Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Installation Shots: Sandra Smirle















Documented by Brian Burnett.



Like/Unlike and other circular decisions continues Smirle’s exploration of randomly selected locations, translated from aerial maps into large-scale cut drawings.
As we settle into a digitally networked world of unrestrained surveillance, allegiances are cast and recast with spontaneity and abandon. Just as we effortlessly ‘like’ and ‘unlike’ in social media, so too can the information come too fast for us to make decisions about the real or figurative direction of our lives.
Here the viewer is confronted by two maps: one like, and the other unlike, wherever it is — or was. Or perhaps they are one and the same place: a Rorschach ink blot, a kaleidoscope view of origin, destination and sentiment projected in shadow play. Maybe that’s where it’s going anyway, again, however the vote is cast.
Translated as ones and zeros, decision-making becomes easy — accessible and artless. Movements are instantaneous, if not without consequences.
The show continues until April 10, 2011 at Loop Gallery.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Installation Shots: Ester Pugliese

The mixed media paintings in Ester Pugliese's Empirical Spaces exhibition at loop Gallery use Italian architecture to draw connections between seeing and hearing. The works identify spaces, environments and living things that bring acoustic qualities to mind, against a cacophony-like backdrop of colours and forms. Each work posits formal Roman architecture against the arched porches of Toronto homes as viewed on Google street view. The show is as much a playful look at Italian culture and identity, as it is a reflection on how we synthesize and extract colours, sounds and ideas from the stuff we observe.














Documented by Brian Burnett.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Ester Pugliese and Sandra Smirle at loop Gallery March 19 - April 10, 2011

loop Gallery is pleased to announce exhibitions by loop members Ester Pugliese entitled Empirical Spaces, and Sandra Smirle entitled Like/Unlike and other circular decisions.

Empirical Spaces by Ester Pugliese 2011
Ester Pugliese’s Empirical Spaces is a series of mixed media paintings/drawings, which outline architectural / theatrical spaces and observations of the built and natural world, using sound and hearing as points of reference. The works identify spaces in which sounds resonate readily. The underlying abstract forms in these works are like internal organic structures. The outlines that float above the abstract ground are representations of Italian theatres, opera houses and church layouts. The layers present a challenge to the eye to perform in a way similar to the way our ears can discern a chosen sound amidst a din. Constructing a mental picture of each outline engages one's short term visual memory.

Ester Pugliese is a Toronto artist who has exhibited her work in Canada and England. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from York University in 2001, studied Painting at Leeds University in England and completed a post-graduate certificate in Arts Administration/Cultural Management in 2004. She is currently the Administrative Director at Loop Gallery and Development Coordinator at Arts for Children and Youth.

Like/Unlike by Sandra Smirle
Like/Unlike and other circular decisions continues Sandra Smirle’s exploration of randomly selected locations, translated from aerial maps into large-scale drawings.  As we settle into a digitally networked world of unrestrained surveillance, allegiances are cast and recast with spontaneity and abandon.  Just as we effortlessly ‘like’ and ‘unlike’ in social media, so too can the information come too fast for us to make decisions about the real of figurative directions of our lives.   Here the viewer is confronted by two maps: one like, and the other unlike, wherever it is – or was.  Or perhaps they are the same place: a Rorschach ink blot, a kaleidoscope view of origin, destination and sentiment projected in shadow play.  Maybe that’s where it’s going anyway, again, however the vote is cast.  Translated as ones and zeros, decisions-making becomes easy – accessible and artless.  Movements are instantaneous, if not without consequences.

Sandra Smirle is a mixed media artist whose work has been exhibited in solo exhibitions and juried group shows, and is in private collections in Canada, Australia and Europe.  Recently, her work was selected for inclusion in The Map as Art: Contemporary Artists Explore Cartography, published by Princeton Architectural Press.  Sandra graduated from Concordia University with a B.F.A. in Experimental Design.

Please join the artists in celebrating their opening receptions on Saturday, March 19 from 2-5 pm.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Last Chance to see Thelma Rosner and Gary Clement at Loop Gallery



There are five days left to see the work of Gary Clement and Thelma Rosner at Loop Gallery. Their shows close on Sunday, March 13, 2011 at 4 pm.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Question and Answer Session with Gary Clement


Peter Kuitenbrouwer will facilitate a Question & Answer Session with artist Gary Clement at loop Gallery tomorrow Saturday, March 5th at 3 PM.

The ink drawings in Dark Energy reflect Gary Clement’s lifelong interest in history, cosmology, archaeology, sitcoms, bodily functions, music, poetry astronauts and current events among other things. As a cartoonist/artist Clement draws heavily on the diverse influences that have shaped his work, from MAD magazine and National Lampoon to Philip Guston and Joseph Cornell.


The title, Dark Energy, refers to a hypothetical force that permeates the universe. In the context of this show, it refers to the materiality of the India ink used in the drawings, to the frenetic period of energy that produced the drawings and to the permeable and wide ranging nature of the subjects that inform the drawings.




Gary Clement is the political cartoonist for the National Post. His cartoons have appeared in the New York Times Week In Review, The Guardian and TIME. As a freelance illustrator, his work has appeared in publications around the world. He is also a children’s writer/illustrator whose many awards include the 1999 Governor General’s Award for Illustration for his book “The Great Poochini”. This is his 7th show at Loop. He is represented in Toronto by Loop Gallery and by Parts Gallery.

Peter Kuitenbrouwer has worked in journalism for more that 25 years as a writer, a video journalist, a radio and television correspondent, and a bureau chief in such places as Mexico City, Montreal, New York, Ottawa, and Toronto. He is the author of two books for children. This winner of the prestigious Southam Inc. Award and the "Newswriter of the Year" Award is at present city columnist for the National Post. Peter lives in Toronto with his wife, two children, a cat and a dog.

Gary Clement's Dark Energy & Thelma Rosner's Dictionary exhibitions at loop Gallery run until Sunday March 13th.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Gary Clement at loop

Dark Energy by Gary Clement c2011


The ink drawings in Dark Energy reflect Gary Clement’s lifelong interest in history, cosmology, archaeology, sitcoms, bodily functions, music, poetry astronauts and current events among other things. As a cartoonist/artist Clement draws heavily on the diverse influences that have shaped his work, from MAD magazine and National Lampoon to Philip Guston and Joseph Cornell.



The title, Dark Energy, refers to a hypothetical force that permeates the universe. In the context of this show, it refers to the materiality of the India ink used in the drawings, to the frenetic period of energy that produced the drawings and to the permeable and wide ranging nature of the subjects that inform the drawings.



Gary Clement is the political cartoonist for the National Post. His cartoons have appeared in the New York Times Week In Review, The Guardian and TIME. As a freelance illustrator, his work has appeared in publications around the world. He is also a children’s writer/illustrator whose many awards include the 1999 Governor General’s Award for Illustration for his book “The Great Poochini”. This is his 7th show at Loop. He is represented in Toronto by Loop Gallery and by Parts Gallery.



Learn more about Gary Clement’s work during a Question & Answer Session moderated by Peter Kuitenbrouwer of the National Post at loop on Saturday March 5th at 3pm.