Our New Perceptions Exhibit

Perceptions is an exhibit that showcases various ways of looking at the world around us. For some, it is through our culture, and for others, it is capturing the feeling of a moment, or just simply what is in front of them. Regardless of the direction, one perceives the theme, the malleability of your perception is ever evolving and unique to you. 

This exhibit displays 8 talented artists that have varying understandings of the world around them. Giuseppe Mandarino and Mark Viola both gravitate towards cultural influencers such as Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen, The Beatles etc. and consider these icons as people who have shaped who they are. While Emily Lightstone, Tina Nazarali and Patricia Nolan find beauty in soft details of everyday life. Their inspiration draws from what they feel around them, bodies of water, architecture, animals or the humans around them. They base their art on serene atmospheres which contrasts with our final three artists: Dinesh Subramanian, Rishi, and Kiyungi Fundikira. These three artists focus heavily on cityscapes and find charm in their hometown Toronto. While the subject remains the same, their technique and focus differs in each collection. Each artist has a unique style and their perception is heavily influenced by our very own concrete jungle. 

Giuseppe Mandarino

Giuseppe Mandarino’s work represents the zeitgeist of old Hollywood and the inspiration drawn from the 60s-70s.  Like many other Canadians, Mandarino grew up consuming American content. After being introduced to The Beatles and Elvis at a young age, music continues to shape who he is and still uses it as the backbone of his creativity (Mandarino, 2022). In his display, he showcases a series of Natalie Wood paintings and two paintings of Elvis Presely. With both surfacing fame in similar time frames, Mandarino thought it would be a good combination of artists to exhibit. Their marks left behind in the entertainment industry is especially fascinating to Manderino as success was achieved and taken away so quickly for them. “I think that because they died so young is why people are so enamoured by them still today.  I think people feel like they both had much longer careers ahead of them had they not died, but perhaps we wouldn't feel the same about them if they hadn't died.” (Mandarino, 2022) While he and the rest of the world piece together their tragic deaths, their creativity left behind continues to enhance Mandarino’s creative process (one of his favourite things about his art).  

Mark Viola

Similar to Giuseppe Mandarino, Mark Viola finds inspiration in music when discovering  his creative voice. He uses music as a tool to let go and tune into his mindset. The surrounding world around Viola is what shapes his art into what it is and what he allows on the canvas. Whatever is going on in his life, Mark reflects that in his work and claims his art “becomes my reaction to the world” (Viola, 2022). He hopes that his art is something people can find meaning behind and look beyond what is blatantly there.

Mark showcases 6 paintings in our Perceptions exhibit. While primarily focusing on the colours red, blue, white and black. Viola produces a particular style which includes text and contrasting elements. However, typography remains to be one of Viola's signature styles within his work as it allows him to build on the existing visual aspect and convey the mood more clearly. His fascination with the use of typography stems from the actual meaning behind the words as well as the style of text. In his Piece ‘Show a Little Faith’, Viola quotes Bruce Springteen, and paints “show a little faith, there's magic in the night”. There is clearly a connection between the two artists. Viola speaks about how he was not always a fan of Springsteen's work, and how his biography has since shifted his perspective on his storytelling ability. This particular line resonates with Mark due to the faith he has in himself because of his wife. “She has been my faith and magic” (Viola, 2022).

Emily Lightstone 

Our busy world around us sometimes allows for silent and still moments that can be captured by those who find beauty in it, Emily Lightstone does just that. Her exhibit focuses on how her surroundings (especially water) appear in the moment rather than how they always seem. She loves capturing nature due to its ever changing state. She utilizes her art as a way to focus on the new beauty the earth provides her and the small joys in everyday life. “I love that you could be having the worst day ever, and you can still look up at the sky and say ‘wow those clouds are beautiful” (Lightstone, 2022).

What truly allows Lightstone to observe water the way she does is her position as a stormwater engineer. This sets her apart from others that simply admire water, but allows her to think about the motion of water in a more indepth perspective. During her daily walks by Lake Ontario and the Credit River, Lightstone observes changes in the state of water and how it differs from the day before. This is her sole artistic inspiration and can be applied in a variety of ways. The message Lightstone sends to her audience is “to think about the places in their daily life that might fade into the background of their routine” (Lightstone, 2022). The very essence of her paintings is inspired by the calm joy you feel when looking at a sunset, Lightstone conveys this emotion very clearly through her pieces. 

Tina Nazarali 

Tina Nazarali draws inspiration from the places she has traveled to and the experiences she gathered throughout her life. She likes to think of the world as her home rather than one individual place. For her, the diversity that surrounds her improves her overall health and helps encourage her to work hard for the life she aspires to live. In her collection of art, Nazarali displays various examples of classic architecture and symmetry. The unique attributes of these specific landmarks represent intellect and boldness for her, something that is hard to come by in the modern world. In her painting ‘Magnificent Tuscany’ , the limestone and terracotta roof tiles stand out and give an ‘old world Europe feeling.’ says Nazarali. Through her travels she documents her surroundings through oil and acrylic. Using this medium allows her to convey the essence of her environment in a more controlled way, rather than using a camera. 

