February/March 00 Issue

4
0
1
•
R
I
C
H
M
O
N
D
February/
March’00
RR ii cc hh mm oo nn dd
update
P u b l i s h e d
b y
in side
T E N A N T
P r o f i l e
4 0 1
R i c h m o n d
volume 7
number 1
L t d .
“… fast becoming the city’s
premiere arts address”
Now that’s praise. Toronto Star art and architecture critic Christopher Hume recently described
401 Richmond as “fast becoming the city’s
premiere arts address,” in connection with the
highly-anticipated Doors Open
Toronto scheduled to take place
May 27-28, 2000.
Studio 122
The event is a citywide opportunity
to visit and learn about local historic
structures, many of which are
closed to the public. 401 Richmond
W will be one of several buildings
open for viewing including the Flatiron Building, R.C. Harris Filtration
Plant, the new and old city halls, and
Maple Leaf Gardens. Watch for
more information on North
America’s first Doors Open event.
Degrassi Meets 401
What are the chances that several alumni from the hit 1980’s
television series Degrassi High would cross paths at 401? Well, it
happened! All four cast members are currently working at or in
connection with the building.
Degrassi kids grown up: Angela Deiseach,
Marsha Ferguson, Pat Mastroianni and
Maureen Deiseach
Marsha Ferguson who played Cindy on popular teen show is
currently an early childhood educator at Studio 123 . Twins
Angela (Erika) and Maureen (Heather) Deiseach have become
flamenco dancers through Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance
Company (Studio B104) - Angela even teaches part-time now at
the academy. And Pat Mastroianni (Degrassi heartthrob Joey
Jeremiah) continues as a film and television actor represented by
the Sloan Talent Agency (Studio 401).
The foursome was especially close during the series run (1981-1990). “We couldn’t get enough of
each other in those days,” recounts Pat. “Being on the set wasn’t like work; it was more like a day
camp. We’d vacation and party together.” The old friends had lost touch of late, and expressed real
delight - hugging, laughing and storytelling - at being reunited.
An official reunion for cast and crew, celebrating ten years since Degrassi’s
final show, will be held in Toronto in September 2000. Now that the 401
connection has been made, this group will have something else in common
to celebrate.
page 1
See Spotlight on
Marsha Ferguson
Page 6
Tenant Holiday Party
dio
Jeannie Thib (Stu
lland
Ho
e
uc
Br
d
an
362)
Another terrific time was had by all at the Sixth Annual Tenant Holiday Party on
Wednesday, December 15th. Loftus Lloyd Café was stuffed (like a turkey!) with over
200 guests gabbing, laughing, gulping and noching the night away. Several children
were spotted colouring in the hallway while sampling chocolates and strawberries ‘a
plenty. Many thanks to chef/manager Rose Couchie and staff for a fabulous spread.
Lasting Memories
It was sheer magic. Friends and parents of Studio 123 (including many 401 tenants) joined the children and
staff for their first annual Seasonal Sing-a-long on Wednesday, December
15th. To create the perfect holiday atmosphere, the
centre was festooned with twinkling lights and
hand-made decorations, and, of course, cookies
and hot chocolate
were served. Singer
Leah Salomaa led
the crowd in a
round of festive
tunes while Cindy
Reid (sister of
childcare worker
Marsha Ferguson)
accompanied on
piano. Truly a night
to remember.
Great News!
Award. Thanks to the efforts of supervisor Penny Davies who submitStudio 123 is recipient of a Trillium Award
ted the award proposal, Studio 123 early learning centre now has funding to develop its arts-based
programming for 2000.
Valentine’s Day Event
Y
World Literacy of Canada (Studio 236) will host a celebrity reading hour on Monday,
February 14, 2000 at 10 am, at Studio 123 early learning centre. There will be storytelling,
a chance to make a valentine for your loved one(s), and a special valentine treat for all. Pick up your
favourite children’s book at a benefit booksale for WLC. Please call 416-977- 0008 for more information.
page 2
Women’s Art
Resource Centre
pro file
Studio 122
You’re at the National Gallery of Canada. You ask: “How many
women artists are represented in the Permanent Collection?”
2,432. Wow. That’s impressive. Now, the men. 24,443. Ten
times as many. Hmm. Seems like an astonishing inequity
considering that females outnumber males at art college.
Linda
Abrahams (r)
and daughter
Georgia, a
volunteer at
WARC.
