Richmond

update

Winter 2011/12 Volume 18, Issue 4

erIn mackeen

The 401 Richmond Update is a community-building initiative of Urbanspace Property Group. The newsletter began in June 1994 and over the years has documented the eclectic activities and fascinating people who make a home in our historic factory in downtown Toronto. If you would like to be added to the 401 Update mailing list please email: update@401richmond.net

401 Richmond Ltd. Staff

Bob chandler, Security rosanna ciulla, administrative assistant Bogale Gebreyes, Security & maintenance erin mackeen, Director community Development and communications keli maksud, Office administrator mike moody, Property manager Greg Laberakis, maintenance Pamela Lampkin, Janitorial Services rodentar Paragas, Janitorial Services manager Vicki rodgers, chief executive Officer robert Schwager, Security michael Siklos, Leasing administrator Greg Spooner, Parking attendant & Security renato Villanueva, maintenance margaret Zeidler, Founder

Newsletter
erin mackeen, editor Lisa kiss Design (Studio 435) Warrens Waterless Printing Published by: Urbanspace Property Group 401 richmond St. W., Studio 111 Toronto, On canada m5V 3a8 tel 416-595-5900 fax 416-595-5904 www.401richmond.net

COVER IMAGE
401 Green Roof by Erin MacKeen

Printed on rolland enviro 100.

Richmond

update
Winter 2011/12 Volume 18, Issue 4

MOVING up
CENTRE FOR CITY ECOLOGY has moved their office from Studio 404 down to Studio 119. The centre hosts a popular series of talks in the Urbanspace Gallery. Visit www.cityecology.net to find out more.

401 MEEtING ROOM

Faustwork mask Theatre performs Feast of Faces at Built for Art: An Independent Project for Scotiabank Nuit Blanche (October 1, 2011).

2 3 4 5

news on the cover tenant profile spotted & applauded listings press check the Back page

If youre looking for a place to hold a meeting or workshop, contact us about renting Studio 408. all the necessary amenities at a reasonable rate with a great view of the roof garden as an added bonus. Visit www.401richmond.net or contact Rosanna Ciulla at rosanna@urbanspace. org, 416.595.5900 x22 to find out more.

6 7 8

SEE LISTINGS (PAGE 6) FOR DETAILS!!!

news

Guest curator Dave Meslin with Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi Below: Gwendolyne Hats William Brown and Gwendolyne Preboy

tHE FOuRtH WALL

Guest curator Dave Meslins new show in the Urbanspace Gallery offers some mobilizing ideas about how to transform local politics. The timing couldnt be better in our fine city and the show is attracting interest from across the nation including a visit from calgarys mayor Naheed Nenshi. ranging from ideas on voting reform to simple ways to encourage civic engagement, the show takes some reading but is worth the effort. The Fourth Wall is on until December 31.

HAtS OFF
Or in this case Gwendolyne Hats off! The atelier celebrates twenty years of wearable art at its finest this yeara truly remarkable accomplishment in this age of mass manufacturing. as designer Gwendolyne Preboy suggests we make artwear you enjoy every day. along with director William Brown, Gwendolyne Hats (Studio 433) will be at the One-of-a-Kind show this year from november 24 to December 4 and will also be part of the first annual Frolic at 401 from December 8 to 11. www.gwendolynehats.com

A VERY GOOD BIKE

We have lots of bikes that visit 401 each day but for the first time we have a Good Bike. Our neon pink beauty was brought to us by Caroline Macfarlane and Vanessa Nicholas the creators of the Good Bike project thats about reimagining the meaning of recycling. Our bike can be found on their blog along with a write-up by Toronto Star arts writer Murray Whyte. blogthegoodbike.tumblr.com 2

erIn mackeen

on the cover
uRBAN AGRICuLtuRE
In various ways, over the years, weve experimented with growing food on our roof. It always felt like a natural extension from the already existing 10,000 square feet of extensive green roof and communal container garden. We started things off in 2003 with a joint project with Ryerson University and have since continued to compost and grow small crops of herbs and vegetables. This year we tried out some new flexible felt containers and deep-watering systems to grow some delicious edible treats. We have plans for a more formal urban agriculture project in the near future but until then well keep snacking on roof garden pesto! oldplantnewplant.tumblr.com for more photos from our 2011 harvest.

