Thanks to volunteer extraordinaire, Melanie, for this exciting post!
Year after year, the Danforth East Art Fair has proven that we are living amongst a mass of creative and artistic genius. With nearly 60 artisans and vendors participating in the Art Fair this fall, we are confident that this will be our best year yet. New to the Art Fair in 2014 we will be hosting a Youth Booth for two talented kids ages 12-17 years old, proving that talent and creativity are ageless. Thanks to our generous community sponsors at Bosley Real Estateand Pegasus Studios, these kids will have a chance to show and sell their goods at no cost during the art fair.
Perhaps you know a budding painter, jeweller, fashion designer or sculptor? We are looking for young artists working in any medium who are able to show and sell their work in an open market during the weekend of September 13-14, 2014. This is an excellent opportunity to network with established artists in the community as well as to develop personal portfolios for the future.
If your interested or know someone who may be, fill out our application before July 15, 2014 and email it to deca.arts@gmail.com.
It’s less than a week until the 2013 Danforth East Arts Fair (DEAF13) in East Lynn Park. There will be dozens of artists offering a range of artwork, gifts, crafts and clothing as well as food, live entertainment and other family fun. In this post, we learn a bit more about Eric Davy of Davy Glass. Davy and his collection of hand-blown colourful glassware were a fan favourite last year, winning the People’s Choice award. He speaks with DEAF13 organizer Shauna Rempel about his inspiration, where his art has taken him and what he thinks about beige.
1. What is the best way for people to learn more about your work (besides coming to East Lynn Park this weekend)?
I prefer for people to learn more about my art through my website DavyGlass.ca as it gives the broadest scope of the work I make.
2. Please describe your work in 10 words or less.
Hand-blown classical shapes, featuring modern surface design.
3. How did you begin your creative journey? How did it evolve?
I began working with glass at 16, I dropped out (of high school) and apprenticed under Alfred Engerer, who steered me clear of trouble. Later I went to Sheridan College and now nobody asks about high school.
Since then I have worked with artists and in factories all over Canada.
Three years ago I began my own business and doing shows, gathering gallery representation along the way. I am now the featured glass blower at the Venetian Hotel and Casino in Macao, China twice a year for two months and the resident glass blower at the Red Barns and Artists Play Ground for three.
4. What inspires you?
I take much of my inspiration from the feelings that certain times of day, in certain settings can conjure — in a word, nature.
5. How is your work different from that of other artists in your field?
I embrace a certain amount of chaos, my work is loud and aggressive. I feel we live in a beige world and we need more accents.
6. Finally, what are you most looking forward to at the Danforth East Arts Fair?
Winning the viewers’ choice competition a second year in a row.
E.J. (Eric) Davy of Davy Glass at work while an artist in residence at the Venetian resort in Macau, China.
It’s only a couple of short weeks away from the Danforth East Arts Fair and we want to introduce you to one of the amazing vendors who will be at DEAF13 September 14 and 15 at East Lynn Park.
The Artisans At Work headquarters near the corner of Woodbine and Danforth
Tara Shelton runs Artisans At Work, a Danforth East arts hub where residents can indulge their creativity and artisans can market their works. She also makes jewellery, specializing in creating miniature sculpture and turning them into wearable totems. She recently chatted with DEAF13 organizer Shauna Rempel.
1. Please describe Artisans At Work in 10 words or less.
A beautiful community arts hub, connecting folks to arts classes, locally made gifts and produce.
2. How did you begin your creative journey?
My mother, Carol Ann Shelton, is a wonderful painter and gave me the gift of self confidence and patience in any art I try. I took Gemmology from George Brown College, and I learned my jewellery skills by the late, great Steve Stephanian, a perfectionist — but a kind teacher and a kindred friend. He taught me metalsmithing, and introduced me to wax-carving. I sculpted in wax as a child, using the red wax that came on the edam cheese. I also sculpted from the clay from the creek bottom on my family’s farm, near London, Ontario.
3. How did Artisans At Work come about?
In the Gemmology course, we were asked to come up with a business idea. I came up with a jewellery arts store that rented bench space, tools, and supplied a professional retail area . . . somewhere to support jewellers by giving them work space and bring their works to market for them.
Around 1999, I was so lucky to be chosen for my business idea for a fantastic, year-long course run through the federal government for entrepreneurs in business plan writing and implementation. I bought all the things I needed and signed a lease in the Beaches, but when we arrived to move in, the owners changed their minds and wanted $500 more in rent a month! My lawyer advised not to conduct further business with them, and so I retreated with the idea, recoiling at the realities of doing business!
I continued to sell my jewellery. I also spent that time honing the business idea.
I desperately wanted to open something in my own neighbourhood, ever since I moved here to East Danforth. Looking for the right space was always tricky. About two years ago, I got involved with the fabulous DECA, and with their Pop-Up Shops team. I applied for a space during the second round of pop ups, and I found a most excellent space for myself here at 2071 Danforth! I decided it was now or never to put my dusty business plan into action, and signed a five-year lease.
4. What skills and experiences do you bring to your work?
In addition to my training in business management courses, gemmology and jewellery, I worked at several fine jewellery stores and three major diamond and jewellery appraisal businesses. Putting all those skills and experiences together for my own business is like a timely puzzle, and I am in a position to help others to do the same. I believe skills should be taught and shared.