More astonishing still is the fact that only a few years ago this
information wasn’t even available in public art galleries. In fact,
no one thought to ask the question. Not until Women’s Art
Resource Centre (WARC) that is.
To celebrate their 10th anniversary in 1994, WARC - the
country’s foremost curatorial research facility devoted
specifically to Canadian women’s art practice - conducted a
landmark survey on the status of Canadian women in the arts*.
As a result of their findings, most public art galleries now keep
gender-related statistics on their art acquisitions, and the bar on
Canada’s consciousness about women artists has been raised.
Irene Packer hails from Ohio. She holds a B.A. in sociology, a
Masters in social work, and an honours degree in drawing and
painting from the Ontario College of Art & Design (1997). Irene
joined WARC as Job Development Supervisor in 1989 following
a full-time position at A Space Gallery (now also a 401 tenant –
Studio 110). Once a potter and printmaker, Irene now works in
oil and encaustic when not toiling away at WARC.
WARC’s services to women
abound. Register yourself – for
free - as a Canadian artist and
have your slide portfolio computer
documented. Need help with
desktop publishing, writing a
proposal, mounting a show or
having an article published? No
problem - there are countless
seminars to guide you along. And
click online to WARC’s exciting
new website (www.warc.net) and
find a vast network of fantastic
female artists.
Located alongside other wellknown artist-run galleries on the
first floor at 401 Richmond W,
WARC currently houses information on 2600 Canadian female
artists. The non-profit organization, with its 13 ft ceilings, also
boasts a stunning exhibition
space for group and solo shows,
as well as a public-access
reference library comprised of
catalogues, books, periodicals
and videos.
Driving the success behind
WARC are two special women –
Linda Abrahams and Irene
Packer. Artists, mothers and
extraordinary administrators, each lives life in the true feminist
spirit - having committed the better part of two decades to
furthering the careers of other female artists.
Linda joined WARC as a volunteer in 1986. Originally from
Montreal, she spent most of her early career as a fabric designer. In addition to her art, Linda
became portfolio administrator for,
and a good friend of, the late great
Canadian artist Joyce Weiland
Weiland. The
relationship had a profound effect on
her life and outlook. “Working with
Joyce gave me the chance to
experience the grass roots of women’s art issues as well as to know
what it’s like to be a commercial
success.”
Irene Packer
“We develop the cornerstones of
an artist’s career,” explains Irene.
“Presentation, dissemination and
exhibition - all that’s relevant and current for an artist’s practice.”
It’s WARC’s mandate to midwife the artist and establish her
footing in the tough-to-crack art world. “Women make it as far
as artist-run galleries, but often not beyond,” says Irene. Local
artist Winsom concurs, “WARC provides exposure for artists
who would otherwise be shut out of mainstream galleries,
provides a space for objects to be presented in the context of
the making and the freedom to let a happening happen.”
* Published by WARC in the feminist quarterly, Matriart (‘Who Counts and
Who’s Counting?’ Vol. 5, No. 1, 1994).
page 3
WARC’s programming committee invites
proposals from female artists and curators
for group or solo presentations, media arts,
performance, discussions and workshops.
A n n u a l d e a d l i n e : M a r c h 3 1s t
We
You...
Saw
Emeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company
(Studio B104) received rave reviews for Poeta,
performed at the Premiere Dance Theatre in
November. The new work pays homage to
acclaimed Spanish poet Rafael Alberti who
passed away recently. According to Rebecca
Todd of Eye (November 25, 1999), “Enrique is
a dancer at the top of her form, and flamenco rhythms pour out of
her as naturally as speech.” The article also extols the talents of
Emeralda’s troupe, a “company of fierce, perfect dancers.”
Pam Chorley’s
fashionable
kidswear line
received praise in
The National Post
(November 20,
1999). “Designer/
owner Pam
Chorley has taken
her design
sensibilities from
her store across
Fashion Crimes
the street (Fashion
Crimes)
and scaled them down for the mini fashionistas, and
being a mom herself, has thought of all the practical
things. [So] if Funky Baby is your thing, and standing
out at kindergarten your goal, look at the girls’
clothes from Misdemeanors
Misdemeanors, on Toronto’s Queen
Street West.” Misdemeanors received another
boost in Today’s Parent taking front cover of the
insert section. Her grown-up designs showed up on
the Life Channel’s Images (December 2, 1999) in a
fashion show called ‘Millennium Looks’.
