JJ Lee and Ingrid Mida at Loop Gallery

loop Gallery is pleased to announce the exhibitions by loop members JJ Lee and Ingrid Mida will open on Saturday, January 22, 2011.

JJ Lee, White Tortoise, mixed media collage on paper, 22"x30", 2010

The White Tortoise of Ch'u is a collaboration between artist JJ Lee and author Fabian Boutilier. The children’s story is a magical mix of history, folklore and mysticism which JJ Lee captures in her illustrations.

JJ Lee has a BFA from the NSCAD University (1992) and an MFA from York University (1999). A recipient of many awards for her work, Lee is also featured in the Magenta Foundation’s Carte Blanche Volume II: Painting, a survey of contemporary Canadian painters. She currently lives and works in Toronto where she teaches at the OCAD University.  Her collaborator, the author of The White Tortoise of Ch'u, is Fabian Boutilier. He is also a poet, a playwright, and a director of avant-garde theatre.

Ingrid Mida, All is Vanity, Digital C-print, limited edition 1 of 5, 28"x34", 2010

All is Vanity is the translation of the latin Vanitus Vanitum, a biblical reference to the transitory nature of life. This theme conveys the vanity of pursuing earthly pleasures and accomplishments in the face of certain death. In this series of photographic self-portraits, Ingrid Mida attempts to convey the emotions of grief and also poses the question of "whether beauty and death are facets of the same experience”.

Ingrid Mida has exhibited her work in Toronto galleries since 2003. Embracing a variety of mediums including drawing, sculpture, installation and photography in her practice, her work explores the intersection of fashion, art and life.  Ingrid also works part-time as an assistant to a curator of fashion and textiles and is author of the widely read blog Fashion is my muse! 


Please join the artists and author at their opening receptions on Saturday, January 22nd from 2-5 pm.

Learn more about JJ Lee’s and Ingrid Mida’s work at loop:
Readings  with artist JJ Lee and Author Fabian Boutilier; on January 23, 30, February 6 and 13, at 3pm
Question and Answer with Ingrid Mida on Saturday January 29th at 3pm, facilitated by Lyle Rye.