THAT CHOIR Carols: St. Andrew’s  Church (73 Simcoe Street). December 17 & 18. This a cappella chamber choir led by Craig Pike (yes, founder of Craig’s Cookies) is already gaining much attention in the city. The award-winning singing group brings home a wonderful night of music including your favourite carols and holiday music with works inspired by the winter solstice. Ticketed event (pay what you can — sliding scale).

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: if a spectacular musical is on your mind, then this will sure to please! Joseph is a daydreamer and amongst his siblings is considered the favourite of his father. Jealousy from the other brothers had Joseph sold as a slave with hopes to never see him again but the dreams and stories he holds is the fabric of this popular production with a happy ending. On stage until January 18 at the Princess of Wales Theatre.

Fisherman’s Friends: The Musical: This humble musical makes its North American Premiere with the original UK cast is full of toe-tapping sea shanties and heartfelt tunes. Based on a true story of a group of singing men from a seaside fishing village in the UK who were discovered by a record producer that launched them into a whole new found world with a surprising chart topper. This story is about community, loyalty and love. On stage at the Royal Alexandra Theatre until January 15.

Ross Petty’s Peter’s Final Flight: A tradition for many families, Ross Petty and his crew of misfits take to the stage for their final curtain call. Peter’s Final Flight is a showstopper pulling out all the bells and whistles to the sheer delight of for all ages. This panto style production is know for taking a classic children’s tale but cleverly with a modern and cheeky twist beyond your expectations. Families love the relaxed environment and will quickly learn the booing is very acceptable. PS We’re really going to miss this annual production and Plumbum (#iykyk).

Second City Improv: the new home at 1 York Street is impressive and the holiday programming is full of fun for everyone. The  Jingle Bell Ruckus delivers a heaping serving of seasonal satire that’s the perfect alternative to those same old holiday shows. Nothing’s off-limits: holiday film classics, family gatherings, beloved Christmas carols, and of course all things wickedly funny about winter get a seasonal skewering in this fast-paced, interactive, original comedy revue filled with style, wit, and plenty of that famous (and festive) Second City improv! The Holiday Improv Brunch is the gift that keeps on giving! For 3 weekends only, bring your band of merrymakers as they scramble together two of everyone’s favourites, comedy and brunch, for a scrumptiously seasonal breakfast with a totally improvised experience from the city’s finest. Whether you side on the Naughty or the Nice List, come enjoy mimosas…they won’t judge.

National Ballet of Canada: Is it even the holidays without The Nutcracker Ballet? The company returns with the famous story and James Kudelka’s rendition  is one of the most beautiful and creative we’ve ever seen. We also love being surprised by  celebrities and notables who are enlisted to play the Cannon Dolls.

Soulful Messiah by Ballet Creole: December 17 and 18 at the Sandra Faire an dIvan Pecan Theatre. Returnign for the 20th anniversary is this unique holiday classic. Ballet Creole is Canada first professional Black dance company. Soulful Messiah is a combination of tap, jazz, afro-caribbean, ballet, contemporary dance, hip hop and freestyle. Music and movements are from the African Diaspora integrating traditional and contemporary dancee created by Caribbean-born Artistic Director, Patrick Parson.

Hamilton The Musical: The wildly popular musical based on a piece of American history that not many of us are too familiar with is returning to Toronto at the Princess of Wales theatre this February. You might recall it was shut down due to Covid just mere days of when it opened here but nevertheless, we’re excited for this one! Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway, Hamilton has taken the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton and created a revolutionary moment in theatre—a musical that has had a profound impact on culture, politics, and education. Tickets are now on sale or even gift cards to any of the shows would be great idea!

Casa Loma Christmas at the Castle and Holiday Lights: If you’re looking for a magical experience at Toronto’s magical castle there are two happening at Casa Loma. Outdoors visitors can follow the twinkly lights of the Holiday Lights through the garden paths outdoors and then head indoors through the tunnels to visit with Mrs. Claus and Santa himself. Daily entertainment also happens including jugglers and magicians. Hot Cocoa and snack stands ($) for a few treats to keep hungry mouths satisfied. Inside the castle you’ll find stunning Christmas trees all uniquely decorated by some of the city’s finest style makers — interior decorates, designers, etc. Both events are ticketed (separately). Do one or both and make it extra special.

