How I Take Care of Myself During Wedding Season

The wedding season is stressful for everyone, but how do you stay in tip-top shape? This article will outline some practical ways to take care of yourself during the wedding season. Do these things, and you'll be on the road to wedding perfection!

Working Out with a Personal Trainer

Working out with a personal trainer during the wedding season is an excellent idea if you are a future bride. Getting fit can be difficult when you are busy with your wedding preparations. However, it is not impossible, as personal trainers can help you shed unwanted pounds and get in shape quickly. In fact, many trainers offer special packages for newlyweds. You can choose a package that incorporates phone calls and in-person sessions, keeping your costs within your budget.

Avoiding Processed Foods

Improving digestion is a major health benefit of avoiding processed foods during the wedding season. Processed foods are packed with sugars and additives that can upset your digestive system and adversely affect your skin's complexion—something you absolutely want to avoid when it comes to wedding photos and videos.

Sugar is a commonly-used ingredient in most processed foods, and it can cause bloating and gas. Instead, choose a more natural sweetener, such as honey, that contains only natural sugars. You can find these sweeteners in natural or organic foods and get a sugar fix from eating natural fruits.

Taking a Nap

While some brides wake up at 4 am to start their hair and makeup, others don't have the luxury of sleeping in until the afternoon. A lack of sleep can drastically affect your physical and emotional state, making it imperative to schedule a nap before the wedding. Taking a nap is the perfect way to rest and rejuvenate after a long day of wedding preparation. Make sure that no one disturbs you while you nap, and delegate the rest of your tasks to trusted assistants or wedding planners.

Avoiding Tanning Booths

There are a few ways to avoid getting too dark at tanning booths, especially during the wedding season. First, book your last appointment at least two days before your wedding. This will allow you time to correct mistakes before the big day and protect your wedding dress from stains.

Fresh spray tans tend to rub off more easily on fabric, so ensure you avoid moisture for eight hours after your appointment. Then, moisturize your body with hydrating lotion.

Taking a Vacation

If you're considering taking a vacation during the wedding season, consider the pros and cons of this season. As the wedding season approaches, prices on airfare and accommodations tend to go up. You'll also want to plan your vacation well in advance to coordinate your plans with friends and family. Luckily, several ways to get the best deal include shopping during holiday sales and signing up for resort newsletters.

One of the Most Unique Toronto Wedding Venues

Twist Gallery is a well-known art gallery but also serves as an event space Toronto relies on for custom celebrations, including birthday parties, weddings and receptions, and corporate events. Get in touch today at (416) 588-2222 or nadia@twistgallery.ca for more information!

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!

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.

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!

Wedding Planning Tips for Newly Engaged Couples

Planning a wedding is fun, but there are a lot of steps involved, and newly engaged couples need to work together so that the process does not become overwhelming.

If you want to enjoy the planning process, make sure you do the following:

Discuss The Bigger Topics Right Away

Things like budget, location and the number of people you want to invite are big conversations you need to discuss upfront. Discuss these aspects as soon as you get engaged because they will provide you with a solid foundation on which you can base the rest of your planning. Having these conversations early on will also ensure you and your partner are on the same page, so there will not be disagreements later on. You should never assume you know what the other person wants, and this is a special day for both you and your partner, so you need to plan your wedding together.

Don’t Worry About The Opinion Of Others

Once you get engaged, you will see that everyone has an opinion, and people will want to offer you advice everywhere you go. In some cases, this information can be useful, but it can be frustrating and very annoying in many cases, especially if it is unsolicited. In these situations, take a deep breath and simply smile and say thank you. You can then do whatever you want with this information, and if you find their tips to be helpful, you can implement them into your planning. If you don’t find their tips to be useful in any way, just let them roll off your back and remember that this is your day!

Decide Whether Or Not You Want To Hire A Wedding Planner

Wedding planners can be very helpful because they will help you plan every detail and will handle every step. They will also be present on the day of your wedding to ensure everything is in place, and you will not stress because their knowledge will help you plan your dream wedding. If you do decide to hire a wedding planner, involve them in your planning as soon as you get engaged.

Don’t Forget To Have Fun

Wedding planning can consume every minute of your day if you allow this to happen, so you have to take a step back so that you have fun along the way. Your engagement is a special time in your life, and it’s important to enjoy it because this only happens once, and you need to remember to soak up the excitement that comes with this phase. Planning is very important, but date nights don’t revolve around your wedding, so remember to celebrate your relationship and not make everything about the wedding.