Spotted at Loftus Lloyd
Loftus Lloyd Café is fast becoming “the” place to eat.
Recent visitors include writer/director/producer
Veronica Tennant (formerly primaballerina with
the National Ballet) who is heading the
Arts & Culture Committee
for the Toronto Olympics
2008 bid and
musician/activist
Bruce Cockburn
who was
rehearsing in
the building.
Veronica Tennant
Bruce Cockburn
Magazine Launch
across Canada and the US. The quarterly is
crammed with stories, art, music and fashion for
and by today’s street-smart youth. Says Editor-inChief Bacic, “Our inspiration springs from meeting those whose stories must be told. The People
Have Spoken gives people a chance to speak.”
You can pick up a free copy of the premiere issue
at Noise, Rotate This or Coupe Bizarre on Queen
West, as well as at The Mothership on College
near Grace.
Anita Bacic of The Mothership Enterprises
(Studio 252) had a dream of creating a slick
publication for street culture. Within the space
of a year she and colleagues Tamiyo Tomihiro
Tomihiro,
Jen Verschraegen and Elizabeth Miller made
that dream come true. On January 14th, The
People Have Spoken , a savvy new magazine
aimed at 15-30 year olds, appeared in stores
page 4
We
You...
Saw
Royal Mutual Funds has
partnered with d~Code (Studio
251), experts on trends of the
Nexus Generation (18-34 year
olds) and Research/Strategy
Group to introduce The New Wave Report: investigating the new wave of Canadian
investors. The financial institution learned from d~Code that, contrary to popular belief,
Nexus are big investors, and produced a smart-looking promotional campaign including
print ads and transit posters to target the age group.
Eric Cadesky
Eric Cadesky (left) and
Glass Orchestra
Last fall, The National Ballet of Canada invited a select
group of composers and choreographers to create performances pieces for a festival celebrating the life and work of
musical genius Glenn Gould
Gould. Among the elite assembly
was composer Eric Cadesky (Studio B105) who teamed up
with choreographer Dominique Dumais to create a memorable work, ‘100 Words for Snow.’ Cadesky is also a member
of Glass Orchestra, a quartet that performs on a half ton of
original glass musical instruments. The group recently
returned from a gig in Taiwan. Keeping busy, Eric was also
nominated for a Genie Award (Best Original Musical Score
for the feature film Extraordinary Visitor) and performed on
the soundtrack of Girl, Interrupted, a hot new film starring
Angelina Jolie and Winona Ryder
Ryder.
Millennium Marker
A monumental work, TRACE ELEMENTS, devised and
executed by multitalented artist/curator Paul Couillard
took place over a 24 hour period - winter solstice - at
YYZ Artists’ Outlet (Studio 140). The last in a twelvemonth series of durational performance art works by
international artists, TRACE ELEMENTS was intended
to generate a numerological mandala that would remark 2000 years of calendar time. This action/installation turned YYZ gallery into a room-size colour field
sculpture made up of 2000 pieces of cloth saturated in
spice. According to Couillard, “It seems to me that our
relationship to time – which was once more rooted in
the rhythms of day, night and the seasons – has
become very shaky. We have no attention span for
time; our ways of looking at it, and
of representing it, are inadequate.
We need new metaphors to help us
envision time’s workings, not to
mention its scale.”
With its pungent odour, TRACE ELEMENTS enticed
visitors into YYZ. Once there, the sight of the
barefoot artist methodically dipping and hanging
strips of scented cloth to create a powerful visual
marker of time felt like a religious experience.
page 5
Spotlight on
Marsha Ferguson
For the first fifteen years of her life Marsha Ferguson shuttled
back and forth between Jamaica, her birthplace, and Metro
Toronto (summers there, school year here). Before long, the
industrious teen found part-time work as an ‘extra’ in the CBS
mini series Common Ground. In 1988, after several commercial and music videos, she contacted Playing with Time
Time,
producers of Degrassi High, and landed a major role in the
popular Canadian youth series.
But acting was never Marsha’s first love; working with children
took top spot. In one capacity or another, since age 15,
Marsha has found a way to stay connected with little ones.
