This weekend (October 25-28th), Toronto’s Metro Toronto Convention Centre will feature over 200,000 square feet of contemporary art for The 14th Toronto International Art Fair – or Art Toronto. The space will act as a blank canvas to over 110 international galleries, showcasing modern and contemporary art by thousands of artists that represent 13 countries, from Korea to Israel and the UK. The Toronto International Art Fair is an international contemporary art exhibition held each year in Toronto, and is Canada’s only modern and contemporary art fair. The first event was held in 1999.
Making for a solid few hours indoors as the weather cools this weekend, the event attracts young professional art lovers from across the country and is widely regarded as an essential platform for networking in the Canadian visual arts community, uniting collectors, curators, artists and galleries from around the world. What this means for you is a brilliant first date or “date night” option, a chance to gain inspiration for the walls of your new place, or, of course, an opportunity to shop for art in one giant space – if you’re in the market.
Upon entry this year, an incredible large-scale suspended art installation will celebrate all of the artists participating in Art Toronto 2013. Created by renowned artist Thom Sokoloski, the installation is titled, “ALL THE ARTISTS ARE HERE.” To accompany the installation, a soundscape will be made up of edited sound bites of the artists speaking about their work. The public will be able to interact with the installation by identifying the artist on the wall by scanning the related QR code mapped of all the artists.
New for 2013, Instant Coffee (a service oriented curatorial and artist collective based in Toronto and Vancouver) has been commissioned to create the Toronto Life NEXT Lounge. The space will provide a welcomed break for art fair visitors to hang out with friends, enjoy a drink, take in daily discussions by C Magazine and, of course, network. The lounge promises to reflect the colourful and graphic work created by IC, undoubtedly with a few surprises.
To kick off Art Toronto, the Opening Night Preview, benefitting the Art Gallery of Ontario, offers an exclusive first look at the work. Taking place tomorrow evening (Thursday, October 24), the event provides an opportunity to preview and purchase works of art before the fair opens to the public, and to meet many of the featured artists. A refreshing departure from your typical charity event, guests will enjoy performance art and a chance to take in the works over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Purchase tickets ($200) here.
See the list of this year’s exhibitors here.
Photos courtesy of Toronto International Art Fair
