Finding the perfect space to display your latest painting just got a whole lot easier.
SpaceFinder is the “Airbnb for local artists.” The website, which was launched in Toronto last month, is a one-stop shop for connecting creators and venues across the city.

“Artists for the first time in Toronto can search for spaces based on their specific needs, not by word of mouth,” says Lisa Niedermeyer, SpaceFinder’s program director. “SpaceFinder is providing a marketplace for organizations to advertise their spaces and a marketplace for artists to find spaces to rent. Before now, a tool created specifically for both audiences has not existed.”



The website was first introduced in 2011 in New York City. Since then, it’s established a network in 11 other North American cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Massachusetts. Toronto was Canada’s pilot run for the app, and creators are now planning expansion to other cities north of the border, including Hamilton, which will see a launch this fall.

SpaceFinder is tailored to the arts community—performances, rehearsals, auditions, readings, recordings and exhibitions are only some of the many events that its registered venues can host. Although galleries and studio spaces flood the site, SpaceFinder Toronto also has some pretty obscure locations to offer. A 45-foot pirate ship, for example, is listed for an array of uses, such as film shoots and transportation purposes. Or the popular Fly 2.0 nightclub, which is listed for things such as concerts, weddings and birthday parties.



The website runs each venue through a review process that ensures the profile is valid and fulfills its maximum potential. The website also completes payments through a streamline service, which maintains an open line of communication between the venues and their renters. Plus, there’s an added bonus of no refund fees, which allows for a more cost-effective and user-friendly service.
“For managers of a rental business who get dinged with refund feeds for every cancellation, that really adds up,” Niedermeyer says. “Not having to pay that makes a big difference.”

Fractured Atlas, the organization that developed SpaceFinder, shares fees with local leaders in the city. This, Niedermeyer says, allows the service to grow in Toronto’s buzzing artistic community.

Check out SpaceFinder for yourself—you may just find the perfect short-term home to bring your own creations to life!

The post Find a Space for your Art with SpaceFinder appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Between the good beer, the art-focused events, and the lively people, one thing at the Steam Whistle Brewery is nearly guaranteed, “You always leave happier than when you came in,” says Jenny Henderson.

Henderson is Steam Whistle’s art gallery coordinator and organized their first art exhibition of the year. To kick of 2015, the brewery is dedicating their January show to the creative talents of the Steam Whistle staff. The show opened at Steam Whistle’s Roundhouse on January 7^th, complete with paintings, photographs, drawings and music all produced by the Good Beer Folks who run the brewery.

In her blue Steam Whistle button-up, Henderson jumped between chatting with guests and serving cold ones behind the bar. Her personal journey with the company began six years ago when she was hired as a retail and events employee. With both a degree and a passion for fine arts, Henderson eventually had the opportunity to work with Steam Whistle in creating the art gallery coordinator position that she holds today. “It’s great that they would allow me to combine my passions here at the brewery,” she said.

Steam Whistle is widely recognized for its commitment to Toronto’s artistic community. Since its gallery space opened 15 years ago, the brewery has hosted over 100 art exhibitions—all without gaining a cent of commission on the artists’ works. There are also no rent charges for using The Roundhouse gallery space. Steam Whistle’s only request for artists is that they donate one art piece of their choice to the brewery’s permanent collection at the close of their show.

Steam Whistle’s support for the arts is now intertwining with its outstanding employer reputation. It’s received the title of one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies for six years in a row, and is one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People. So how exactly does Steam Whistle have so much talent within its own walls? Do you need to have some sort of artistic portfolio when applying for a job at the brewery? Not at all, but the company’s keen eye for charisma and passion has produced a unique roster of creative minds.

Staff members display a spectrum of talent at the January art show. Alex Courneya, a retail and events supervisor at Steam Whistle, has always had a particular passion for photography. During an elementary class field trip to the zoo, Courneya brought along an old 35mm camera that belonged to her parents. “A camera hasn’t been far from my side since,” she said. Courneya is displaying four photographs at the show, one of which was purchased on opening night along with eight other staff pieces.

Although Courneya has been cultivating her hobby for years, some Steam Whistle staff members are trying their hand at visual art for the first time. In each case, however, the art exhibition has surely helped the Good Beer Folks feel a tad happier than when they arrived. “The whole company is like a family. We all have the same electricity,” Henderson says. “Creative energy just helps [us all] meld.”

The staff exhibition is free and open to the public through the month of January. You can visit the Steam Whistle Roundhouse on Monday to Thursday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more details, check out their website.

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(Video by Elle J. Andrews)

The sound of skateboard wheels slapping the pavement echoes across Dufferin Street. Tucked behind an industrial building, skateboarders roll across a half-empty parking lot, soaking up any sun that’s left on this cold November day. Their backdrop is a large studio space bearing the logo of the Converse CONS Project.

Last Saturday, The CONS Project hit Toronto with a third workshop in its North American series. “Creative Recycling” invited skaters and creators to join Jason Podlaski, the founder of Deckstool, in building furniture with used skateboards. The free event was open to the public and included raffles and some complimentary grub. Like the previous workshops, “Creative Recycling” was hosted at 358 Dufferin Street and welcomed preteens, adults, and everyone in between.

The event kicked off with a story about a stool. Jason Podlaski and his brother Adam grew up in Pennsylvania, immersed in the skateboarding culture. As they got older, however, skating somewhat dwindled out of the spotlight. So, when remnants of the early days (aka, beaten-down skateboards) started collecting dust, the Podlaski brothers decided to “give them a second life,” as Jason says. The boys worked from their mom’s garage, piecing together skateboard scraps. A truck, a couple screws, and two and a half decks later, and their prototype was born: the original deckstool.

