VAO

HOME

CONTACT & MAILING LIST

Coming Events

Art Rental

Consultations & Presentations

Need It Now: Phone Service

Event Archive

VAO On The Road

Visual Arts Ontario is currently involved in a multi-year program called On The Road. In the first phase of On The Road, VAO staff set-out across the province to meet with artists from diverse backgrounds working in a range of media. The goal was to collect information on the needs of Ontario artists. We wanted to find out what artists require to boost and sustain their careers.

VAO collected information through a number of methods, including focus group meetings scheduled in communities across Ontario. These meetings were attended by approximately 500 artists. Gatherings were held in Waterloo, Kingston, London, Grimsby, Ottawa, Thunder Bay, Sault Ste Marie, Port Carling and Toronto.

Here is a sample of what artists have told us:

"Artists in our area feel isolated. We need to find out how to identify and then apply to exhibition opportunities from out of town. I would love to have the opportunity to show in Toronto, New York or Berlin. I just don't know how to begin."

"We don't have enough exhibition opportunities right here. We've pretty much all shown at all the local and area galleries. It would be great to have a broader range of exhibition opportunities: studio tours, artist-run galleries & so on. A storefront gallery would be really great for photographic artists."

"We need to do more to develop an audience & stimulate the buying market for the arts in our community. Maybe we could develop a promotional compaign that would highlight all the arts that are happening here. If it was done right maybe private businesses could become involved."

"I would like to be able to regularly connect with other artists from outside of this community to do collaborations."

"We need to do something to get the local community more involved in the arts. Maybe we could make arrangements with local hotels & tourist spots to carry brochures about the visual arts. It would be great if we could get the private sector more involved - maybe businesses could partner in developing an arts related website."

"Access to better studio space - even a shared facility would be great."

"I would like to know more about the resources & organizations that are available to help me. Not just in my community, but across the Province."

VAO On The Road
THE FOLLOWING IS A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF COMMENTS AND REQUESTS FROM THE FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSIONS, EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS:
*** Comments in bold represent areas in which VAO is already working to effect change INDIVIDUAL NEEDS:

more exhibition opportunities regionally, provincially and nationally
more centralized access to information about upcoming events, workshops, funding, and learning opportunities involving regionally designated websites, as well as provincial listings
access to funding information for both public and private sector
easy to use website that contains above information with access guide for navigating divided, by discipline and by region
feedback on work through organized critique and portfolio development workshops
network of discipline specific experts that can act as occasional mentors
access to acquiring credit card accounts for individuals or group sales
access to suppliers (information on mail order suppliers)
coordinated database of art teachers and workshop instructors including who teaches what, where they are located, what they charge, and how far they will travel
website development workshops
more info on Exhibition Assistance Grant program (VAO to lobby OAC for more money for this program)
annual listing of "open air" exhibitions some of which are tied to festivals, and musical events
access to studio space or space rental listings particularly for those artists who work with media not suitable for home studios
artist network meetings for sharing information and forming collaborations
artists' residencies for emerging artists
mentoring programs that partner emerging and established artists
discounts on photographic rental equipment and digital documentation services and accesible resource list of these services
members' portfolio site linked to VAO main website
photo documentation day at VAO where members can sign up to have work photographed by a professional
classified section for website that has info, services and supplies exchange

COLLECTIVE NEEDS:

better communications between local and regional visual arts groups
connections between artists both within and between regions
information sharing between regional groups and organizations
increased promotion of Ontario artists
access to group exhibition opportunities
group benefit packages for medical and dental coverage
group insurance rates
sharing of event promotion ideas
professional business workshops for organizations and their members
traveling juried regional exhibitions
exhibition exchanges with Toronto galleries
discounted gallery entrance fees for VAO members
profile and share what regional groups are doing
links with municipal economic development departments and tourism organizations
municipal short-term project funding for groups and collectives
"How to educate the Public about Art": workshop and brochure databank of resources for artists
workshops on "First Steps" & "How to keep it going: Maintaining a momentum"
assistance on making connections with local industry, i.e. wineries in Niagara for exhibition opportunities, sponsorships etc.
workshops on developing collective and/or group exhibition and funding proposals particularly for emerging artists

Triple X : VAO's Thirtieth Anniversary Exhibition

Whether personal or professional, thirty years of achievement should be appraised and celebrated. For Visual Arts Ontario, there are many barometers that can be used to evaluate the three decades since inception. Quality of services, variety and relevance of programs, fiscal stability and sustainability are yardsticks measuring success. VAO�s accomplishments in each of these areas may be clearly demonstrated. The most compelling motivation for continuity is, however, the VAO Membership.