So, after Degrassi (including a feature film in 1990), she
became an educational tour guide directing hundreds of
children around Pantages Theatre
Theatre. Then, through the Canadian Mothercraft Society
Society, she apprenticed as a daycare
assistant at BCE Place.
Marsha’s role as
Studio 123’s
Preschool Teacher
(ages 3-5) suits her
just fine. “It’s my
preferred age
group,” she says.
Marsha Ferguson and
young Marcus
“Children at this
stage absorb the most;
they are given to learning. Three to five is a great discovery
period, a time when personalities come out.”
The open concept at Studio 123 also inspires Marsha. Unlike
other childcare centres that segregate space by age, this one
has few walls and a combined age curriculum. “There’s
definitely a more home-like atmosphere here. The design has
challenges but also many benefits. Older children develop a
sense of pride and responsibility in helping those younger,
and younger children are exposed to what’s coming up.” As
well, observes Marsha, the open space arrangement complements Studio 123’s caring philosophy, and symbolizes its
close relationship with 401 Richmond tenants, management
and the surrounding community.
Seeking to formalize her childcare training, Marsha entered
George Brown’s two-year Early Childhood Education program,
completing her degree in 1997. Following a variety of
placements throughout the city, including daycare facilities
within social agencies such as Queen Street Mental Health
Centre and Central Neighbourhood House
House, she was
contacted by Penny Davies (with whom she had worked at
CMS) about an exciting new downtown early learning centre.
Marsha dreams of supervising her own centre someday, one
Marsha - animated, enthusiastic and rich with experience - was
that combines her invaluable experience in early childhood
the first of two staff hired at 401 Richmond’s Studio 123 on
education and the social services. “An open concept, homey
January 4, 1999.
feel and outreach programs. That’s something I strive for.”
Tots TV
Capitalizing on our arts-based neighbourhood, Studio 123
preschoolers visited nearby CityTV recently. The youngsters, who were filmed by cameraman (and Studio 123
parent Tim Crough
Crough) while touring, were ecstatic to see
themselves on the big screen.
Award-Winning Design
Studio 123
preschoole
rs at City
TV
One of the city’s hottest design houses,, Oxygen Design + Communications (Studio 430)
has won a coveted Unisource Litho Award for an innovative invitation created for Studio
123’s Open House. In a generous gesture, Oxygen donated its design services for the
special event. It was also recently announced that Oxygen will produce
creative for the Bloor-Yorkville BIA 2000 print advertising campaign. [On a personal note, creative/sales
duo Alex Wigington (in a dress designed by Susan Dicks - Studio 360) and Marawan El-Asfahani tied the
knot in New York in late August. Congratulations!]
page 6
Feng Shui
Distinguished Visitor
American author and feng shui
expert Helen Berliner (Enlightened
by Design, 1999) will be in town
April 6-10, 2000 and available for
consultation. On her last Canadawide tour Ms Berliner visited 401
Richmond and had great things to
say about the building. If you are
interested in receiving her expert
advise on how to design and/or
arrange your business or residential space, contact [email protected] or leave word with
Sara Levinson at 416-593-1020 (Studio 385).
The November 16, 1999 opening reception of Jamaican
Perspectives (paintings of village life and folk culture) at
Gallery 401 (Studio 240), found
the Consul General of
Jamaica, Herman G.
LaMont (left) in conversation with the artist,
Philomen Campbell (right).
LaMont served as patron of
the exhibit that also received
support from Arts & Culture
Jamaica.
4
0
1
•
R
I
C
bulletin
board
H
M
O
N
D
A regular feature of 401 UPDATE, the Bulletin Board
is your opportunity to communicate with other tenants
and keep them in touch with what is happening in your
organization. If you are having a sale or exhibition, or
just want to tell others about your product/service, simply
supply Lesley Soden in Studio 204 with the written
information and we will print it here.
Intercourse:
an exhibition of intera
ctive transmission
machinery by Istva
n Kantor
Friday, January 28Saturday, February
19 noon-5pm
Opening Reception
Friday, January 28
@ 7:30pm
Pandora’s Box
The Trickster of Third Avenue East
By Darrel Dennis
an interactive enco
unter with art using
remotelycontrolled robots
Installations create
d by: Christian Bock,
Joe
Davis, Vera Frenkel,
Francis LeBouthillie
r, Mats
Lindstrom, Victoria
Scott, Kent Tankied
curated by Graham
Smith. A collaboratio
n with
Fylkingen Music & Me
dia Centre in Stockh
olm,
Sweden.