HamID k arImI

Left: Esmeralda Enrique Left to right: Esmeralda Enrique,Ilse Gudio, Noelia La Morocha, Juan Ogalla, Paloma Corts

celeBrating 30 Years: A highlight of our Nuit Blanche programming this year was a spirited performance by students from the academy of spanish dance (B104)it was a fitting way for us to celebrate the school and dance companys 30th anniversary. The esmeralda enrique spanish dance company will continue the celebrations with an upcoming show from April 19 to 22, 2012 featuring Artistic Director esmeralda enrique and dancer Juan ogalla who was awarded a Dora this year for his performance in Espejo de Oro / Mirror of Gold. www.flamencos.net

tenant profile

FAuStWORK MASK tHEAtRE Studio 215

This fall during Built for Art, our annual Scotiabank Nuit Blanche programming, visitors had the rare opportunity to experience the simple magic of Rob Fausts masks. The interactive dinner party called Feast of Faces featured Faustwork Mask Theatres (Studio 215) newest company member Marla Brennan. artistic director rob Faust, who spends much of his time performing on the road, was thrilled to reconnect with Toronto audiences after a hiatus of several years and had the opportunity to reflect on the early years when he first looked through eye holes during a performance and saw the undeniable transformative power of masks reflected back to him in the gaze and laughter of the audience. as rob explains, we do mask theatrenot theatre with masksso our actors become a mix of actor and human puppet. The company consists of performers who tend to be funny and physically oriented, who speak mask to audiences of all ages. We dont always do plays; we play. coming off stage after a good show, a masked performer can say: I wasnt myselfthe mask did it! rob grew up in New Orleans and experienced the ritual fun of Mardi Gras every year. But it was only after he left his hometown that he began to consider masks as an art form and a career. He chose not to follow in the footsteps of his father Doctor Faust or his lawyer brother; instead he found his way into dance with the Pilobolus Dance Theatre. eventually his creative calling was unearthed when he met a mask maker in a physical theatre workshop in Berkeley California. 4 In recent years rob has morphed his theatre calling into a second career as a keynote speaker who speaks in words and body language, using his masks to literally embody his message about bringing emotional intelligence, empathy, and humour to work. Given the expressive range of the human face, the question might arise: why masks? For rob, the cloaking quality of a mask gets at the big paradoxwe hide in order to reveal. We feel safe behind a mask and therefore feel free to show more of ourselves, to connect, to take chances, to take charge, or to transmogrify into some demon or deity. rob is mostly self-taught and has a natural talent for sculpting the wearable characters that were the springboard to everything that followed. rob says Faustworks mission is to skillfully create simplicity on stage, and to challenge audiences with the companys blend of theatre, physical comedy, music, dance, and poetry. Its all held together with a menagerie of nearly three hundred expressive masksa cast of many on the faces of few. The Faustwork studio will be open during the Artists Open Studio event on December 9 and 10 if youd like to get up close and personal with the dozens of masks on display. Some of the masks are even for sale if youre looking for a great gift for the performer in your life or the one that may lurk inside of you. www.Faustwork.com www.RobFaustSpeaker.com

spotted & applauded

Paul Fournier

Astrid Ho and Laura Bydlowska from Open Studio with artist Libby Hague

tORONtO INtERNAtIONAL ARt FAIR & RECEptION

October 28 to november 1

Visitors with Red Head Gallery artist Jane Martin

Above Toronto Arts Council Associate Director William Huffman with Erin MacKeen and Keli Maksud from Urbanspace Property Group Left Red Head Gallery artists (left to right) Jean Bridge, Lynn Kelly, Jane Martin, and Joan Kaufman

