Odds & Ends

Hello, Everybody!

I hope you're all enjoying the bone-chilling Springtime weather and seasonal affective disorder we're getting.  For those of you that would like a little something to get you through these last few freezy, melty, muddy days, I've put together a list of events and entertaining tidbits to distract and inspire you until it's appropriate to wear short sleeves.

To start, here are some items for those willing to brave the elements:

There are some fantastic exhibitions and things to do around town in the next few weeks:

Raymond Boisjoly: Over a distance between one and many isat the Koffler Gallery.

Raymond Boisjoly, image for the inconstancies, 2015.

The current exhibition at Gallery 44 is The Kitchen by Sarah Anne Johnson.

Sarah Anne Johnson, The Kitchen, 2016

In the Beauty I Hide is a group exhibition at Hermann & Audrey.

Celebrate the opening of the 2016 Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival at the launch party on the 27th at the AGO

Keep up to date on the budding Sakura Cherry Blossoms at High Park.

Learn about the Business of Art at Lakeshore Arts in one of their professional development workshops over the next few weeks.

Create works of art across Toronto and contribute to the vitality and attractiveness of the city's streetscape by participating in the Outside The Box Program.

And, here are some items for those of you that appease your weather related disappointments through shopping:

Yippee! A simplified way to transfer photos from my iphone to my computer.

And, here is a photo management system for you and your family.

We all know Boba Fett is the coolest Star Wars character.  Why not use him to charge your phone?

Or chose the greener method of juicing up your phone with solar power.

Show Mother Nature that you can still garden even if she's not thawing out the ground for you yet.

For those of you that would rather be entertained in the comfort of your own home, here are some items to read, watch or make without a coat.

You could start a knitting project. I'm working on this Doctor Who inspired piece.

Make or buy a pinhole camera so you'll be ready for Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day!

Or discover some talented female photographers that didn't fit in my Women's History Month posts.

Marianna Rothen is a Canadian photographer that incorporates digital photography with Polaroid printing.

Amanda Charchian is a Los Angeles based photographer who depicts the nude female form as something empowered, confident and seductive.

Holly Andres is and American photographer who explores the themes of memory, childhood and female introspection through her work

And, for those who want to stay in and be less brainy:

If you haven't yet seen the Rogue One: A Star Wars Story trailer, here you go.  It's nice to have a movie to look forward to.

Or just wait until the 24th for the return of Game of Thrones.

Next week, the foxcraft blog will be coming to you from New York.  Subscribe below to make sure you don't miss out on any adventures.

And, if you're in Toronto, my work is on display at Veloute Bistro, 2343 Queen Street East
Toronto, 416 696 7392.  Make sure to check it out and enjoy a fantastic meal or a glass of wine.

Mark your calendars!

As I mentioned in my last post, the artist collective that I am part of is exhibiting at Lakeshore Arts in March. I would like to take this opportunity to invite everyone to the show and our reception on Thursday, the 3rd.

Women's Art Project is pleased to present:

My World, Our World

A multidisciplinary art exhibition by
Lisa Fox, Michelle Montague, Zoraida Anaya

Please join us:
Reception: Thursday, March 3, 2016, 6 PM - 8:30 PM
Lakeshore Arts, 2422 Lakeshore Blvd, West, Toronto, ON

Lisa Fox, Michelle Montague, and Zoraida Anaya are members of Women's Art Project, a multidisciplinary member operated artist collective producing exciting and experimental work in a collaborative environment. For the My World, Our World show, the artistic intentions of these women departed from the realities of the world in which we live and intersected in the creation of their imagined world(s).

The exhibition will be on display at Lakeshore Arts from March 1 to April 2.

I hope to see you there.

Lisa

Opening Reception

We had a wonderful time at the opening reception last night. What a fantastic turnout! It's great to see so many art enthusiasts, especially on such a chilly night. Thanks to everyone that was able to make it. 

Who knew? Carolers like art, too!

The participating artists were Jacques Albert, Andre Kan, Melissa Espina, Brenda Clews, Judy McKenna, Donna Gordon, Musa Musa, Choi Ka-Eun Jane Hur, David Cumming, Earl Elowsky, Gail Gregory, Nola McConnan, Nazli Nahidi, Vashty Hawkins, Kathy Vatcher, Carol Steinberg, David Brandy, Felicity Somerset, Anthony Smerek, Reuben Looyenga, Ann Somers, Shyla Tibando, Jennifer Hosein, Amy Siegel, Lisa Fox, Michaela Nessim, Colin Asuncion, Reuben Looyenga, Norman Allan

And, here is my work. 