Distillery Winter Village: Wander through the city’s most picturesque holiday winter market with shops and eateries. The outdoor Winter Village returns in person with local artisans, vendors as well as the most scrumptious seasonal eats — psstttt…Cops donuts. You won’t want to miss the stunning 50-ft White Spruce Tree in Trinity Square. Designed by Parfum Christian Dior, tree is adorned with  with 400 custom midnight blue ornaments, 1,700 shiny and matte gold balls, 70,000 twinkling lights and features 1,000 custom Dior star charms. Tickets are required on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays after 4:00 pm, and December 27-31 after 4:00 pm. Tickets are $11 plus HST each. Kids nine and under are free of charge.

Northern Lights TO: is the city’s newest immersive outdoor holiday experience taking place at the Grand Bizarre, Exhibition Place. The 80,000 sq ft of outdoor holiday space is filled with activities. It’s also dog-friendly on Thursdays and Sundays. Open until January 8. Ticketed event.

Canadian Tire Christmas Trail: to December 23, 1000 Murray Ross Parkway. In celebration of Canadian Tire’s 100th birthday, The Canadian Tire Christmas Trail is back to make this the Christmas of the century. The drive-along experience takes guests on an enchanted 1.5-kilometre journey through thousands of twinkling lights, interactive displays, and live entertainment featuring new and familiar faces. Guests will be immersed in the magic of Christmas and can capture their beloved annual photo with Santa in a memorable way, all from the comfort of their own vehicle. $25 per car (all proceeds donated to Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities to benefit child and youth sport throughout Canada).

Illumi — A Dazzling World of Lights: from the creative imagination of Normand Latourelle comes this unique experience where guests can embark on an outdoor journey through 13 magical universes across a 600,000 sq ft site (equivalent to 10 football fields!), brought to life by high definition projections, state-of-the-art animatronic creatures, and thousands of lights and structures. There’s also “The Cabin” a unique installation that allows visitors to recharge and get ready for their adventures. Families can also participate in games like Hide and Seek in The Land of Frost. Families will also have the opportunity to donate gently used winter items in the donation bins at the entrance. Ticketed event.  Running until January 29.

Disney Animation: Immersive Experience: We know there are tons of Disney fans and we’re excited about this one for the families! Opens December 21 at One Yonge Street inside the Toronto Star building. Step inside the stories and see the Disney movies, songs, and characters come to life. Created by Lighthouse Immersive and Oscar winning producer J. Miles Dale (Shape of Water) in collaboration with Walt Disney Animation Studios. This experiential projection exhibition presented with some of the most popular Disney songs from their popular films including Encanto, Zootopia, The Lion King, Peter Pan, Pinocchio, and yes, Frozen. Great for all ages. Ticketed event.

Eataly Cooking Classes: There’s a variety of delicious hands-on cooking classes and experiences for everyone and even a few for kids! Learn how to make pasta from the north or south and from scratch or gnocchi! Join in a lasagna making class that is Nonna approved all happening in their in-store kitchen event space.

GIFT A MEMBERSHIP!…

Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO): You cannot beat the $35 individual annual pass as a gift idea.  Visit whenever the AGO is open and explore at your leisure. The latest Leonard Cohen: Everybody Knows exhibition explores the dynamic artistry of Leonard Cohen — Canadian novelist, poet and singer-songwriter. The exhibition will feature more than 200 artworks, objects, many from his personal archive, including performance clips, musical instruments, notebooks, lyrics, letters, photos, drawings and digital art all created by Cohen throughout his lifetime. This is the firs museum exhibition to present the holds of the Leonard Cohen Family Trust. Ticketed exhibition.

