The Artist Project Toronto is a 4-day art show boasting the talents of 200 Canadian artists. Now in its 4th year, the show also includes an eclectic program of talks, special features and art installations. I recommend taking your time with this one, maybe even going back for a second and third visit. A warning though! After you hit the 5th or 6th aisle, things start to get blurry and all art, no matter how beautiful, merges into one colorful mess. I call it viewer saturation, and I don't think its necessarily a bad thing if you find yourself getting a bit jaded while not even half way through. It just means there is too much good art to take in all at once.
The only gripe I have with the show was in the direction of libations. I know that drinks aren't "the point" of the show, but it is awful to be thirsty when you're trying to enjoy art. Perhaps the staff were stressed out with the number of people in line for a toddy, but it is no excuse. I received a terrible drink under the name of horrors upon horrors, sponsor vendor, Absolut Citron. My cup was half empty, the drink was lukewarm [gross!], there were bits of lemon in there that made it murky and unpleasing to the eye, and I paid a grand total of $9 for it at the bar, when menus left around the venue quoted it as $6.50. That really gets my goat. I have a feeling the line was such a long one because I wasn't the only guest shocked with this. The people ahead of me hemmed and hawed before giving in, and those after me did the same.
I did love the sheer variety and quality of the artwork, I will go back again today to hit the aisles I missed, but it was a big downer not being able to enjoy a refreshing drink. Let us hope the bar staff do a better job today.
More Pictures Here
More Pictures Here