5. What inspires you?
Nature, nature and always nature. The lifeforms of this world keep me in love with art and life itself. Just the fact that we are animals making art or adoring artworks of plants, insects and animals truly fascinates and inspires me! I am so proud when someone buys my jewellery because they love the totem of the animal I made.
6. How is your work different from that of other artists in your field?
I am finding my niche in carving and sculpture of the natural and pastoral world that I love. Everything is hand-carved by myself, from a sketch of my own. I prefer to control the workmanship by doing it myself, in small batches.
Tara Shelton sculpts sloths and other charismatic creatures that can then be worn as jewellery
7. What are some of the events and services offered by Artisans At Work?
Our First Friday event is fast becoming a favourite! Every month, we have an evening that involves live music, licensed bar, a local restaurant and a new art exhibition with a theme from our inspiring young curator interns! This September is our inaugural east-end nod to the bigger, brassier film fest in the west: DIPF Fest or Danforth Independent Photo & Film Festival. We have an astonishingly high calibre of juried photographers and film makers taking part. (For more details, visit http://www.artisans-at-work.com/first-fridays.html)
As for services, we are so lucky to be hosting some of the neighbourhood’s finest arts and crafts classes for kids and adults! We rent our Work Studios as art-related work space for short and long terms. I provide jewellery services. And how could I forget mentioning that we are always welcoming new artists to sell their work on consignment or to rent sales space!
8. Finally, what are you most looking forward to at DEAF13?
I am very much looking forward to seeing what the participants of the Fair have been busy doing! Each year it seems there are more and more fabulous people coming to share in our neighbourhood festival of art, and I love seeing the residents flooding out of their homes to support it.
See Artisans At Work’s Tara Shelton along with Ian Bradshaw, Theresa Morin, Little Kitchen Gourmet and Suzie Nedkov at DEAF13. For more info, visit deca-arts.ca
This summer the Danforth East Community Association partnered with 6 St. Joseph House, Bell Canada and the City of Toronto. We commissioned eight artists to paint Bell equipment boxes in our neighbourhood. Not only is this an injection of diverse art into our public space, it also deters vandalism and graffiti.
There are eight scavenger hunt questions to be answered. You have to visit the boxes to the find the answer. When you bring the answers to at least four questions to the DECA table at the Danforth East Arts Fair, your name will be entered to win the grand prize.
The Arts Fair is THIS WEEKEND. 10-5 Saturday and Sunday. If you buy some Christmas gifts there, you will not regret it. You will feel smug and self-satisfied for supporting local artists and being so freakin’ organized!
As I was saying…here are the questions.
From west to east:
1. Greenwood Subway Station, Artist: Charles Weiss
What is the name of this painting?
2. 217 Parkmount, Artist: Shayona Panth
There is a number on the top of this painting. What is it?
3. 1675 Danforth, Artist: Greg Marshall
Can you find the artist’s name on this painting? Where is it?
4. 126 Roseheath, Artist: Jungle Ling
Artist, Jungle Ling, is putting the finishing touches on this painting. What is he painting in the bottom-left corner?
5. 331 Wolverleigh Blvd, Artist: Monica Wickeler
What street is this painting inspired by?
6. East Lynn Park: Jennifer Rogers
What year is this painting showing?
7. 2119 Danforth, Artist: Emilia Jajus
What store is this box beside?
8. 7 Barrington, Artist: Tak Bui
What year is this streetcar from?
By the way, this was a comment from one of our artists this week: “This was the most positive public painting experience I’ve had in my 20-something year career as a mural artist and it’s all thanks to the warm and generous spirit of the residents in your neighbourhood.” – Aw shucks.
The countdown is on for the 4th annual Danforth East Arts Fair, which you no doubt know by now will be held in East Lynn Park this weekend! Not only will more than 50 artists be showcasing their wares, but a crack team of craftmaking experts is offering your children the chance to make some of their own — for free, all weekend long.
Whether your kids are interested in jewellery, clay or something in between, the fine folks from the Silly Goose Kids, LucSculpture and Mrs. Darling’s have got you covered. And if they’re the kind of kids who like to make noise (and who doesn’t?), we’ll also be hosting a children’s noisemaker parade on Sunday afternoon to hand out awards to our participating artists.The full schedule appears below. Look for the bright red tents near the path!
The Danforth East Arts Fair runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on September 15 & 16 in East Lynn Park. The fair will feature more than 50 artists, musical performances, children’s crafts, light food fare and much more. Check out www.deca-arts.ca for more information, or like us on Facebook for exciting contests this week!
Saturday
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: craft hosted by Silly Goose Kids
2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.: repurposed toy animals, collection jars and animal butt magnets with Mrs. Darling’s.
3:30 – 5 p.m.: lovebird necklaces and braided hex nut bracelets with Mrs. Darling’s.
Sunday
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: clay table for kids courtesy LucSculpture School and Studio
2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: book page flowers, garland and hair pins with Mrs. Darling’s.
3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.: noisemakers and awards parade led by Mrs. Darling’s.