Patricia Nolan

Partricia Nolan’s wall includes two series of paintings. While both very similar in style, she captures our very own Kensington Market up close and personal and a series of ‘cottage style’ animals. Patricia captures her still images of Toronto en plein air. This special space is one where many come to relax, but in a slightly different manner than anywhere else in the city. People converse easily and spontaneously (Nolan, 2022). One of her treasured activities is people watching and this area is easily a favourite for her. As she sits there, she captures each small detail with the stroke of a brush, her devotion to detail is undoubtedly one of the most distinguishing features of her work. This remains constant even as she has evolved as an artist. Nolan currently focuses on wet-on-wet techniques before attending to the finer details, while she used to paint the details synchronously, she has since progressed into a different style.

In her Kensington Market series, Nolan captures life in the simplest form, exactly how it was in the moment. “Kensington Market is an ever-evolving place of course, but it is continuously under threat from developers who perhaps don’t best understand the spirit of the place, and it was important to me to capture the essence of this very special place in our city before it is irreversibly transformed” (Nolan, 2022). This small corner of Toronto is held near and dear to many Torontonians, and capturing the essence of it is a difficult task, however Nolan attempts and succeeds in such a creative way.

 Dinesh Subramanian 

Through Dinesh Subramanian’s realistic rendering of Toronto, we can clearly see the details and stillness of the city. While the city is filled with many buildings and lights, most of Subramanian’s work captures a hollow environment. His attention to detail is placed in contrast to the various elements often forgotten by city folk. The constant need to rush and get to the destination is an indoctrinated idea many inhabit. Subramanian likes to include as many details as he possibly can to make an accurate representation of the city. This allows his painting to fully exhibit what Toronto has to offer, even the forgotten details by many.

Half of Dinesh Subramanian’s display is inspired by rain and the cozy feeling he craves from it. All it takes is the smell of the first drop to change the atmosphere, the reflection of greys and reds appear more clearly, and lights become a new exciting subject. “reflections are also very interesting to me, like opening a portal to another world” (Subramanian, 2022). The calming emotions of the rain provoke a different story and experience of the world around you, claims Dinesh.

Since the pandemic, Subramanian’s experimental use of watercolour has become life changing. Prior to his use of this medium, it has always been a daunting method, one he did not intend to explore. After seeing one of his favourite artists utilize watercolour, it inspired Dinesh to practice with the runny texture. As he understood the medium more, the unpredictable quality of this paint became favoured. A medium in which helped him complete his paintings, one that completed his initial thought. His practice with watercolour persists, and enhances with every stroke.

Rishi 

As one of our artists who focus mainly on cityscapes, Rishi utilizes contrast in colour to allow his work to stand out. Each colour used is purposely done to convey a tone set by the bustling city of Toronto. For Rishi, pink is an indication of lust or comfort, as used in his work, ‘Pink CNset’ as a city he considers home, and also used in ‘Metro’ for the apartment windows. Colour is a significant communication tool for Rishi and the work he creates. One consistent contrast he uses is yellow against black, this is used as an indication for uncertainty and warning. This combination is repeated throughout his paintings as a common emotion that takes place in the city. The use of Yellow is used in ‘Metro’ most effectively, as it sheds light on social interactions and driving and the dangers that can come with it.

Two pieces that naturally stand out from the rest, is ‘Bora Bora’, and ‘Abbey Road’. While both under the theme Perceptions, they differ from the site Toronto. Rishi chose to capture ‘Bora Bora’ during the pandemic due to its picturesque essence. This was during a time where many were unable to travel and leave their homes. Social media was an escape for many, and became our only perception of the outside world. ‘Abbey Road’ is sentimental to him as it is a location which Rishi has traveled to and references his accuracy through the photos taken by himself. However, no matter what, Toronto stands as his favourite location due to the proximity to bodies of water and the endless amounts of things to do. 

Kiyungi Fundikira 

While Toronto can often look gray and concrete, Kiyungi Fundikira has never thought of it that way. His encapsulation of Toronto includes colour and life; this is why his favourite season is fall. Fundikira gravitates towards this season due to its texture, colour and variety. His artwork is based around the colour you find in the city, even at night. He plans on exploring black and white mediums such as: sketches with pens, Inks and pencils, later on in his art journey, however, for now he is quite content with searching for colour.