Saturday, March 4-S
aturday, March18 no
on-5pm
InterAccess Electronic/
Media Arts Centre
www.interaccess.org
401 Richmond St. West,
Suite 444
Toronto M5V 3A8
(416) 599-7206
[email protected]
“How much do you love me?” ... “Always a tricky question.”
January 20 - February 12, 2000
Poor Alex Theatre,
296 Brunswick Ave.
Toronto
(416) 531-1402
My Home As I Remember
Lee Maracle and
Sandra Laronde, Editors
(Studio 362)
$24.95 SC
Artist’s Application
Deadline: March 1,
2000
My Home As I Remember
celebrates literary and
artistic achievements of
Aboriginal women across
Canada and the United
States.
W.
401 Richmond St.
ure
ch
bro
a
up
k
Pic
at Studio 364
Fax (416) 408 2202
m
Tel (416) 408 2754
[email protected]
email torontooou
orart.org
tdo
ou
nto
oro
w.t
ww
page 7
Natural Heritage Books, P.O. Box 95, Statio
n O, Toronto M4A 2M8
T (416) 694-7907 F (416) 690-0819 nathe
[email protected]
4
0
1
•
R
I
C
H
M
bulletin
board
RIVINI
401 richmond street west, studio 216
toronto, ontario m5v 1x3
416.977.1793 1.877.4.rivini
fax 416.977.1786
Suite 240
Tel: 506-9595
Fax: 506-1589
YYZ Artists’ Outlet
401 Richmond St. W. Suite 140
2
T 416.598.4546 F 416.598.228
om
og.c
terl
yyz@in
www.interlog.com/~yyz
YYZ/SKOL Artist Exchange
YYZ
Three Montreal artists at
Claire Savoie
Jean-Pierre Gauthier
Hugues Dugas
February 23 - March 18
esday,
Opening reception,Wedn
pm
10
February 23, 8 -
N
D
“Manipulations”
Julie Van Dusen,
Amrit Mudhar, Co
rey Everatt and He
Sheridan College
idi Van Veen.
- Textile Studio Gr
oup
An exhibition of tex
tile art focused ar
ound four large fel
February 29 to Ma
t rugs.
rch 11, 2000. Op
ening on Thursday
, March 2, 6-10 pm
————————
.
———————
“The Love Dunk
”
An installation by
Kelly Shimizu.
March 13 to 18, 20
00.
Opening on Thursd
ay, March 16, 7-11
————————
pm.
———————
“Six Billion Jour
neys”
Nikki Abraham, Lib
by Faux, Nancy Oa
kes and Barbara
Rehus.
The human face is
part of our inner lan
dscape. Our fascin
Four artists explo
ation with it never
re this territory of
diminishes.
the human face an
media of sculptur
d the story behind
e, encaustic, draw
it, through the
ing and printmakin
March 21 to April
g.
1, 2000.
Opening on Satur
day, March 25, 2
- 5 pm.
SPRING
2000
An Evening of New Works
ist
by international video art
Tom Sherman
February 15, 8pm
O
A regular feature of 401 UPDATE, the Bulletin Board
is your opportunity to communicate with other tenants
and keep them in touch with what is happening in your
organization. If you are having a sale or exhibition, or
just want to tell others about your product/service, simply
supply Lesley Soden in Studio 204 with the written
information, and we will print it here.
e-mail: gokc
he@interlog.
com
February 10 - March 10, 2000
opening February 10, 2000
Crime and Punishment,
curated by Jennifer Rudder
featuring Sheila Ayearst,
Jonathan Eeles, Engela
Grossmann, Louise Noguchi
Studio 120
March 16 - April 15, 2000
opening March 16, 2000
A two-person exhibition
of work by Lynn Cazabon
and Eugenie Shinkle
Canadian Publications Agreement #1533657. Published bi-monthly.
Published by 401 Richmond Ltd.
Editor
401 Richmond St. W., Studio 204,
Lesley Soden
Toronto, Ontario M5V 3A8
Tel: 416 595 5900 Fax: 416 595 5904 (Studio 204)
Web site: www.401richmond.net
Design
i-13 media inc.
(Studio 425)
Printer
Rite Printing
Deadline for submissions for the April/May Newsletter is March 11, 2000. Publication date: April 1, 2000
page 8