great opportunity for residents to inquire about and comment on a wide range of issues.

Junction News Team - Saturday and Sunday

Hannah Hogan and Matt McCready are improv reporters covering the festival and bringing back weird and wonderful characters. Hannah and Matt will also be starring in our popular "Artists Who Didn’t Make the Cut" segment (watch for the creator of the installation that actually sprayed sausages!). Plus prizes, contests, trivia, special guests, and extremely silly bits.

Junction History Mash Up, 2pm Saturday, 3pm Sunday

An encore presentation of the dynamic experience that made its debut at the Humberside Hoopla in June. A troupe of student actors -- originally from Heather Bernkopf’s Grade 11 drama class at Humberside, now bursting into Grade Twelve – interpret Junction Suite, an original orchestral composition by young composer Isaias Garcia based on the wide open and diverse history of West Toronto Junction. Narration by Neil Ross. Produced by Boom Times Cabaret Artists Collective.

EnvironMENTAL Junction Revue, 3:45 Saturday, 4:30 Sunday

Summer Standup/Sketch Comedy Workshop grads present a look askance at the environment and the rest of the world.

With Sarah Bradley on “Helicopter Parenting, Junction style”; Rebecca Christensen, Queen of Cats and Uni-tasking, Rick Mamros on “The 25 year Marriage: a Survivor’s Guide”, Terry McGuire on “smart cars, blue boxes and feuding families”, Zena Muzzell: talking to trees and Mal-Wart customers indiscriminately, and Teresa Owen with a whole new take on Golfing for the Environment. Special guest on the Sunday Show, ZAN COY, CTV hit Dan for Mayor. With special prizes including the first issue of the new five part graphic novel, Justice in the Junction, the Life and Times of Josiah Royce, story by Neil Ross, art by Brendan FitzPatrick. Proceeds to the West Toronto Junction Historical Society.

+ Local Arts in the Junction - Yarnstorming

Road Closures and Event Times:
Road Closures: Dundas St from Runnymede to Annette
Sat 6:00 am to Sunday 11:00 pm
Road Closures: Pacific Av (North side)
Thursday 12:00 noon to Sunday 11:00 pm
Road Closures: High Park Av (South side)
Friday 12:00 noon to Sunday 11:00 pm
Road Closures: Pacific Av (North)
Friday 5 pm to midnight

Events times on all stages within closure.
Sat: 10:00 am to midnight
Sun: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

It’s your Junction, It’s our Junction!
JRA Members Meeting - Thursday, September 16, 2010
Visit junctionra.ca today!

The Junction Arts Festival is the highlight of the community’s cultural year.
Everyone is invited to become "A PART OF THE ART".
Come join us for another unforgettable celebration of the arts!

links:
junctioneer: Junction Arts Festival stage art lineup — info up
SPECTACLE (Main) STAGE SCHEDULE: Dundas St W at Pacific Ave North Side
HIGH PARK (Community) STAGE SCHEDULE: Dundas St W at High Park Ave
POETRY VILLAGE SCHEDULE
POETRY HOUSE SCHEDULE
ON GROUND LEVEL SCHEDULE
SOFA SESSIONS SCHEDULE
TWILIGHT FILM SCHEDULE
A CHILD'S EXPERIENCE SCHEDULE
twitter: realtime results for Junction Arts Festival
twitter: realtime results for #JunctionTO
twitter: realtime results for junctionartsfest
twitter: realtime results for #junctionartsfest

Istvan Kantor - Neoism & (S)mash-up Performance for the Junction Arts Festival

Screenshot: The Junction Arts Festival 2010
ISTVAN KANTOR RE: INVASION - Recent Crimes and Punishments
Monuments / Plunderworks / Mash-Media / Shinyism / Lebensraum / Subvertainment
Curated by Paul Campbell
Sept 9 – Oct 9, 2010
Opening reception/performance Thursday, Sept 9, 7 - 11pm
SMASH at 2880 Dundas Street West, Toronto

Istvan Kantor is an artist known around the world by his "open pop star" identity – Monty Cantsin Amen. The movement behind this multiple persona pseudonym is "Neoism" which has been around since 1979 as an underground philosophy of performance and media experimentalists who share pseudonyms and identities to make their statements and action based art.

Istvan Kantor, the creator of Neoism and the original Monty Cantsin has been banned from most museums around the world for splashing his blood on the walls between valued artwork. His message was the idea of art itself, what is art? and what is not. By hanging a painting on the wall an artist leaves a mark and it is the museums that decide what art is; Istvan Kantor’s shocking act challenges the limits of artistic freedom and revolts against the control of established institutions. But according to Istvan Kantor, art is not necessarily those works of art that are in the museums, his statement of blood represents human body which is the source of art, the center of artist’s creation – it displays human life as a symbol and object of art.

When asked about his action based art, Istvan Kantor replies that the message is to help people in intense and emergency situations by confrontational, action art. "Things have to be done very fast and questions should be solved, extreme actions such as splashing blood trigger a reaction and exchange of ideas, the message goes through many layers of society, through media, courts, it’s a way I can communicate and bring attention to vital issues."

In today’s world, when art has no boundaries between good and bad and the concept of art itself is undefined it is important to know what is truly art and who is an artist. Being an all encompassing media artist, prolific in all artistic mediums, performance, video, music, and writing – Istvan Kantor received the Governor General Award in 2004 for his work. Controversial, subversive, rebellious, the art of Istvan Kantor has even been called demonic for his shocking action art. His art expresses the world today and Neoism is loosely defined as the culture of the new.

In the near future Istvan Kantor plans to continue his work in Neoism as Monty Cantsin Amen, and will have a special performance for the Junction Arts Festival, opening September 9 until October 9, at Smash, 2880 Dundas St. W. The persona of Monty Canstin is that of an honest and completely guilt free person who devotes his life and energy to make people’s life better. Neoism has an aspect of idealism and a belief in the better life through creative forces.

Having immigrated from Communist Hungary in 1977, Istvan Kantor travelled extensively around the world. He is an artist that reflects the different cultures, systems and views globally; who believes that we are biological beings, living a material existence in a scientific world, without the soul. The art of Istvan Kantor is an atheist art. A true artist is a messenger who expresses the truth. Ultimately Istvan Kantor makes us wonder about what the truth is and the value of human life.

2010 © Anya / Anna Lobsanova

links:
What is the (Next) Message?: McLuhan Lectures 2005 - May 25 – Lilly Koltun – Portraiture
"Consider portraiture. Today's abstract portraiture can comprise performance, as in the case of Istvan Kantor. The portrait can be performed only once; any artefact that results is not the portrait. The artefact proper is itself ephemeral [.pdf]."
by Dr. Mark Federman
Chief Strategist, McLuhan Program in Culture and Technology
University of Toronto

Junction Arts Festival September 8 - 12, 2010: Artist Directory: Istvan Kantor