When founded, VAO�s raison d��tre was as an umbrella organization for many of the Province�s art societies. These included: the Canadian Society of Graphic Art; the Society of Canadian Artists; Sculptors� Society of Canada; the Ontario Society of Artists; the Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers (later to become the Print and Drawing Council of Canada); the Ontario Society for Education through Art; the Canadian Guild of Crafts Ontario; and the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour. Visual Arts Ontario and each of these founding groups quickly evolved. As VAO matured, it metamorphosed from a secretariat to a service organization with the fundamental tenet of providing �Help to Artists� everywhere in Ontario, regardless of affiliation, career status, gender, cultural background, political stripe, or creative bent. As an organization, VAO has gone from strength to strength as policies of inclusion have fortified this membership philosophy.

When planning its thirty year anniversary, the VAO Board and Staff sought to celebrate its years, as well as the diversity of its members. After extensive Provincial travel and communication with hundreds of members and non-members, it became evident that this historic moment would be best remembered by creating a snapshot of current visual arts practice in Ontario. Like VAO�s own credo, this flashbulb moment must embrace the strong regional representation that accurately portrays the visual arts and visual artists of our time.

I am delighted to welcome members, friends, families, sponsors and the casually curious to Triple X. This multi-part, two year project has been designed to highlight the accomplishments of VAO members and to share these accomplishments with as many viewers as possible. With a 97 work exhibition of painting, prints, sculpture, photography, new media, textile and craft, we offer a glimpse of the visual arts that is meant to entice, stimulate and encourage greater interest and involvement in this Province�s visual creators.

As Executive Director of Visual Arts Ontario for many of the past thirty years, I take great pride in this Organization. The success of our many achievements must be shared with dedicated colleagues and directors, generous sponsors and committed government partners.

Happy Anniversary VAO!

Hennie L. Wolff
Executive Director

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Triple X : Venues

Lieutenant Governor's Office, Toronto: April - August 2005

The Queen Street West Venues, Toronto: November 17th to November 29th.
The Gladstone Hotel
loop Gallery
Fly Gallery
INabstracto
Lennox Contemporary Art
64 Steps Contemporary Art
The Grounds of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Visual Arts Ontario

The Thunder Bay Art Gallery: January 19th - February 24th, 2006

The Art Gallery of Algoma, Sault Ste. Marie: March 9th - April 15th, 2006

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Triple X : Artists Statements

Statements as listed below have been provided by each exhibiting artist. Visual Arts Ontario assumes no responsibility for views as expressed, and for any content herein.