Toronto is a special place for Fundikira as it includes so many cultures, forms of architecture and settings. The endless opportunities you receive from living in a city like Toronto is astounding, the contemporary and vintage stores and ways of life truly make it the most cosmopolitan cities he has ever traveled to. 

Through each artist, a different perspective of life shines through. The contrast between positive and negative, what is worth capturing and not, or what is inspirational or unmoving differs between all eight artists. This drives sentiment, it drives passion, and it shapes who each person is. Perhaps there are some similarities and common points of interest, however the way each piece is portrayed has something no one else can add, more. The painting is exactly how it looks by the person who decided to make it look that way. One can have perspective and feelings based on the art. But no one can change the initial form. 

Unconventional Wedding Ideas to Make Your Day Even More Unique

Your wedding day is supposed to be the most magical day of your life– full of love, friends, and family. That being said, traditional weddings aren’t the only way to go. Having personalised, different touches will give you and your guests a special experience that will leave a unique memory and inspire everyone to think a little bit outside of the box. Whether it is the wedding venue, food, or decorations, creativity will always shine through. At the end of the day, always do what makes you and your partner happy. Here are some ideas to inspire you: 

1. Unique Wedding Cake

Flavours aren’t the only thing you can customise in your wedding cake. There are so many unique options to do instead of your standard white tiered wedding cake. Going for a cake made of donuts, cupcakes, crepes, (or sushi?!) allows for your guests to actually enjoy a piece of cake without the mess and stress of cutting it evenly. Top it off with customised bobble head figurines of you and your partner for an extra touch of humour and cuteness.

2. Not-So-Typical Outfit

There is no denying that a long extravagant white gown is beautiful, timeless, and symbolic of a wedding day. That being said, there is nothing more symbolic than a statement outfit. Try a white pantsuit or 2 piece set instead of a traditional ball gown. It is both bold and memorable to step outside of the typical expectations. If you still want to wear a dress, opt for a short and breezy dress– perfect for summer and more comfortable to dance in all night! Speaking of comfort, always keep a pair of comfortable dancing shoes with you. Your feet will thank you later.

3. Book a Cool, Modern Art Gallery Instead of a Regular Event Hall

Let’s face it… we should leave the event halls for business conferences and high school proms. The wedding venue is the very basis of your special day, and choosing a venue that is beautiful and unique, enriched with art and culture can completely transform the magical feeling of celebrating love. In Toronto, there are countless galleries and event spaces to choose from– most notable Twist Gallery on Queen St W. This space offers open, high ceilings, huge beautiful windows, and is lined with incredible art from local artists to help you celebrate your day. Call (416) 588-2222 for more information.

4. Toss Out Bouquet Toss for a Fun New Game Instead

As fun as tossing the bouquet is, the game is admittedly not very exciting or inclusive to every wedding guest. If you’re opting for an outside wedding, consider setting up cornhole, bocce ball, or giant jenga to ensure all your guests can join in the fun. If your venue is indoors, have interactive games like Connect 4, Chess, and Tic Tac Toe stations. Add a DIY craft station to encourage creativity and allow your guests to leave you special little gifts to commemorate the magical day.

5. Audio Recorded Guest Book

You’re probably wondering what we mean by an audio recorded guest book. Well, it’s exactly that: a guest book full of sweet messages that you can listen to over and over! Your guests can leave you messages that will create the sweetest playlist of all time. Have both audio and written guest books if you want double the love!

6. Unique Centrepieces

Although flowers and greenery are undeniably beautiful, they are basic wedding centrepieces that do not necessarily “WOW” a crowd. We suggest doing something more personal, something that reflects you and your partners personalities and can be sent home as wedding gifts for your guests. Pile 5-10 of your favourite books on each table, books that tell your loved ones the stories that moved you and the words that left their mark on you. They will likely not be reading during the wedding, but they can take home the book that stood out to them the most, and hopefully pass it on to someone else they love after.

At the end of the day, all that matters on your wedding day is you and your partner celebrating your love with the people who mean the most to you. Everything else is just details– but within these details is where you can get creative, exciting, and fun. Create unforgettable memories in unique ways by expressing your love with these little tips!

Gestures Opening Reception: a Huge Success

We kicked off our Gestures exhibit with an Opening Reception last night. We had a great turnout, and it was a great first Opening Reception since Covid-19 happened. The event brought together people of all different art backgrounds, from artists to people who just love to look at art! They were all united for their shared love of art at the Opening Reception.

Gestures Exhibit has eight different artists showcasing their artwork. All the pieces in Gestures focus on how every brush stroke is intentional and essential. The textures on each canvas are unique in this exhibit. You will have to see the pieces in-person to see the texture detail because each canvas is unique.

Gestures Artist Andrea Higgins!

Gestures’ Artists Alice Kelso and Vian Ewart, and Eva Stryjnik!

The artists had a blast mingling with friends, family, and art lovers. We also sold three paintings during the night!