Gardiner Museum: This museum holds a remarkable collection of some of the world’s finest ceramic arts. From priceless artifacts to contemporary arts there’s always something amazing to discover here. The current exhibition of Karine Giboulo titled “Housewarming” is not to be missed. The Montreal-based artist invites us into her home of over 500 miniature clay figures to explore the stories all too familiar. Housewarming is Giboulo’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020, and the waves of confinement and isolation that followed. It is a sculpted documentary of individual and collective experiences grounded in current events.

Royal Ontario Museum: There’s always something special to see at the ROM. Recently opened is Canadian Modern featuring over 100 culturally significant, limited-edition and mass-produced objects designed and crafted in Canada. Other amazing exhibitions to catch before they’re gone are Kent Monkman: Being Legendary and Fantastic Beasts:The Wonder of Nature. 

TIFF

HotDocs:

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The night of contemporary art, cocktails, cuisine, music (and access to the museum) is always inspiring and fun. This year’s party titled SMASH: Terra, will have partygoers explore our connection to the world around us — how place defines us and the responsibility we have to protect and nurture the environment we share.

Organized by The Gardiner Museum’s Young Patron Circle, SMASH is a night when the next generation of artists, arts enthusiasts, and cultural philanthropists come together to celebrate the city’s vibrant arts community and see how young Canadian artists are pushing the boundaries of their media.  This year’s event will feature artists including Sami Tsang, Jasmine Cardenas, and Randel Adjei. We’re pretty sure this will be an unforgettable night out!

Randell Adjei is Ontario’s first Legislative appointed Poet Laureate. He is a spoken word artist, speaker and author. After a traumatic experience, the Scarborough native founded R.I.S.E. (Reaching Intelligent Souls Everywhere) to provide youth with inclusive and safe platforms across the GTA to creatively express themselves through the performance arts. Randell has numerous accolades and works across several school boards. In November of 2018, Randell released his first book titled ‘I Am Not My Struggles’, a collection of poetry highlighting the power of transforming pain to power.

Sami Tsang is a Canadian- Chinese artist who uses clay, rice paper and drawings. Born here in Ontario but raised in a conservative home in Hong Kong until she was a preteen. When she returned to Canada she found herself negotiating between Chinese and Western cultural expectations. Her art is thought-provoking and reflective of her personal experiences. In 2019, she was the recipient of the Gardiner Museum Prize.

Jasmine Cardenas is Hamilton-based Canadian-Ecuadorian multidisciplinary artist, working in sculptural painting, collage, and installation. Her work hovers between real and imaginary spaces. Often her work reflects her personal experiences, family traditions and stories.

We had a chance to chat with Jasmine Cardenas ahead of SMASH: Terra to learn more about her work…

As we now are emerging from a couple of years of isolation, how is the current phase influencing your latest work?

Jasmine: At this point I feel like I am at a transitional stage in my practice, from oil painting, collage, installation, and most recently pottery. During the start of the pandemic I relocated from Toronto to Hamilton with my partner. I now work out of my home studio in my attic. After months of feeling short waves of inspiration, I’ve recently started hand building ceramics and have felt a new burst of creativity! I am keeping the ceramics separate from my art practice, but this new sense of freedom and experimentation with clay which has motivated me in the studio with my painting/installation practice as well.

Your series “Isolation” still kept with your vibrant colours. Can you tell us about this series?

Jasmine: My isolation series started at the very beginning of the pandemic. At the time I had a shared studio space, and I remember being anxious even working around my studio mates, everything felt scary and unknown. I got to the point where I just started to work out of my apartment. I set up a small painting area in my living room, covered the floor and walls with garbage bags, and started working primarily from that space.
Painting felt difficult at first, but eventually I found comfort in focusing on mixing pigments and mediums. Looking back at it, I suppose it was a good distraction. That… and making sourdough bread. I shared my apartment with my partner, and many of my sketches became loosely figurative, bodies close and together, finding comfort in each other, this was reflective of how I was feeling at the time.

How have you been keeping your creative flow over the past couple of years?