“With good luck, hard work, and the Internet, I was able to turn it into a business,” Podlaski says. Today, the original deckstool still sits in Adam’s apartment. The company has grown to sell everything from wall clocks to kitchen tabletops, all decorated with the unique artwork of recycled boards.

At “Creative Recycling,” participants had the chance to build their own versions of the stool. The room came alive as everyone rummaged through a heaping pile of decks, choosing the ones that were most in tune with their creative minds. One boy carried a board with a naked lady across the bottom, while another held a deck with a faux family portrait.

This workshop had the most diverse group yet. Not only was there a broad age range, but “Creative Recycling” saw more girls attend than any of the previous workshops had.

Converse ambassador and pro skater, Don “Nuge” Nguyen, also joined CONS Project Toronto for his second time. “It’s just great to bring all the kids together and let them build things for themselves,” he says. “They’re always hyped to come out.” Nuge attended the last CONS Project workshop in October called “How to Film a Skate Video.” This time around, he flipped his long hair back to help with the electric saws.

The roar of power tools matched the room’s high energy, yet despite the excitement, one thing was clear—every skater had a burning itch to skate. Luckily, the space at 358 Dufferin was equipped with two skate structures. The now scuffed-up ramps are tokens of Toronto’s first CONS workshop in August, which taught people how to build their own. Between Converse’s workshops, the ramps are set up for the community to use at Dufferin Grove Park.

For Jason too, the CONS Project has provided him with an opportunity to give back. “[Deckstool’s] furniture is expensive. Not every skater kid is gonna buy it,” he says. “I used to be pretty protective over the idea [of Deckstool]. But now, with the CONS Project, it’s nice to have it out there and get the community involved.”

Toronto is the first Canadian city to welcome The CONS Project. Its intertwining of art and sport has reached out to the creative community and intensified the already booming skate culture in Toronto. Check out The CONS Project website, and stay tuned for details on their next workshop in 2015.

The post The CONS Project: Building Furniture with Scuffed-Up Skateboards appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

This Sunday, Nov. 16, Toronto artist Jessica Gorlicky (commonly known as JessGo) will open the doors of her 9,000 square foot studio to the public for one day. Her exhibit, “The Sound of Art,” is a journey through psychedelia. Vivid colours and sounds will encapsulate the space in this sensory event comprising 25 original works.

“Creation is in my blood,” reads her artist statement. “I do what is natural to me and I follow and interpret the rhythm of life around me, around the world.”

We’ve all heard the sound of music, but have you heard the sound of art?

Citing music as one of her greatest inspirations, “The Sounds of Art” illuminates the faces of rock n’ roll royalty, like Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. JessGo intertwines this blast from the past with modern technology, including LED lighting and Bluetooth devices. Under a giant disco ball, guests can take an experimental trip through the soundscapes of art.

JessGo’s work has been commissioned by major companies and organizations like Google, Coca-Cola, TOMS Shoes, the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games, and the ever-magical Cirque du Soleil, to name a few. The artist will donate five per cent of the sales from “The Sound of Art” exhibit to MusiCounts, a charity that works to keep music programs accessible for children across the country.

“The Sound of Art” will be open to the public from 1:00-11:00 p.m. and is located at 945 Wilson Avenue (just east of Keele Street).  Check out her website www.jessgo.com to learn more about her art and exhibits.

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Forget your typical pub-crawl—this Friday night, the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival is inviting Torontonians to float through five eclectic galleries for their annual Art Crawl.

The Art Crawl is only one of the many events offered at this year’s five-day festival, which runs Oct. 22-26. This is imagineNATIVE’s 15^th year showcasing Indigenous film, video, radio and new media artists. It supports talent both within and beyond Canada’s borders and has become the world’s largest Indigenous festival of its kind.

“…imagineNATIVE is committed to dispelling stereotypical notions of Indigenous peoples through diverse media presentations from within our communities, thereby contributing to a greater understanding by all audiences of Indigenous artistic expression,” reads the imagiveNATIVE website.

The Art Crawl itself will cover five galleries under the roof of 401 Richmond this Friday, Oct 24. The night kicks off at 5 p.m. with I:ike-I have motion, an exhibition curated by the well-known Canadian curator, Lee-Ann Martin. The movement-inspired exhibition has been running since Sept. 23 in A Space Gallery and features work from seven prominent Indigenous artists.

The second exhibit of the night invites visitors to kick back, relax and go ice fishing. That’s right, Ice Fishing is an interactive work by Newfoundland artist Jordan Bennett. This is imagineNATIVE’s third interactive exhibit in partnership with the National Film Board of Canada. Bennett’s virtual ice fishing holes scatter across the gallery floor at Trinity Square Video. They’re accompanied by atmospheric audio, video, animation and photography, bringing the life of an ice fisher to Toronto’s bustling city streets. Bring your scarves—it sounds chilly!

Next up is Gallery 44’s RECAST, a collaborative exhibition that analyzes the meaning of art and how it morphs when narratives and objects are recast. Artists intertwine video and photographic talents to illustrate creative changes and their effects. The night of the Art Crawl is RECAST’s opening reception, which includes an artists and curator talk at 7 p.m.

Trove: Unearthing the Embargo Collective II gives a sneak peek into the creative minds of five female Indigenous filmmakers. The exhibition opened last week at WARC Gallery. It acts somewhat like a preface for their commissioned films, which will be premiered at the Closing Night Gala on Oct. 26.

The night closes off with imagineNATIVE’s first ever New Media Multi-Platform Showcase at Urbanspace Gallery. The showcase will present artist talks and reveal new media projects in the festival’s programming, including web-based art, video games, and poster projects.

The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival runs until Sunday, Oct. 26. Check out their website for a schedule of events and more information.

You can also visit their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter @imagineNATIVE to get the latest event updates!

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