Twist Gallery’s Director had a blast getting behind the bar to serve everyone drinks!

Cheers to a good night!

We want to thank you all for coming and having a great time with us! We are looking forward to having another Opening Reception for our next exhibit. Keep an eye out on your emails, and we will send you information regarding the next exhibit and its Opening Reception details.

Want to join our mailing list? Click here!

Meet the Gestures Artists

With work so breathtaking, words are necessary to describe the beauty of Gestures. Twist Gallery’s two-month-long exhibition displays 8 local Toronto artists’ brush strokes, showing just how intentional and deliberate each stroke is. Experience the feelings illustrated in this exhibition, it is sure to leave a mark

→ Join us at 1100 Queen Street West, Tuesday to Saturday from 11 AM to 6 PM ←

Gestures Opening Reception

Join us for light appetizers, refreshments, music, and a chance to meet the artists.

Thursday, April 7th, 2022 | 6 pm to 9 pm

1100 Queen Street W

Along with the incredible works done by our various artists it is important to us that we get to know each artist more personally. We asked each artist to send in a short paragraph explaining a bit about who they are in order for us, and you to feel more connected to them outside of their work! All of the artists from this exhibit have such incredible stories and explanations for why they love their craft, and we invite you to learn more about how they came to be who they are, and why they decided to create. Keep reading to get the full story!

MEET THE GESTURES ARTISTS

Alice Kelso

Alice Kelso is a Canadian artist, teacher, and social advocate. Though based mainly out of Hamilton and Toronto, she has also shown her work at pop-up exhibitions in the UK. As a graduate of OCAD University's painting program (BFA) and Sheridan College's social services program (SSW), she teaches (and learns) through an anti-oppressive and holistic framework. Alice's work is abstract but representational and her process is expressive and cathartic. It showcases the patterns created by natural growth through texture, mark-making and colour harmonies; conceptual interconnectivity between art and science, people and the world around them.

Andrea Higgins

Andrea is a contemporary self-taught artist with a background in music, film and dance. 

Her work is physical and improvisational, driven by emotion captured through an abstract lens. She describes her works as a dance with one's self, spontaneous and free, releasing energy and emotions in a limitless direction. 

Similar to the way music creates a soundtrack to our lives, colours play a role in the background of our everyday moments yet carry meanings that vary from person to person. 

Andrea lives and works in Toronto, Canada.

Andrea Rosara

Andrea Rosara is an interdisciplinary artist from Venice, Italy. He works primarily in the media of painting and drawing and has an interest in printmaking. He holds a Bachelor’s of Fine Art and a Master’s of Fine Art/Visual Studies in Painting, Drawing and Printmaking from the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia. Andrea has exhibited his work in a wide variety of solo and group exhibitions in Venetian galleries and art festivals including Atelier 3+10, the Festival of Contemporary Art Giudecca, La Fenice Gallery, Techwood Venezia, and Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia. He is now based in Toronto, Canada.

Caroline Chorazy

Caroline Chorazy is a self-taught, Toronto-based abstract artist specializing in acrylics and gold leaf. She draws her inspiration from natural elements in an attempt to capture organic movement and flow in all of her artwork. Her use of gold leaf and pigment gives each piece a unique gesture and ability to change appearance or shape in cohesion with the room and light.

Moses Salihou

Moses is a contemporary artist whose artwork reads like visual poetry; subjective & limitless in its interpretation.  His inspiration and creativity are sourced from his surroundings, the environment and his imagination.  Moses’ creative process is guided by a desire to establish a dialogue through his work without setting any limits.

As a versatile artist, Moses uses various supports (canvas, paper, reclaimed materials) and mediums (oil, acrylic, watercolour, pigment and charcoal).  Originally from Cameroon, Moses now calls Toronto home and his artwork is proudly featured in private collections in Canada and abroad.

Seokhoon Jun

Seokhoon Jun loves family, friends, and nature. Currently studying art therapy at Toronto Art Therapy Institute with an interest in how art and spirituality come together in life. Glad and grateful for the opportunity to connect through art.

Valentina Youkhanna

Valentina Youkhanna is a self-taught artist who has always had a creative side since childhood. She spent a lot of her time as a kid drawing, colouring, and painting. In her early 20s, she began painting with acrylics and it’s been love ever since. She is not only passionate about the arts and creativity but also had a career as a mental health worker and facilitated art groups for those facing mental health and addiction challenges. In her late 20s, Valentina decided creativity would take the main seat in her life and pursued an education in hairstyling which ultimately led her to work in both professions. By 2019 she would dedicate and commit more time to her creative outlets and left the mental health sector to solely focus on her hairstylist career and art. 