Jasmine: Having a studio space in my home is convenient. When I am not working my arts admin job, I try to be in the studio as much as possible. Working with several mediums also helps keep the flow going. I will work on a few paintings at once, then work on a sculpture, or collage.

Feeling creative hasn’t come easy these past two years, but the pandemic put us all through a collective pause, and during this time I got to the point where I could reflect on my life, and reevaluate what I wanted out of my art practice.

You’ll be involved with the Gardiner Museum’s upcoming SMASH party. What are you most looking forward to?

Jasmine: When I was asked to create work for SMASH, I was very excited to have the opportunity to work on an installation again, and have a deadline to work towards! I’m grateful the Gardiner Museum reached out as this is the first installation I’ve worked on in a long time and it feels good to be working sculpturally again.

Can you give us a hint of what you’re working on for this event and your inspiration? 

Jasmine: This installation is titled, Under your watch, and started off as a sketch I would repeat in my notebook. Throughout the pandemic I’ve had loss in my family, and I am now realizing many of the works I’ve created are influenced by ideas of mortality, and remembrance. This work explores thoughts I’ve had about the afterlife, which sounds heavy, but my intent is to find comfort in the unknown and celebrate the growth that comes from loss.

For more information or for tickets to SMASH: Terra at The Gardiner Museum visit www.gardinermuseum.on.ca

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What’s interesting to discover in this exhibition is how ceramics and artefacts are brought together.Over 110 objects including Chinese porcelain, Islamic metalware, Venetian ceramics and glass are on display. In addition to the Gardiner’s exceptional collection, stunning pieces were brought from across the city including from the ROM, AGO, Bata Shoe Museum, Textile Museum of Canada, Aga Khan Museum, Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, and Toronto Public Library, as well as The Met, V&A, Detroit Institute of Arts, Corning Museum of Glass, and other world-class public and private collections.

Also included are installations in response to the historical works by three contemporary artists — Nadia Myre, Lindsay Montgomery, and Dorie Millerson.

The exhibition’s curator, Dr. Karine Tsoumis tells us the three artists were chosen because their work, or their artistic practices more broadly, have a connection either to the city of Venice, the art of the Renaissance (more specifically its ceramic traditions), or salient themes of the exhibition. “In their own unique way, each brings a feminist perspective on historical objects or popular stories of the time and opens a thoughtful dialogue between past and present,” said Tsoumis. She continues to tell us…

“The installation by Nadia Myre, an Algonquin member of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation, is a very important work that invites us to reflect on Venice’s historical ties to the Atlantic world and its role in disseminating European ideas, myths, and prejudice about Indigenous American peoples through a range of printed publications. The multimedia installation, which includes ceramic, beadwork, wallpaper design, and sound, asks us how ideas of origins can shape our shared future. This is the second edition of an installation first presented in an exhibition coinciding with the 2019 Venice Biennale.

Dorie Millerson’s work reinforces a counter-narrative focusing on Renaissance women that runs through the exhibition. A textile artist, Millerson created Cocca Veneta, a Venetian merchant ship sculpted in needle lace, as a response to the historical conditions of lacemaking in the city, the contrast between male and female experiences, and the exploitation of female, domestic labour. While Venetian needle lace was then among the most expensive products made in the city, it was made by the poorest and worn by the wealthiest.

Lindsay Montgomery address the legacies of the past through the medium of maiolica. In her work, Montgomery appropriates the popular stories of the Renaissance as encountered on maiolica to reflect on contemporary issues and experiences. In her piece, Daphnes and Lauras, she offers a feminist re-telling of the myth of Daphne and Apollo as told by Ovid in his Metamorphoses. Montgomery encourages the beholder to reflect on the connections between past and present, including the prevalence of structures of patriarchy and oppression.”