BONDING WItH tREC

This summer TREC Renewable Energy Co-operative (Studio 405) and the SolarShare Co-operative launched a new bond program that provides the opportunity for socially conscious investors to participate in an initiative with positive impacts on communities throughout Ontario. The SolarShare community Solar Bonds are invested in a portfolio consisting entirely of solar electric power projects with $1000 bonds earning 5% annual returns over a 5-year term. To learn more visit: www.trec.on.ca
Trec execUTIVe DIrecTOr JUDITH LIPP, DaImLer BUSeS n.am LTD. PreSIDenT + ceO rIcH FerGUSOn, mayOr OF mISSISSaUGa HaZeL mccaLLIOn, SOLarSHare PreSIDenT mIke BrIGHam, OnTarIO mInISTer OF LaBOUr cHarLeS SOUSa, UnITeD SOLar VP OF SaLeS cHrIS BaL a.

SUTHa SaTHananTHan

listings

December 2011 to February 2012

DECEMBER 1 17 Open Studio Artist Proof Sale & Open House: a celebration of printmaking that gives art lovers a chance to connect with and purchase unique works of art. Opening: Thursday December 1, 6 9 pm

The Listings Board is your opportunity to communicate with other tenants and keep them informed about what is happening in your organization. If you are having a sale, exhibition, or event you would like advertised, email details to update@401richmond.net. Listings are open to all tenants. DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: Friday January 20, 2012

EXHIBItIONS GALLERY DIRECtORY

A Space Gallery (Studio 110) contact 416-979-9633 www.aspacegallery.org Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography (Studio 120) contact 416-979-3941 www.gallery44.org Open Studio (Studio 104) contact 416-504-8238 www.openstudio.on.ca Prefix Institute of Contemporary Art (Studio 124) contact 416-591-0357 www.prefix.ca Red Head Gallery (Studio 115) contact 416-504-5654 www.redheadgallery.org Trinity Square Video (Studio 376) contact 416-593-1332 www.trinitysquarevideo.com Urbanspace Gallery (Studio 117) contact 416-595-5900 www.urbanspacegallery.ca Vtape Video Gallery (Studio 452) contact 416-351-1317 www.vtape.org WARC Gallery/Womens Art Resource Centre (Studio 122) contact 416-977-0097 www.warc.net Wynick/Tuck Gallery (Studio 128) contact 416-504-8716 www.wynicktuckgallery.ca YYZ Artists Outlet (Studio 140) contact 416-598-4546 www.yyzartistsoutlet.org continues to JANUARY 2012 Wynick/Tuck Gallery Janice Gurney: Outside Our Doors Jessica Groome: New Work Opening (artists in attendance): Saturday november 26, 2 5 pm

Janice Gurney at Wynick/Tuck Gallery (see above) JANUARY 4 28 Red Head Gallery Jean Bridge: Around the Block Opening: Saturday January 7, 2 5 pm JANUARY 7 MARCH 10 YYZ Artists Outlet Julie Lequin, Jeremy cox and Bebhinn Jennings JANUARY 7 MARCH 31 YYZ Artists Outlet keith Langergraber JANUARY12 FEBRUARY 18 Open Studio allison moore & arthur Desmarteaux: Micropolis 2.0 rob Tavares: Pop! Goes The Art New Notables: Group exhibition featuring Jillian Ditner, Laine Groeneweg, and Shogo Okada Opening: Thursday January 12, 6:30 8:30 pm JANUARY 13 FEBRUARY 11 Gallery 44 marc audette: Art Class 010 Vitrines: yannig Willman: The Third Reflection Opening: Friday January 13, 6 9 pm

FROLIC
DECEMBER 8 11 401 Richmond Street West Frolic: the first annual holiday open house celebrating the art, culture, and community that make this Toronto landmark a unique destination. Theres a little something for everyone so come Frolic with us! Artisans Marketplace December 8 to 11 Artists Open Studio December 9 & 10 Brickolage Tour & Frolic Soiree December 10 Plus gallery exhibitions and fundraising shows, shops & more. www.401richmond.net