Valentina is passionate about healing through art and believes everyone is creative. She believes everyone has gifts and talents in the arts but as time goes on and people “grow up” they forget what it means to play, to have fun, and let your mind be creative. She hopes to see more people tune into their intuition and create from the heart and soul to express or heal. She values community, supporting one another and believes there is abundance for all in the art world and no need to compete because as she states, “no two people can draw the same line.”

Vian Ewart

Vian’s early career was in the graphic side of journalism. About 15 years ago Vian had the opportunity to go to the Gallery School at the AGO, and then the Toronto School of Art, and then the three-year adult art course at Central Tech Art School. For several years since, Vian has been part of the ProjectArt studio group in Toronto. He has also been involved with a number of group exhibitions from the Praxis Gallery to Lennox Contemporary to Don Valley/Forest Hill and most recently Gallery 1313. Last year he completed a couple of commissions in Canada and the U.S.

We hope to see you there!

This exhibit is one of the longer ones, and we felt that this was necessary due to the complexity and emotional depth inherent in a lot of the artists pieces. We hope that this blog post gave you some insight into why each artist decided to express themselves through this medium, and how their art has helped shaped their life. We are excited to see you at the new exhibit Gestures and hope this work will inspire you in the way it was meant too.

Wedding Trends: Tips for a Gothic Wedding

Dark colours, elegant foods, antiquated decor and furniture, and a feeling of mystery are all features you will find at a gothic wedding. While gothic weddings were previously viewed as unconventional, more and more brides want this dark yet sophisticated wedding theme. Some might mistakenly think that a gothic-themed wedding would be closely related to Halloween decorations and costumes, but this is wrong!

These are some top tips for brides who want to plan out their ideal gothic wedding. 

COLOURS

When you plan out your gothic-themed wedding, you will want to choose specific colours that are dark but still very tasteful, and not just black. Some great examples are deep purples, starry blues, blood reds and black, of course. Once you have finalized your dark colour palette, you can then start picking out the perfect matches for your bridesmaids' dresses, your flower bouquets, groomsmen attire, and your venue decorations. Using deeper colours means you are already on the way to creating the perfect extravagant goth wedding of your dreams. 

VENUE

Whatever theme you decide to go with, picking the venue for your wedding can be a hard decision to make. To choose the right venue for a gothic wedding, you should choose venues with more antique architecture and an elegant feeling. They should also have high-hung chandeliers and probably an elaborate staircase. Choose a gothic-style stone structure or 1920s mansion for the outer structure, which helps set the mood for your guests' arrival. After you pick the venue, you can decorate it to set the mood even further.

DECOR

The vibe you want to create with the venue decor should be classy yet edgy. To create the look of a sophisticated gothic wedding, some of the best picks for decorations include antique candelabras and velvet or lace. Use some candlesticks and flowers as centrepieces, and you can choose to have your venue lit by mostly candlelight. You can go the extra mile with your table settings and add an elegant touch for your guests. 

FLOWERS

The bride and groom's bouquets, centrepieces, and venue decorations will play an essential role in every wedding. To stay on theme for your gothic wedding, you should opt for flowers that come in deep shades like red roses, purple calla lilies and some greenery. You can add touches of greenery throughout the venue to create some easy and charming decorations.

BRIDE

And here are our tips for the lucky bride. Some brides will want to go with a black lace dress, and others will still want to go with a white dress with black detailing. One bold yet still elegant choice that we have seen is a dark red with hints of black. Whatever you decide to wear, you will look stunning. Have a little fun with your manicure, shoes and makeup. You can do vintage gothic makeup to stick with the theme when picking out makeup. A smokey eye and winged liner are the perfect combos.

Useful Links: Unique Wedding Venues Toronto, Wedding Venue Downtown Toronto

Get to Know the Artists From Chromatics! March 2nd-26th

This month Twist Gallery has chosen 7 local Toronto artists to be a part of our Chromatics Exhibit. Each of these artists has their very own unique inspirations, creative processes and messages they display in their art. Their artwork communicates the same theme of expressing themselves through the use of bold and vibrant colours. How they use and express these colours is entirely unique.

→ Join us at 1100 Queen Street West, Tuesday to Saturday from 11 AM to 6 PM ←

Liz Szymczak

Liz Szymczak’s painting journey started in 2018 as therapy for anxiety, post-heart attack. She initially started painting rocks that she gathered from her walks at the lake. From there she jumped to small canvases, and now Liz’s largest piece to date is 36” x 48” and she hopes to go even larger! Painting opened up in her a well of creative energy that lay dormant for most of her life. Now painting is her sanctuary! All of her work is intuitive and many of her works have appeared to her in dreams. Liz’s only hope is that her art makes the viewer feel- because that is what makes life so beautiful!