This exhibition is very special in the way that it brings together objects on loan from some of the city’s most important cultural institution. “You can see ceramics, paintings, carpets, shoes, textiles, books, and more, all in one place,” said Tsoumis. “Our city has such an incredible wealth of culture, and this exhibition offers a rare opportunity to see institutions across Toronto come together and support each other in this way. It feels like a really exciting and joyful moment as we emerge from the pandemic, and our cultural institutions return to life.”

Renaissance Venice: Life and Luxury at the Crossroads also has few special events planned…

Highlight Tour with Dorie Millerson (ticketed event)
Wednesday November 24, 12 – 1 pm
Join Dr. Karine Tsoumis for a special tour in conversation with exhibiting artist Dorie Millerson, Associate Professor, Material Art & Design, Faculty of Design, OCAD University.

Highlight Tour with Karine Tsoumis: From Lacemakers to Courtesans (ticketed event)
Wednesday November 24, 5 – 6 pm
Step into the lives of Renaissance women in this special exhibition tour highlighting select objects created by female artisans, owned by women, or conveying ideals of femininity.

Transcultural Earth: Mimetic earthenware and artisanal knowledge between Italy and Asia in the Long Renaissance (Free online registration)
Thursday November 25, 1 – 2 pm
Dr Marta Ajmar, Head of Postgraduate Programmes at the V&A, will draw on recipe books, treatises, and surviving artefacts to shed light on a little-explored chapter of Italian Renaissance artisanal expertise: pottery glazes.

Virtual Artist Demo with Lindsay Montgomery (Free online registration)
Thursday December 2, 1 – 2 pm
Award-winning ceramic artist Lindsay Montgomery is known for her contemporary interpretations of Medieval and Renaissance imagery. Watch her stream live from the studio and get a peek into her fascinating process.

Questioning Quarantine in the Jewish Ghetto of Venice (Free online registration)
Thursday December 9, 1 – 2 pm
Dana E. Katz, Joshua C. Taylor Professor of Art History and Humanities at Reed College, explores the concept of quarantine as it relates to the enforced residential restriction of the Venetian Jewish ghetto.

Highlight Tour with Dr. Fahmida Suleman (ticketed event)
Wednesday December 15, 12 – 1 pm
Join Dr. Karine Tsoumis for a special tour in conversation with Dr. Fahmida Suleman, Curator of the Islamic World at the Royal Ontario Museum, who will discuss a selection of Islamic artworks featured in the exhibition.

The Gardiner Museum is located at 111 Queen’s Park. For more information on this exhibition and what else is happening, visit gardinermuseum.on.ca.

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TOUCH Immersive Dance Work: Lighthouse Artspace, 1 Yonge Street. Opens October 1. A new immersive dance work created by acclaimed dancer/choreographer Guillaume Côté and multimedia artist Thomas Payette (previously collaborated on Frame by Frame at The National Ballet of Canada). This new work explores our experience of human contact during this moment in time when human touch has taken on a complicated, sometimes frightening implications.

PULSE TOPOLOGY: The Bentway (October 2 to 31). Internationally renowned Mexican-Canadian media artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer’s breathtaking interactive installation takes over a secret room located behind the Gardiner Expressway at Exhibition Place (never before accessed to the public!). The installation features 3000 hanging lights that react in realtime to your heartbeat. Touches biometric sensors located throughout the exhibit allows you to contribute your pulse to the work, helping it to evolve and morph as visitors experience the space reminding us that we are not alone. Version of this installation have appeared around the world including Mexico City and Venice. Pre-Registration is required.

GEARY ART CRAWL: October 2 and 3. Explore Geary Avenue from Ossington to west of Dufferin in this two-day celebration of arts and culture presented by not-for-profit Uma Nota Culture. The neighbourhood will come alive with sights, sounds and tasty food along with local small businesses.

PICASSO: PAINTING THE BLUE PERIOD at the Art Gallery of Ontario: Opens October 6. Canada’s first ever survey of Pablo Picasso’s influential Blue Period brings more than 100 artworks from 15 countries to Toronto. This major exhibition combines art historic research, cutting edge conservation science and sublime works of art. It is the first exhibition in Canada to focus on the modernist master’s early years.

