Did a wee bit of Doors Open out in the east end of Toronto today, as it's too difficult to do in the same day as the downtown core stuff. The main stop was an art deco water filtration plant which is decked out like crazy in all sorts of gorgeous style, brass & marble. This self-portrait was taken with the help of the filtration building's signal pylon. Yaaay.

[View on Flickr]

This weekend is absolutely BURSTING with things to do in Toronto! It's a bit mad. I suppose it's a good sign of the summer to come. I chose to spend a little of my morning at the Toronto Comic Arts Festival (TCAF) which is just about the best comics, arts & small press convention type thing in the whole wide universe. I went last year and fell madly in love, so i'm glad to be around for it again this year. I picked up some goodies today (a couple of prints & some delightful socks), and i'm getting back in there tomorrow to do the rounds again and pick up more. Can't wait! This shot was taken from one of the upper levels of the marvelous Toronto Reference Library, looking down onto the bottom level of the festival. There's a whole other level of tables upstairs too. So much magnificence in one place, and admission is totally free. I <3 you, TCAF!

[View on Flickr]

I totally took this yesterday and meant to post it last night, but just never got around to it. And when I did remember I was well on my way to slumberland. Better late than never, eh? So here's another transit-y photo - catching the Bloor/Danforth line last night, my train was a bit of an older one with these benches instead of the newer single(ish) seats on more modern trains. Feels like riding along in a train that should have an 8 track or something. Look at that vinyl! And the faux-woodgrain panel really completes it, too.

[View on Flickr]

I had a bit of a wander after work this afternoon, as I had some unexpected time to kill. I like this little nook of a park (Grange Park) nearby to the AGO and it's a nice shortcut to take for a change of scenery (nice view of the CN Tower from there). This labyrinth is sprayed on the path.

[View on Flickr]

Last night a lovely Yelp friend, Chris P, took me along as his guest to a member preview of Black Ice: David Blackwood Prints of Newfoundland. I didn't know much going in except for it was the work of a Canadian artist, and that I found the main promotional image extremely evocative.

Overall, the exhibit is very tight - it presents an excellent picture of the artist and his work. I can't recall exact dates of the works, but it seems to work pretty well chronologically, as well as thematically. (I should have paid a bit more attention to this!) I enjoyed the fact that the further I got into the exhibit, the better I got to know the artist and his portrayal of Newfoundland; much of the exhibit is peppered with objects that help highlight the artist's portrayals - weapons, items of clothing, oil lamps and the like. As you look around the last room, things like the artist's letters and notes and objects like a shed door and a ship's bell help to complete the picture. You get a very strong sense of the Maritimes from this exhibit, and I took that away just as much as I took an appreciation for the amazing detail of Blackwood's art.

I can't wrap my head around the effort that goes into creating copper etchings for print-making. The concept and execution is completely beyond my non-arty knowledge (I always leaned more toward photography in art class anyhow). One small room in the exhibit focuses on the amazing print of Fire Down on the Labrador (the main promotional image I linked above) - starting from the conceptual sketch, you follow the progression of the work through its steps, all displayed in a small path along the wall, culminating in the final (amazing) print. It's a fantastic thing to be able to see an artist's process like this. In addition, a small display case in the centre of the room contains the copper etching, as well as tools and materials used to create the etching. This brings the art to life so much more for an art-pleb like me, seeing the physicality and process behind a piece of work. I suppose it's a fairly unique thing to have in an exhibit of an artist's work, and the AGO are lucky that they've had such great access to the artist and his collection.

Although some of the subject matter tends toward the bleak side, the aesthetic of Blackwood's art is bold and stark. It's visually rich and detailed, and every print really has its own sense of atmosphere. If you're in Toronto and able to visit, I highly recommend it - not only will you get to check out this fantastic art, but also get a great sense of Canadiana at the same time.

Not drunk, just sleepy. Wait for green light.

[View on Flickr]

Sometimes at work it's quiet enough that I can have a post-lunch wander. I usually go out with my work friend K (who contributes to the Toronto theatre blog Theatromania, have a look-see!). Today we headed a little north of our work neighbourhood to visit a library, and popped into Toronto's oldest branch building, in Yorkville! I'd walked past a number of times but not been in; I quite like the facade. They even have a little heritage plaque out front (which was mostly covered in snow today), so my post for Project 365 today is a two-for-one.

[View on Flickr]

 [View on Flickr]

First snow in many days here in Toronto. Everything looked like it had a powdered sugar coating on my walk to work - I pass by the Baldwin Steps, nearby to Casa Loma, so grabbed a quick snap. Bringin' my camera everywhere! 

[View on Flickr]