CRAFTY HAPPENING: OBJECToronto (October 17-19)

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Venue: Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen St. West, second floor)
Hours: Oct. 17 (11 am to 10 pm), Oct. 18 (11 am to 6 pm), Oct. 19 (11 am to 5 pm)
Opening Reception: Oct. 17 (7 to 10 pm - open to the public)
Admission: $5 at the door (speaker series on Oct. 18 is free)
Website/Info: www.objectoronto.ca

The fourth edition of OBJECToronto (October 17-19, 2008) is an event to represent the best and most current works in Canada’s craft and design scene. Forty-six artists working with glass, wood, ceramics, textiles and jewellery are presented individually and by galleries from Ottawa, Montreal and Waterloo, Ontario. Ten satellite venues in the downtown core will also be mounting object based exhibitions during this time.

This annual art exposition takes place in the second floor rooms of Toronto’s Gladstone Hotel. Exhibiting artists include: Mathew Birtch, Brad Copping, Heidi Earnshaw, Marc Egan, Patty Johnson/North South Project, Arounna Khounnoraj, Graeme Marrs, Sally McCubbin, Laura McKibbon, Peggy Mersereau, Susie Osler, Sue Rankin, Jonathan Sabine, Carmen Schroeder and Tsunami Glass. Galleries featuring multiple artists include Galerie Noel Guyomarc’h (Montreal), Harbinger Gallery (Waterloo) and the McClure & Egan Gallery (Toronto). Ottawa’s Lafreniere & Pai Gallery also presents finalists from the Fifth National Student Jewellery Competition including the winner, Meredith Robb – who the gallery will represent at SOFA Chicago.

OBJECToronto includes 10 galleries and retailers that promote craft and design objects. Many of these venues are mounting concurrent object based exhibitions. Check out the site for these satellite listings.

A new free public speaker series, discussing current directions and relevant ideas important to the development of contemporary craft and design, will be held in the Gladstone Ballroom on Saturday October 18 from 1 to 3 p.m. The Talks Up: Collecting discussion features Aaron M. Milrad (Vice Chair, Gardiner Museum of Ceramics and ceramics collector), Alan C. Elder (Curator of Crafts & Design, The Canadian Museum of Civilization) and Julie Nicholson & Shaun Moore (design retailers, MADE shop).

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OBJECToronto – art exposition of contemporary craft + design is Toronto's pre-eminent annual exposition promoting exceptional Canadian and international artist-made objects. This unique event highlights designer-makers who create work reflecting the dynamic synthesis of craft, art and design. At OBJECToronto the public has an opportunity to meet artists and designers, discover galleries and view or purchase works that are a growing and vital component of the Toronto art and design community.