PLANET IN FOCUS INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL: October 14 to 24. Online and in-person. Canada’s largest environmental film festival showcases a stellar line up of Canadian and International films including a few premieres. All films were selected as they address climate, environment, biodiversity, reconciliation and equity. The festival celebrates its 22nd year.

RENAISSANCE VENICE: LIFE AND LUXURY AT THE CROSSROADS: opens October 14. Gardiner Museum debuts their first major exhibition since 2020. This new exhibit includes more than 110 objects, including Venetian ceramics and glass,Chinese Porcelain, Islamic metalware, and contemporary art. Focusing on Venice as a multicultural metropolis where diverse cultural and artistic influences mingled. In addition to the Gardiner’s collection there will also be exceptional pieces on display from the ROM, AGO, Bata Shoe Museum, Textile Museum, Aga Khan Museum, The Met, V&A, Detroit Institute of Arts, Corning Museum of Glass and other world-class public and private collections. The exhibition is designed by set designer Gerard Gauci so visitors can expect a lush experience.

HIDDEN STORIES: BOOKS ALONG THE SILK ROADS at the Aga Khan Museum: opens October 9. 1,000 years of book-fuelled journey across the Silk Roads captured in this interactive exhibition. The show also gives a glimpse into the lives of craftspeople behind the making of books and the tools of the bookmaking trade — from a silver-inlaid bronze inkwell from 12th-century Iran to wooden moveable type from 18th-century Korea — revealing how ideas were physically recorded so they could travel across space and time. As a creative response to travel restrictions posed by the pandemic, all the artworks in Hidden Stories is locally sourced from Ontario-based collections, including those of the Aga Khan Museum, the Royal Ontario Museum, the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, Western University, and the Marshall and Marilyn R. Wolf Collection.

RUST GARDEN: Aga Khan Museum. Until February 2, 2022. Interactive installation by  Toronto-based artists Matt Donovan and Hallie Siegal. Five-by-seven-metre sandbox containing every single letter and punctuation mark (more than 700,000!) that appears in Hugh Maclennan’s 1945 novel Two Solitudes, all rendered in decaying low-carbon steel. Audience members are invited to pick up the pieces of this Can-lit classic and use them to craft their own definition of modern Canadian identity.

RETHINK BREAST CANCER Pop-Up Market: October 1 to 13. Stackt Market. Local brands including Smythe, Biko, and Peace Collective are joining in this pop-up with exclusive products and merchandise supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Proceeds from all sales will help fund Rethink’s ongoing efforts to educate and empower young women concerned about and affected by breast cancer.

LUMINATO: LOVE LETTERS TO TORONTO: October 13 to 17. This season it’s all about celebrating incredible artists and places in the city. Some on our radar include Edward Burtynksy’s In the Wake of Progress: A Film by Bokeh Collective the tells the tale of humanity’s impact on our planet. New Monuments, co-curated by Julien Christian Lutz (Director X), Umbereen Inayet, and Tanisha Scott that was film don location in Mississauga with over 40 dancers. It asks us to consider the monuments of our past and cast our imaginations into a future where racism has been abolished. Guided by Starlight is a 5 part music series that celebrates Toronto’s music ecosystem, featuring local talent TIKA, SATE, Navz-47, and Zaki Ibrahim. For families with kids, check out the The Ruins of Zindor — an intergalactic escape room themed adventure.

CultureDays: until October 24. A creative choose-your-own adventure awaits in this month long celebration of arts and culture. Choose from more than 1900 free, online and in person activities and events including visits to some favourite landmark institutions and festivals from across the country. Check out the Women’s Art Association of Canada gallery exhibits and art book sale (in person), art walk and drive-in movies in Vaughan, a self guided historic walking tour of Toronto from University Driveway to Little Italy, Jazz in Motion: Portraits of Syncopated Souls at Union Station (in person), and much much more!

