the last place on earth you probably want to be » spaces

Artist-Run Culture

Marissa — Fri, 30 May 2008 13:18:44 +0000

Apologies for not writing sooner. My brain had been functioning on a sub-intellectual level as I searched for a job, but now that I’ve started working as a programming assistant for YYZ Artists Outlet in Toronto, not only can I resume thinking about art in a meaningful way, but I am gaining new insights into systems, criticism and programming practices.

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The Novice Voice

Marissa — Sat, 17 May 2008 06:43:46 +0000

There is, at least in my mind, a huge distinction between museums and galleries. What separates the two institutions primarily is their responsibility to education. The display of history and the display of visual art are simply not the same, where errors made in the former have much graver consequences. Offending an artist by improperly installing his or her show is one thing; inaccurately representing a culture is quite another.

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Making Conceptual Art Accessible

Marissa — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:43:55 +0000

The more conceptual an artwork becomes, the more impossible it is to understand it, or derive meaning from it, just by looking at the piece. Conceptual art is driven by idea, and these ideas are often manifested in ways wherein aesthetic considerations take a back seat. This is not to say that conceptual work isn’t beautiful, or that aesthetic considerations are not taken at all. But when a work needs to be understood beyond its form or visualization, written material needs to be provided.

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Power in Numbers: Why Spaces Should Work Together

Marissa — Tue, 13 May 2008 00:36:35 +0000

I am enormously grateful for and supportive of all of the entrepreneurship that occurs within the art world. Entrepreneurial ventures allow the market to maintain a sense of diversity. Different artists, styles, themes, mandates, practices–the variety present in Toronto’s selection of galleries ensures that there is something for everybody.

The problem with entrepreneurial ventures, however, is that everyone wants to have one instead of joining forces with other groups who share the same goals.

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How New Media Figures in a Gallery

Marissa — Tue, 06 May 2008 18:12:52 +0000

The evolution of new media has reached a point where it is now being sought out by photography-based galleries to fill their spaces. Why this shift? There is definitely a lack of art spaces to represent new media works, and I am in no way dissenting this shift. But to me it is curious that photography’s life in a gallery seems to be coming to an end after such a short life. It’s almost as if photography has become a fleeting movement rather than remaining an artist’s medium.

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What Art Education Lacks

Marissa — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:42:35 +0000

Having explained why I think art education is effective, I suppose I should also note what I think art education is sorely lacking. Currenly, aspiring artists can attend a post-secondary institution and have access to studio education, history, and networking. However, one of the most critical aspects of achieving and maintaining success as an artist is understanding the business of art.

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The Purpose of Art Education

Marissa — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:10:32 +0000

Art education has always been a kind of paradox in my mind. Without qualifying my own thoughts, it never made sense to me to “teach” artists–I believed artistic talent was innate (and still do, though I’ve modified my position on art education itself.) It is actually comical that I not only go to art school, but that I love it so much. What’s even more comical is that seven years ago, when it was time to apply to post-secondary schools, I didn’t even glance at OCAD — I felt that Ryerson University was the more “practical” option. I soon found out that Image Arts/New Media was all about becoming an installation artist, which in my mind is even more impractical in its specificity.

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401 Richmond: Artforms and Space

Marissa — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:49:07 +0000

401 Richmond is a century-old building in downtown Toronto whose history has allowed the building’s ownership to change hands several times before settling down as a “mixed-use building with a focus on the arts” almost 15 years ago. The building is home to artist studios, offices and galleries.

I’ll make it clear upfront that I love 401. It is architecturally beautiful, centrally located and has a diverse collection of galleries that have exhibited some of the strongest shows I’ve seen. But upon visiting the building during the Images Festival, I had to wonder: Is 401 really a good place for art-viewing?

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