Tamar Kevorkian

Tamar is an Armenian Canadian painter born in Beirut, Lebanon. Tamar grew up in Montreal, where she studied Fine Arts at Concordia University and Photography at Dawson Institute of Photography. Her infinite imagination and inspiration from her life experiences along with the influence of Pablo Picasso give life to an empty canvas.

Tamar’s preferred mediums are acrylic, oil pastel, charcoal, and ink, using brushes and palette knives of various sizes. She brings forth harmony to explore and create the visual imagery of her cubist graffiti paintings. Now living in Toronto, Canada, Tamar actively paints both on canvas and on digital media.

“Art should have no boundaries, therefore I paint freely and boldly because Art always matters.”

— Tamar Kevorkian

Judith McKay

Judith McKay is a Toronto-area abstract surrealist artist. Her intensely coloured, vibrant landscapes and portraits are influenced by magical realism and surrealistic dreams. The concept underlying her work is that of inseparable and contradictory opposites. The playful duality of abstract and representation—altering perception and reality. Interconnectedness and dissolving boundaries permeate her work—one element flows into another, merging and mixing, creating something altogether new. We think we recognize the places and people in these paintings but they are not as we remember them.

Her artworks featured at the Chromatics exhibit depict powerfully ethereal women spirits and sensual flowing skies, birds, and flowers in vivid, hopeful colours. Her mission in creating these works is to offer an alternative elsewhere, an escape from the chaotic world we find ourselves in. She uses acrylic on canvas; painting with swirling motion to give a sense of floating in ambient air. 

Recent exhibitions include the Loft Gallery Group Exhibition, The Artist Project, Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, HIRAETH, a solo show at the Urban Gallery, Toronto and FUSION, a shared solo show with Moses Salihou at the Freedom Factory Gallery, Toronto. Her work can also be found in private and corporate collections across Canada, the US, and overseas.

Adeeba Aslam

Adeeba comes from a deeply artistic family of painters, potters and clothing designers with roots in Pakistan. She is a self-taught artist who derives inspiration for her work from her spirituality, lived experiences and interactions with her community.

Over the past several years Adeeba has been trained with and is currently under the mentorship of a prominent Canadian artist, Catherine Shea.

Influenced by expressionist painters, Adeeba typically doesn't have a plan before exploring the canvas. She works with acrylic paint and selected mediums using unconventional tools and techniques to create her abstract pieces. Using bold colours, spatial and organic structures, Adeeba’s paintings evoke an ethereal depth and drama in telling her stories. The process of painting is both a deeply emotional and meditative experience for Adeeba.

Adeeba’s work has been featured at various locations in Toronto, where she was born, raised and currently resides.

For more information about her work, contact adeeba.aslam@gmail.com. Check out her Instagram: @adeeba.aslam.art.

Andrea Higgins

Andrea is a contemporary self-taught artist with a background in music, film, and dance. Her work is physical and improvisational, driven by emotion captured through an abstract lens. She describes her works as a dance with one's self, spontaneous and free, releasing energy, and emotions in a limitless direction. 

Similar to the way music creates a soundtrack to our lives, colours play a role in the background of our everyday moments yet carry meanings that vary from person to person. 

Andrea lives and works in Toronto, Canada. Check out her Instagram: @andreahigginsart.

Giuseppe Mandarino

Rooted in Italian tradition, Giuseppe was born in November 1976 and raised in the Downsview neighbourhood of Toronto. Giuseppe has been passionate about putting paint to canvas since his childhood. Experimenting with his artistic style by fusing a combination of textures, colours, and mediums his creations are one of a kind pieces developed through emotions, surroundings and human connections. Giuseppe speaks through his work, and each paint stroke is an expression. His art is created to channel feeling, movement, and inspiration for those that view it. With a love for his hometown of Toronto, Giuseppe has created custom work for an array of local art collectors, entrepreneurs, and admirers. The world that surrounds us has inspiration everywhere if we take the time to notice it, which Giuseppe displays on his canvas.  

“Do something you really enjoy and it will never feel like work. I’m grateful for my family’s support, and for the opportunities I have been given.”

— Giuseppe Mandarino

Kim Benoit

Creating art is the perfect occasion for an artist to explore happiness. Experiencing art is a mindful activity which allows time and space to experience an emotion. In the paintings from Kim’s series “What Is Happiness?”, she proposes to expound on happiness. What aspects of art make someone feel good? Making a painting that aims to have someone explore their happiness or even to guide them to feel happy is no easy task. She needed to find a visual vocabulary to define happiness. All artists choose a palette to convey the mood. Dark colours can be calming or depressing, bright colours can be uplifting or overwhelming. The use of space can attract or repel. Loose brush strokes and flowing organic shapes can be freeing or disorienting. Strict movement and controlled geometric shapes can evoke safeness or confinement. All of these elements affect the experience. In Kim’s series ‘What Is Happiness?’ She selected paintings that are bright, flowing, and organic for the Chromatics exhibition. To see Kim’s other paintings which express stricter controlled geometric expressions, go to kimbenoitart.com.