VENUS FEST: October 16 to 30. Toronto Gallery and Online. The 5th annual event will be a hybrid event video installation features collaborations between artists and  musicians celebrating the many identities within music. The Festival seeks to inspire new, creative ways of experiencing art and togetherness in the midst of chaos. This year features Haviah Mighty, Charlotte Cornfield and more.

imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival: October 19 to 24 (in person and online screenings) The world’s largest festival of Indigenous screen content will show 145 works representing 51 Indigenous Nations in this 22nd annual event. Opening Night Gala, supported by APTN, on Tuesday, October 19 will be Night Raiders by Danis Goulet (Cree/Métis) as an in-person screening and Q&A at TIFF Bell Lightbox. Night Raiders is a Canadian-New Zealand science fiction apocalyptic film starring Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Brooklyn Letexier-Hart, Alex Tarrant, Amanda Plummer, and Violet Nelson. imagineNATIVE’s Closing Night Gala on Sunday, October 24 will be Iwianch, el Diablo Venado (Iwianch, the Devil Deer) by José Cardoso (Achuar/Shuar) as a virtual screening. In this documentary feature, an enigmatic presence haunts the depths of the Amazon rainforest, where an Indigenous Achuar teenager has disappeared. Secrets of this dreamlike forest, and Amazonian visions of life after death, are explored. Full line up available on the official site.

IMMERSIVE KLIMT: REVOLUTION: One Yonge Street (Toronto Star Building) October 21 to November 28. Take a journey through the works of artist Klimt during the height of artistic revolution in Vienna that preceded the fall of an empire. It’s high energy is a very different experience from what we’ve seen at the ever popular Immersive Van Gogh experience. More playful and more animated that is a renewed energy we may just be seeking at the moment.

LEGENDS OF HORROR: Casa Loma.  October 1 to 31. The annual night out for ghouls and goblins returns to celebrate all things Halloween. Captain Morgan presents Legends of Horror at Toronto’s historical (and some say haunted) destinations. The show is a theatrical interpretation of classic horror characters and decor in the style known as promenade theatre. Guests stroll through the eerie 2km trail that winds through dark tunnels into the bowels of the castle. Dramatic 3 imagery projection add to the experience. Family friendly hours for the youngsters as well as devilish hours for everyone else.

Eatonville Farmhouse Séance with Jaymes White: October 1 to November 27. It isn’t spooky season without attending one of Jaymes White’s popular haunting  visit to conjure up the dead. Each year, White takes this spine chilling experience to a new, er old…haunted location within our city. This year he takes the willing into the Eatonville Farmhouse in what will sure to be an unforgettable experience. Tickets are $66.66 (we had to mention that). Your bubble of up to 16 friends can also book a private experience.

The Great Grape Escape to Niagara Wine Region: until October 16. Explore one of Ontario’s most cherished wine regions without the stress of driving. For this limited time, Wine Rack and GO Transit is offering bus excursions from the city core to some of the most popular wine estates during the fall season. Look for round-trip excursions that are interactive food pairings or a three course lunch.  A stress-free way to day trip! Bonus, you’ll enjoy the glorious changing colours of the season along the way.

Reelworld Film Festival: October 20 to 27. Online and in-person (Paradise Theatre in Bloorcourt Village showcasing 41 Canadian directors and hundreds of racially diverse industry members with screenings and panel discussions.  The line-up is full of impactful stories that remind us of the importance of human connection and how the past informs our present.

Cashmere Designer Collection 2021 The NEW Belle Époque: October 8 on CTV The Cashmere Collection celebrates its 18th year this season with the first ever televised special. Sixteen talented established and emerging Canadian fashion designers will showcase their creations for a Vision of a Future Without Breast Cancer. The Belle Époque theme is a modern take on turn-of-the-century French history when hope, optimism, and innovation fuelled change after troubled times. The event serves as an annual kick-off to October’s Breast Cancer Month raising funds and awareness to the important cause. What’s unique about this program is each one-of-a-kind design is entirely made of reams of bathroom tissue. The Cashmere Couture for the Cure TV special will air on CTV at 7pm, and will also be available after this date on Crave.

