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Security to aisle four. The Magenta Opening at MOCCA

Photo by Tim at BlogTO

See, that's my painting on the right(it's called "Broadcast TV's Gape Shot Or A Sad End To A Proud Life") at the Magenta Carte Blanche Vol. 2: Painting exhibition. That bit hanging is a paint skin, hung off a piece of foam. While securely attached at one end, it hangs free at the other.
Now imagine that space (MOCCA) with around 500 people in it. There were so many people there on Saturday at the opening. I'm shit for gauging crowds, but someone said 500, so I'll believe them.
There were so many people that everyone was getting awfully close to the work, with their back to it, drinking. They had to post a security guard next to my work, shooing people away from it so that they didn't knock bits off. I was delighted. My work had a bodyguard for the night.
That was a very good opening.
Go see the show, it is best show of Canadian painting I've ever seen, and Maryann Camilleri did a brilliant job with the book too.

Art Fair Blues, Governor General Cheers, Toronto

Hey look, it's Governor General Michaelle Jean checking out Sexe Maniac Maniac Maniac Maniac Maniac at the National Gallery of Canada.
I just got back from Toronto last night. A little broken from the weekend's activities.
I travelled there for the 2008 Toronto International Art Fair. I left there pretty hollowed out.
The opening night gala was great with it's free booze and chatting with other artists, but the rest of the time is was a little heartbreaking to be there. Rarely do I feel extraneous when my work is hanging somewhere, but the fair has little to offer artists past the opening night. The fair is mostly for collectors and gallerists.
Wait, the fair's still on today, go see my work at Booth 1020 before it closes!
Other things I did in Toronto were fantastic. Drunken after-party and animated cab rides with John Eisler, dinner and art fairing with my Mom, recording an episode with Joel and Jenn for Squidpod, times spent with the stripey-jacketed dudes from the MOCCA, and free beer and brewery tour with Wayne Baerwaldt, Matt Masters, Terrence Houle and the boys in the band.
I'll be back in Toronto in November to open the Magenta show and see everyone I missed this time.

Magenta Carte Blanche, Vol. 2 - Painting: MOCCA Exhibition

David Liss and Clint Roenisch have been hard at work in an underground bunker selecting the 30 painters from the list of 194 appearing in the Magenta Foundation's soon to be released book: "Carte Blanche Volume 2: Painting". These 30 painter will receive the coveted solid gold berets and will be included in the exhibition in Toronto at the MOCCA opening November 15th. They're launching the book that night too.
Obviously my Mountain Dew and Creme De Menthe cocktail gift basket was a hit. I knew campaigning was the way to go.
I'm in the book and the show. Busy autumn.
See the list here.
Pre-order your copy of the book at Amazon.