HOLIDAY FuNDRAISING EXHIBItIONS

NOVEMBER 30 DECEMBER 17 Red Head Gallery Red Dot Show 2011: featuring gallery artists Janet Bellotto, Paula Braswell, Teri Donovan, Peter Dykhuis, Dana Holst, Lynn christine kelly, nina Leo, Jane martin, Sam mogelonsky, and ram Samocha Opening: December 1, 7 9 pm DECEMBER 1 10 Gallery 44 Wall to Wall: an annual fundraising exhibition and sale of work by Gallery 44 members and friends. Opening: Thursday December 1, 6 9 pm

EXHIBItIONS continued
FEBRUARY 2 APRIL 21 Prefix ICA Uriel Orlow: History in the Present closing: Saturday april 21, 2 5 pm FEBRUARY 24 MARCH 31 Open Studio erik Waterkotte: Invocation Jennifer Linton: An Account of Some Strange Disturbances Opening: Friday February 24, 6:30 8:30 pm

Guntar Kravis (top) and Howard Podeswa (below), Artists Open Studio (December 9 &10); Allison Moore + Arthur Desmarteaux (bottom), Open Studio (January 12 to February 18)

EVENtS
JANUARY 25 & FEBRUARY 29 World Literacy of Canada KAMA Reading Series Prisoner, January 25: with ava Homa, James Loney, and marina nemat Elephant & Neighbours, February 29: randy Boyagoda, David m. malone, and Syeda nuzhat Siddiqui 6:30 pm at the Park Hyatt, 4 avenue rd Series Tickets: $275 www.worldlit.ca JANUARY 19 & FEBRUARY 9 Prefix ICA Urban Field Speaker Series January 19: krzysztof Wodiczko with Barbara Fischer February 9: nikos Papastergiadis with rinaldo Walcott 7:30 pm Series passes and tickets available at the door or in advance at Prefix.

WORKSHOpS
JANUARY & FEBRUARY Trinity Square Video TSV offers workshops in editing software, equipment, grant writing, and how to make your first documentary. For a complete list of workshops visit www.trinitysquarevideo.com

press check
Lisa Steele and Kim Tomczaks installation Terminus was featured in the pages of Public (43). The Vtape (Studio 452) duos work was part of The Leona Drive Project and the entire catalogue was included with Publics Suburbs issue.

VtApE

OpEN StuDIO & SWIpE DESIGN BOOKS + OBJECtS

both popped up in a spread from Design Lines winter issue. The article was shot on location in Open Studio (Studio 104) and featured cards created by members as well as wrapping paper and cards from Swipe Design (Studio 121).

pREFIX ICA
Prefix ICAs (Studio 124) exhibition of work by Susan Hiller, The Last Silent Movie, nabbed a top rating from NOW Magazine this October.

WYNICK/ tuCK GALLERY & HOWARD pODESWA

Wynick/Tuck and Howard Podeswa appeared together in R.M. Vaughans The Globe and Mail review of Howards (Studio 355) exhibition Sole of a Shoe at Wynick/Tuck (Studio 128). The show also featured work by Howards father and grandfather.

401 RICHMOND
The story of 401 Richmond and how it came to be is found in the Fall issue of real estate magazine Collections.

tHE BACK pAGE BuILt FOR ARt 2011: An Independent project for Scotiabank Nuit Blanche
See more photos by Kimon Kaketsis at: www.flickr.com/groups/builtforart

If youd like to be on THe Back PaGe, please submit your drawing, painting, illustration, photograph or architectural plans at 300 dpi as a photoshop or illustrator file on cd or dvd disk. Please include a word file with your name, the title of the project, your website, your studio address and a brief description of 50 words (maximum) on the disk. The best entry will be chosen for each issue. Disks will not be returned. This space is to showcase the talent in the building. It is not for advertising an event or sale.

Richmond

401 richmond Street West, Studio 111 Toronto, On canada m5V 3a8 www.401richmond.net

update