EAT TO THE BEAT! : October 23. The Canadian Cancer Society in partnership with KitchenAid are inviting Canadians to tune in for a live virtual hands-on culinary experience with some of Canada’s top chefs. During the fund-raising  event, four female chefs from across the country will lead a series of online cooking classes and live Q&A sessions featuring specially prepared dishes distinctive to the Canadian culinary scene.Chefs include Lynn Crawford, Nuit Regular, Renée Lavallée, and Mijune Pak.

HAUNTED CINEMA DRIVE-IN at Ontario Place: October 26 to 31. Scary movies are a given this time of year but you won’t want to miss the Haunted Cinema – a live and immersive drive-in experience. Watch popular scary films but beware as the characters come to life. Hold your popcorn! Yes! Family friendly showings of Goosebumps happen earlier in the night. Kids must be accompanied by adults. SCREAM will show for adults at a later screening.

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The installation transforms the Exhibition Hall inside the Gardiner Museum where visitors will find over 500 individually hand-sculpted pieces produced in clay. They are created during Salazar’s month-long residency at the Museum. In collaboration with Workman Arts, an arts organization that promotes the understanding of mental health and addiction, the installation has a collective feel.

Visitors to the exhibit will enter and find what appears to be a flock of birds on the wall.  The new series is a sense of  rebirth. “To look deeper, I want to ask the question: What does rebirth look like after death, whether it is literal or metaphorical,” said Salazar.

We had the opportunity to ask Salazar more about this installation…

Why was it important for you to have the community involved?

DCS: Aside from being a proud member of Workman Arts this project spoke to the crux of what this installation speaks to and that is honouring the spaces and organizations that provide support and a place for introspection for self evaluation during the process of continuing one’s self journey.

What does this installation mean for you particularly through the pandemic?

DCS: During the Pandemic I have done extensive work on myself. I have examined the type of human I am and the type of human I want to aspire to be in relationship to myself, my family, my community and to the natural world around me. How does this relate to this installation? The human race has experienced the Pandemic as a collective, will this time and this moment in history inspire us as a collective to re-examine our approach to family, community and the natural world around us? My hope is that the trauma of the Pandemic will force us as a collective to make much needed changes in our daily lives be it with the people around us or the natural world surrounding us.

What will happen to the installation after the exhibition is done?

DCS: Great question. My proposal would be for this installation to become public art. I am officially accepting submissions for potential walls and spaces to hang it on 🙂

Do you have a favourite sculptor or piece that is at the Gardiner that you can share with us?

DCS: Valdivia – these are little figurines that are over 3500 years old, found in Ecuador’s central coast region of the Manabi province.

The reason why these figurines speak to me on a personal level is because this is the birthplace of my family and myself.

These figurines are said to be used for fertility ceremonies, considered as metaphors of the creation of the universe as well as the cycle of the birth and death of the cosmos.

I personally feel that these figurines speak directly to my installation of Forever (Bird : Botanicals) on my invitation to create this exhibition at the Gardiner, it was an honour to be reunited with my ancestors.

What else are you working on?

DCS: I am currently finishing a public art commission titled “Hog Town” to be installed in Toronto’s West End neighbourhood, Parkdale.

What do you miss most over the past 18 months?

DCS: Dinner parties, dancing and being close to people.

Ecuadorian-Canadian artist, Salazar examines the confluence of his symbolic and ancestral roots as a South American and his daily life in Canada. A recipient of multiple residencies internationally and domestically, Salazar has represented Canada at the International Biennial of Asuncion (Paraguay) and  completed the Studio Research Residency (Flora & Fauna) in Tiradentes, Brazil. In Canada, he was  awarded the AKIN Studio Residence Program at MOCA Toronto and has been invited to the Creative  Professionals-in-Residence Mentor Program at OCAD University.

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David Constantino Salazar’s FOREVER (BIRD-BOTANICALS) will be open for public viewing until August 31, 2021 at the Gardiner Museum.

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