Adams, James Toronto, Gelatin silver print, selenium toned	Alexander, M.J. Oklahoma City, Metalic colour print
Altwerger, Sandra Toronto, Lithograph	Amell, Ian Toronto, Acrylic on panel
Anthony, George A. Toronto, Watercolour	Archibald, Debra Toronto, Acrylic on aluminum and copper leaf on canvas
Barnett, David Toronto, Oil on canvas	Barron, Peter Peterborough, Woodcut
Bartley, Suzanne Lansdowne, Mixed media	Beitl, Hana Sioux Lookout, Gel pen on paper, and mixed media
Blundell, E.G. Gooderham, Oil on gouged wood	Bond, Pat Mississauga, Acrylic on salvaged wood
Camilo De Las Flores, Oscar Toronto, Etching	Choy-Ng, Rita Willowdale, Mixed media
Correia, Claire Toronto, Mixed media mosaic	Couchie, Michael North Bay, Gicl�e print
Curry, Karen Toronto, Mixed media on birch panel	Dain, Kathryn Brantford, 0.5 mile of brown wrapping paper
Davy, Derek Toronto, Heat transfer on fabric	Dellert, Lois Toronto, Rammed earth
Derbouka, Robert Thunder Bay, Joined wood with paint	Dickson, Don Mississauga, Stainless steel
Donovan, Teri Toronto, Mixed media on mylar	Duggan, Mary Elizabeth Willowdale, Polymer acrylic on masonite
Edgar, Penelope Toronto, Gicl�e print	Fleury, Martha Toronto, Charcoal and acrylic on canvas
Franco, Marta Thornhill, Bronze and aluminum	Freeman, Fran Thornhill, Wild plant fibre
Geard, Valerie Jane Schomberg, Collograph	Geisel, Heiner Toronto, Acrylic on wood
Germaniuk, Vic Kaministiquia, White ash, steel, birch, slate	Gibbons, Doug Marathon, Gicl�e print
Graham, John David Guelph, Woodcut and chine coll�	Green, Mary Sudbury, Mixed media on canvas
Greer, Kelly Pass Lake, Oil on canvas	Hajdinjak, Henry Thunder Bay, Digital print
Hall, Elizabeth Jackson Toronto, Oil on canvas	Hare, Philip Toronto, Acrylic on plywood
Harris, Peter Ayton, Wool and linen	Harrison, Tracy Alton, lay
Hart, Tonya Toronto, Salt	Herman, Betty Toronto, Acrylic on canvas
Hua, Wenyun Toronto, Watercolour	Hunt, Catherine Toronto, Acrylic on canvas
Ianovskaia, Tatiana North York, Oil on canvas	Ing, Denise Toronto, Blown glass, dish rack
Irish, Phil Elora, Oil on canvas	Jackson, Jeff Toronto, Chalk pastel on paper
Jarosiewicz, Jaga Toronto, Acrylic, ink, wax, Plexiglas on masonite	Jian-Tavana, Massoumeh Toronto, Oil on mylar
Johnson, Pippi Kenora, Acrylic on paper	Kainer, Mary Toronto, Watercolour, ink, graphite, collage elements
Knight, Kristopher Toronto, Oil on canvas	Kozyra, Catherine Thunder Bay, Cow gut, copper wire, steel and rebar mesh
Lacroix, Lou Blind River, Fabric paint, thread, silk peaux de soie, quilted	Lepkin, Irit North York, Clay on marble stand
Liceaga, Taira Toronto, Cast plaster and mixed media	Livey, Lorna Etobicoke, Etching
Luck, Christina Cookstown, Acrylic on masonite	Lukachko, Susan Toronto, Oil on board
Macina, Dorothy Toronto, Encaustic on canvas	Macleod, Gary Toronto, Neon, Plexiglas
Martin, Judy Manitoulin Island, Embroidered quilt	Melhorn-Boe, Lise North Bay, Bookwork: mixed media
Middleton, Susan E. Toronto, Gicl�e print	Millen, Eileen Brampton, Soapstone
Miller, Julie Adamson Tottenham, Plexiglas, sand bags, sand	Mohr, Jurgen North Bay, Oil on panel
Morin, William Sudbury, Mixed media	Mulyk, Jim Dryden, Acrylic paint, cloth, newsprint, plaster, two interior mahogany plywood doors
Newton, Nancy Toronto, Acrylic on canvas	Nolan, Glenn Atikokan, Colour print
ODoherty, Joan Kitchener, Oil on canvas	Osadsa, Irma Toronto, Conte crayon and pastel
Pedri, Attilio Thunder Bay, Solid rock, processed rock	Pond, Lynden Sault Ste. Marie, Blue toned silver print
Richards, Sabina Burlington, Gicl�e print with handwork	Rossi, Lori Fox Thunder Bay, Colour print
Segan, Srdjan Toronto, Charcoal and coffee on paper	Silvers, Ronald Toronto, Gicl�e print with handwork
Sloot, Rosemary London, Oil on canvas	Smith, Peter Etobicoke, Oil, collage, permanent markers
Smith, Romney David Toronto, Etching with hand painting	Varga, Cecilia Toronto, Found objects, latex, wood, paint, water, pump
Vaughan, Kathleen Toronto, Mixed media: photographic emulsion, oil and acrylic paint on canvas	Venne, Lionel Elk Lake, Acrylic and collage
Vincil, Rick Toronto, Colour print	Watts, Richard Toronto, Acid-rushed steel
Williams, Regina Barrie, Oil on canvas	Yeh, Jason Toronto, Wood

___________________________________________________________________________________________________