The artist’s portion of the proceeds of the sale of these paintings will be donated to research and programs which support people with a mental illness.

We hope to see you there!

Expert Tips to Style Your Wedding Aisle

Guests begin to gather, the music starts to play, your ceremony becomes the main focus as the attention of your loved ones are waiting excitedly for the procession and the bride to arrive. Picking the best aisle decorations can help you craft the feel of the entire ceremony to celebrate you, which helps make your wedding much more memorable. You can choose between the girly aesthetic of bows, flower petals, tiebacks, ribbons, or going with a sensible runner. Your wedding aisle is another place where you can show off your own personalization for your wedding, awe your guests and set the tone for your big day as a bride. Wedding planners at Twist Gallery are able to help to-be-wed couples select and coordinate their aisle decor with the overall wedding theme.

Spread Your Creativity With Flower Petals

One easy addition to your aisle would be lining the aisle with beautiful coloured flower petals, which can add a pop of gorgeous colour to any indoor or outdoor ceremony. Flower petals don’t only have to be reserved for flower girls. They can give you dimension as well as add to a soft and romantic feeling for the entire ceremony. Couples can choose to use multi-coloured petals for pops of colour to the ceremony, or use petals that are found from seasonal wedding floral arrangements. Try to create a unique pattern like a monogram using petals to have a more modern twist. Using ombre flower petals can help give you a more subtle range of colour while also adding more creativity and drama. For more elegant vibes, try creating a pattern using the petals, or scatter petals in specific widths along the sides of your aisle.

Many brides also include lanterns or soft candles lining the aisle, which help light the aisle as well as give off a magical ambiance. Think about including fall leaves, flower heads, fabrics or feathers into the composition to help enhance the scene.

Decorate The Wedding Easel Chairs

Depending on your ceremony, you could have chairs which are typical in outdoor weddings or pews found in a church ceremony. To help further enhance your ceremony, you should decorate the chairs found along the aisle. For example, you could add on flowers to create subtle aisle decorations. Or, get more creative for beach weddings by tying on starfish and coral using blue ribbons to represent the ocean. For more rustic themes, hang some dried grass, wheat or fall berries using some natural coloured string or twine to the end of every pew or chair. The opportunities are truly endless when it comes to creating your dream wedding aisle that is pleasing to the eye.

Multi-Use Mason Jars As Decoration For Your Wedding Aisle

Mason jars add a rustic and vintage aesthetic when used as part of your aisle decor. These are cost effective and versatile design elements and they can even serve as a core element for your wedding theme. You can fill them with colourful bouquets to line the aisle, or they work well as hanging decorations as well.

Also Read: Event Space Toronto, wedding venue Toronto, Wedding Reception Toronto

Valentine's Day Date Night on Queen Street West

This Monday February 14th is Valentine’s Day and whether you’re spending it with your significant other, your friends, or your family, Queen Street West provides you with a whole day of fun local places to explore. Queen Street West is known for trendy retail stores, unique coffee shops, and a large cluster of art galleries in the city. Walking along this street makes you feel like you’re in the city. Trendy cafes surrounding you, art from creative people, and the CN Tower poking out from between the skyscrapers. Below are some options of the fun things to do on Queen Street West. It’s your day, so if exploring the city is something you love to do then follow the list below, but if just going to a café is your thing, then grab a cup at the place listed to try something new.

Photo taken by Twist Gallery.

Frankie’s Diner 

Located at 994 Queen Street West, start the day off right with some diner styled breakfast food. They also serve draught beers. This local diner is handmade fresh and has been open since 1977. They are open for dine-in, curb-side pickup, and delivery. There’s just something about diner food and the atmosphere with your loved ones. It’s both delicious and comforting.

Photo from Frankie’s Diner’s Facebook.

Birds

If you’re in the mood to shop come shop at Birds, located at 1114 Queen Street West. The clothes are vegan, sustainable, and made ethically in Canada. They also have a “ReNesting” section which allows you to resell the clothes you bought there as long as it is still in re-sellable condition. If it isn’t then they offer to take the item anyways to donate it to a local charity who raise money through recycled cloth.

Photo from Birdsofna’s Instagram.

Euclid Farms

 Located at 913 Queen Street West, Euclid Farms is a flower shop. Spoil your loved one or spoil yourself because self-care is important too. This local flower shop is chemical free so making a purchase here you know you are getting great quality flowers. They grow their flowers in eleven yards in West Queen West and Roncesvalles.

Photo from Euclidfarm’s Instagram.