When it comes to your wedding location, Twist Gallery Inc can help. Our venue is both beautiful and unique, so if you want your wedding day to be magical, contact us today!

How to Choose the Perfect Wedding Venue

There are a lot of steps involved in planning the perfect wedding, and choosing the right venue will take time and careful consideration. There are many different types of venues, and you can choose anything from a stunning ballroom to a restaurant, so the process will require thought.

If you feel overwhelmed in this regard, the following guide will help you select the perfect wedding venue.

Talk to a Wedding Planner

They are familiar with different venues and can talk to you about space, layout and what is needed to transform the space. They will know whether or not the venue is suitable for your needs and will discuss any problems that would prevent your vision from being accomplished.

Make Sure the Venue Can Bring Your Ideas to Life

Most couples have a certain aesthetic in mind, so you need to look at venues that align with your vision. If, for example, you are planning a modern wedding, an art gallery or a warehouse would be ideal, whereas a more natural wedding would be better suited in a park or backyard. The venue should fit in with your theme because this will connect your wedding to the space.

Determine the Number of Guests You Want to Invite

Knowing this information will guide you towards the right venues and prevent you from choosing a too big or too small space. Both of these would be problematic, so discuss this aspect in advance to determine the number of guests you will be working with.

Don’t Forget to Consider Your Budget

This is an important step because your budget will dictate which venues you can consider. Certain venues will charge per plate, while others will have separate costs to rent the space and a different cost for catering. You have to know your budget and need to stick to it to not feel stressed. Don’t forget to factor in décor and any floral designs, as these, too, will drive up the costs. Some venues are full-service, while others will allow you to bring in your own vendors and décor, so you have to price everything out and must think about what is included and what is not. For example, if you were to get married in a warehouse, you would have to rent tables and chairs, whereas a full-service venue would provide these items and include them in their fee.

Choose the Venue that Makes You Happy

Always ask yourself what feels authentic to you and your partner to stay true to yourself. Your wedding should ultimately be a representation of who you are as a couple, and the right venue will help in this regard.

If you are looking for unique wedding venues in Toronto, Twist Gallery Inc is the perfect space for your next event! Contact us today for more information!

Read More: MOST UNIQUE WEDDING VENUES TORONTO

Toronto Artisan Market for December 12, 2021

With the holidays coming closer and closer so does our annual Christmas Toronto Artisan Market at Twist gallery opening December 12th from 11 am - 5pm. The Toronto Artisan is a non-profit organization who provides a platform for local artists to sell and promote their works such as art pieces and handmade crafts! The organization strives to promote local sustainable products to support local artisans, as well as to practice diversity and inclusivity by incorporating various businesses.

We will have plenty of vendors to showcase this Sunday! Here are some of the talented local artisans who will be at the market:

Caro Sanchez, Handcrafted jewelry using recycled precious metals and natural stones.

Art Speak Studio, Sarah is a self taught artist that first began painting during the beginning of quarantine in 2020. Using the online art community as her ongoing education, it prompts Sarah to use a mix of emulation and intuition to find her personal style of application.

Coffee.Core.Confession, My digital composite method borrows from a film process of double exposure and the unpredictable effects it reveals. The method relates to how our mind composes our memories; often layering details on top of unrelated events.

Soi BioLuxe, people value Natural and Organic Ingredients. I felt extremely inspired and decided to pursue my lifelong dream of creating my own Organic Skin Care Company. 

Now that you've seen a sneak peak to some of our great vendors, here's the rest that we will be having :

Lisa Maxwell Jewelry

Caro Sanchez

Love & Light Jewels

Talis

Arts Speak Studio

Jaketobin Illustration

Flanzella

Watercolorimpressions

Top Drawer Vintage Art

sophiachoi

Craft in Comfort

Clever Clippings

Coffee.Core.Confession

Inspirate Lab

Soi BioLuxe

Andie & Co.

Grounded Ceramics

Machine Woodworking

DogRags

The Chic Upcyclery

Toronto Dog Moms

CH Studio

The Split Leaf

oakridges Finest

Come Check all of these great vendors out and enjoy, you can purchase fresh baked goods, coffee/tea and refreshments. When entering the gallery please remember to bring a mask, masks are mandatory throughout this event. We hope to see you there and have a great time!