Upcoming Art Salon Show & Sale

Hello, Dear Readers and Art Appreciators.

I just wanted to send out a quick little announcement about the upcoming December Art Salon and Sale at the Yellow House Gallery.

View fullsize

This exhibition will feature the works of over 20 artists - local, international, and me!

So, come on down to the opening reception if you can on Friday December 5th to support the artists, mingle, and enjoy art with a glass of wine. 

I look forward to seeing you there!

You can find all the details below.

December Art Salon and Holiday Sale

runs from December 5th until the 20th, 2014

OPENING RECEPTION
Friday December 5th, 6:30-9:30

Artists will be in attendance.

participating artists: Jacques Albert, Andre Kan, Melissa Espina, Brenda Clews, Judy McKenna, Donna Gordon, Musa Musa, Choi Ka-Eun Jane Hur, David Cumming, Earl Elowsky, Gail Gregory, Nola McConnan, Nazli Nahidi, Vashty Hawkins, Kathy Vatcher, Carol Steinberg, David Brandy, Felicity Somerset, Anthony Smerek, Reuben Looyenga, Ann Somers, Shyla Tibando, Jennifer Hosein, Amy Siegel, Lisa Fox, Michaela Nessim, Colin Asuncion, Reuben Looyenga, Norman Allan

The Yellow House Gallery, 921 Kingston Road, Toronto Ontario, M4E 1S6.  Phone 416-792-8460.

The opening reception will coincide with Tis the Season on Kingston Road. So, there will be all sorts of Christmas time events and businesses will be open late.

Larry Towell - Talk and Book Signing

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending a talk by Canadian photojournalist Larry Towell at the Stephen Bulger Gallery. Over the course of his career, Towell has focused on issues of unrest, "landlessness," and how they affect identity for the people of conflict zones around the world. One's land is integral to one's identity. Many of his subjects have been forced from their rural homes wounded, with nothing and displaced into new, unfamiliar cities. Towell's career covering these conflicts has taken him to Central America, the United States, Mexico and Palestine and has resulted in thirteen books and hundreds of exhibitions and publications around the world. In 1993, he became the first Canadian member of Magnum Photos.

Magnum Photos approached Towell in 2008 offering a project covering the conflict in Afghanistan and embedding with the British military. Having never been in country, Towell decided to go there on his own, free from the restrictions that can be imposed on journalists when embedded with military forces in this way. Between 2008 and 2011, Towell made several trips to Afghanistan looking into the effects of war there. His approach was not just from military and political perspectives, but included social and cultural insights that humanized a conflict that has more often been depicted with statistics and propaganda. The resulting body of work includes videos, still photographs that have been exhibited worldwide, and a limited edition book.

During this weekend's presentation, Towell shared three videos from Afghanistan compiling still photographs, video footage and audio samples from the field.  Towell is also an accomplished poet and talented folk musician. So, some original compositions, written and performed by him were layered over the imagery. The first video was a stream of black and white stills of Afghan victims of conflict, many of them amputees, often overlapped with night-vision footage and field recordings from his self-embedded time with American soldiers. The second was a continuous video from a Kandahar Medevac attempting in vain to save the life of a wounded soldier. The last piece was of night-vision footage during preparations for a raid by the American troops. We listened to them roll call the names and joke around prior to the mission. Each video was an intimate and moving view into a conflict through the people it affects.

After screening the videos, Towell discussed his interest in pursuing the subject of conflict resolution as opposed to conflict itself. He touched upon the often overlooked war on the media and the effects of restricting or silencing journalists. Propaganda and censorship are winning this war over human rights reportage in many places around the world today.

The discussion ended with a book signing by Towell of his latest publication, Afghanistan. The book contains over 350 images from his trips to Afghanistan, including his handwritten notes and collages.

Kabul, Afghanistan, 2010 © Larry Towell / Magnum Photos

I would like to thank Larry Towell for sharing his work and insights and the Stephen Bulger Gallery for hosting this event and their assistance with this post.

The exhibition Larry Towell: Afghanistan continues at the gallery until November 22nd.

lf