Helen and Hildegard

Located at 1174 Queen Street West, they are a cute local shop that sells beauty products, candles and essential oils, home products, and tea ware. Walking by their window their designed mugs will pop out at you. They also sell organic teas. They even have a Valentine’s Gift Guide on their website to check out this weekend.

Photo from HelenandHildegard’s Instagram.

Café Neon

Café Neon is an artsy hip café to visit to warm up on these cold winter days. Located at 1024 Queen Street West, get take-out or dine-in and admire the unique art pieces that line the walls. The café offers breakfast, lunch, a wide selection of coffee and baked goods. They also sell baked breads, wine, and beer to order from their website. This place is sure to warm you and your loved ones up.

Photo from cafe_neon’s Instagram.

Fonda Lola 

Located at 942 Queen Street West, Fonda Lola is a great dinner place for your Valentine’s Day dinner. You’ll know you’re in the artsy Queen Street West scene from the decadent plates served. This restaurant offers Mexican cuisine and several Margaritas. They also have a “sassy yet classy” drink list which is perfect if that’s your vibe too. 

Photo from Fonda Lola’s Instagram.

Twist Gallery

Finish your day with some art or visit during the day as you can spend some time admiring six different local Toronto artist’s pieces. Twist Gallery is located at 1100 Queen Street West. From February 2nd to February 26th the current exhibition is Crossing Boundaries. Crossing Boundaries showcases the beauties of the world that have inspired the six artists. Six different styles and many different locations you can travel to multiple places in this one gallery. Twist Gallery is open from 11am-6pm. The Gallery is a New York style loft, and the windows offer a cute aesthetic overlooking the hustle and bustle of the city decorated with fairy lights.

Photo taken by Twist Gallery.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day locally this year by browsing shops, eating at a café or diner food, or exploring some art from local Toronto artists. Especially because it’s still cold outside, walking store to store is a great way to warm up as well! We hope you come visit Twist Gallery with your loved ones and we look forward to seeing you!

Also Read: Event Space Toronto, wedding venue Toronto, Wedding Reception Toronto

A Guide to Installing Art for a Twist Exhibition

What You Will Need To Showcase Your Work!

Welcome to Twist! We are so happy to have you showing your work here in our gallery space!

Installing Art is not as complicated as some would have you believe, all you really need are a

few tools and willpower. Whether this is your first showing ever or you’re a seasoned veteran

when it comes to showings, here are a few things to remember when it’s your time to come in

and install your work.

1. Tools to bring

Level, Ruler/Tape Measure, Pencil; marking and adjusting placement

Hammer and Nail; manual power, no batteries needed

Levels are great tools to ensure that pieces are hung correctly, facing the viewer straight on from

a 90 degree plane with the top and bottom corners aligning perpendicularly. Using a measuring

tape ensures accurate measurements and is not limited to retrying to find the perfect spot, but it’s

always better to use a pencil, not a pen, in case your measurements are not exact and need

changing. While these tools may be your best friends, they would be useless if the hammer and

nails were forgotten.

2. Calculate Height

57 inches (“) is the ‘Plum Line’ or median height

Drop indicates space between top of stretched wire and top of frame

Height of Piece minus (-) Wire Drop plus (+) 57” = Nail Height

Calculating the height at which you should place your nail to hang the piece is based on a few

factors; one of which being whether the piece has a wire hanging or if your piece will hang

directly off the nails. If your piece has no wire, find a spot where the top of the piece can rest and

balance on the nail; if your piece is small, one nail should be enough to support the work, while

larger pieces will need two or three nails.

3. Nails Not Screws

Screws do not Protect integrity of Walls

Angle nail head 45 degrees away from wall

Use Flat Head 1 1⁄2 inch nails

Flat Head 1 1⁄2 inch nails work best for their stability and strength while being small enough to

easily patch over. Angling the nail to be 45 degrees facing outward from the wall ensures a

minimal chance of the nail coming loose and dropping the work. Using a hammer and nails

opposed to screws makes your installation easier and keeps our walls intact with minimal

damage. There’s also no batteries required unlike power tools.

4. Hanging the Work

Whether hanging a frame with a wire or hanging a canvas directly onto the wall, use tape

measure to find spots on the wall to accurately and carefully balance the work so it shows

straight on to the viewers. Ensure the work rests on its balance point(s) and has the corners all at

90 degrees next to a level to make it centered for the audience.

5. Final Touches

Clear labels with all info encouraged to be hung with the work.

Information should be typed out and readily available to be placed onto the wall next to your

work(s). The more information for the viewer the better; what materials are used, what are the

dimensions, what year, what’s the name, what’s the artist’s name, etc.

Example of Proper Hanging and Labelling:

Art by JJ Smolkin

We hope you have found these tips useful when hanging art in our space or your own! If you

managed to put up work thanks to these tips, tag us and let us see your hanging job.