The 4th Annual Gladstone Grow Op returns April 21-24.

This four-day festival will transform the Gladstone Hotel’s second floor with 30+ immersive installations that take on urbanism, environmental sustainability, landscape design, and contemporary art. The exhibit will include evening events as well as both on and off-site participatory events.

This year, the Daniels Faculty is proud to provide support for the art, architecture, and design collective NomadicVisionStudio, founded by Daniels Faculty masters students Claire Kurtin, Nadia Pulez, and Ramin Yamin. Their installation, Hypha, explores “the relationship between nature and urbanity through those places that they undesirably intersect.” The project is inspired by “the form of fungi and mould” and promises to challenge our “assumptions about the interdependency between architecture and the environment.”

Exhibition Hours:

April 21: 11am - 8pm
April 22: 11am - 10pm
April 23: 11am - 10pm
April 23: 10am - 5pm

Events:

Wednesday, April 20: Gow Op Talks 8:00 - 10:00pm
Thursday, April 21: Grow Op’s Alternative Food + Drink Show 6:00 - 1:00pm
Friday, April 22: Opening reception 7:00 - 10:00pm (After party 10:00pm - late)
Saturday, April 23: Offisite Installation by Robert Cram + After Party, OCADU Gallery, 7-10pm
Sunday, April 24: Gladstone Flea Goes Green, Melody Bar, 10:00am - 4:00pm

Daniels Faculty alumni also participating in the Gladstone Grow up include Rui Felix (MLA 2015) and Victoria Taylor (MLA 2008), the curator of last year’s festival.

For more information, visit the Gladstone Hotel’s website or the Facebook page for the event.

Follow NomadicVisionStudio on instagram @nomadicvisionstudio

Pin-ups have been un-pinned, exams have been written and students are undoubtedly catching up on some much needed sleep. Before shifting into summer mode, we thought this would be a good time to reflect on the past academic year. Here are the six most read news stories of the last 8 months.

6. Architectural Studies graduate Omar Gandhi "one of Canada's most exciting emerging designers," says the Globe and Mail

January 18, 2016

5. View the competition entries and have your say in the redesign of U of T's St. George Campus

October 5, 2015

View the winning design by KPMB Architects, Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA) and Urban Strategies.

4. #ReadingList: 3 books to read over the holidays

December 15, 2015

3. Photographs by Peter MacCallum document the transformation of One Spadina

June 4, 2014 (updated regularly)

View all One Spadina photos on the Daniels Faculty's Flickr page

2. Multigenerational housing: Daniels faculty and alumni rethink the family home

February 25, 2016

1. 12 things every grad student presenting their thesis should know

March 25, 2015

Last week Associate Professor An Te Liu was featured in the ninth insallment of a series by the Globe and Mail in collaboration with Wondereur called "Why we love the art we love."

The series explores the diversity of contemporary art by approaching creative minds across Canada and the world and asking them to share the work of a contemporary Canadian artist.

In last week's insallment, the Globe and Mail profiled Marianne McKenna, founding partner of architecture firm KPMB, who selected Liu's work for the seires. According to McKenna, Liu is "thinking about temporal and spiritual time; with these pieces he evokes the totemic representation of man, the order of the world, and yet it has a beautiful texture and materiality."

As part of the series, Wondereur created a photo documentary exploring Liu's artwork. In it, Liu describes his process. "I often begin with something familiar and 'strange-ify' it," he says. "I like the idea that the work can instill a sense of curiosity and giv an opportunity to pause and reflect, and maybe scratch your head and wonder what it is you're looking at."

Works by An Te Liu. (Ryan Walker)

Visit the Globe and Mail's website for the full article.

Daniels Faculty undergraduate students Catharine Solomon and Lisa Veregin, along with other University of Toronto students Charlene Lo and Maximillian Suillerot, were selected by Trinity Square Video for its fourth annual showcase of emerging video artists from undergraduate programs in Toronto and the surrounding area. Video Fever 2016 will showcase a variey of video-based contemporary art that cover diverse topics such as digital materiality, cognitive functions, surveillance, gender, objectification, childhood, and movement.

A screening of these works will be held at Trinity Square Video on February 5, 2016.

Over Reading Week, Daniels Faculty undergrad students went on a trip to New York City, visiting such iconic places as the Rockefeller Center, the High Line and the Brooklyn Bridge. The trip, organized by the Architecture and Visual Studies Student Union (AVSSU), gave students the opportunity to learn beyond the classroom — exploring a city with visual and architectural details around every corner.

Marienka Bishop-Kovac, AVSSU's Events Coordinator and 2nd year architecture undergrad, took over the Daniels Faculty Instagram page on Monday, February 22 to share some of the best photos from the trip. Check out all of the photos below — and search #DanielsTakeover on Instagram to view past Day in the Life submissions.

Good Morning, my name is Marienka @mbb_k an undergrad in my second year of architectural studies and the events coordinator for the Architecture and Visual Studies Student Union #AVSSU (far left). I am standing with Carmela @carmelamelamela the Architecture Vice-President of AVSSU (center) and Najia @najia_fatima an editor for #uoftshiftmag (far right). After months of planning we went on our Student Union’s first reading week trip to NYC with roughly 30 other students. It was great opportunity to immerse ourselves into the city's arts and culture. Throughout the day, I'll be posting images and the experiences of the students who participated. Hope you enjoy! #avssuxnyc #dayinthelife #danielstakeover #instatakeover #studentlife #danielsfaculty #uoft Photo credit @tommniuu

A photo posted by @uoftdaniels on Feb 22, 2016 at 7:16am PST

Going to the Museum of Modern Art #MoMA was definitely on the top of my list of museums to visit in New York City. After having talked about this institution and its pivotal role in determining the course of Art in the present in our art & architecture courses at the #danielsfaculty, it was great to be able to spend a few hours doing a walkthrough of the space. As an #architecture student, one exhibit that stood out to me was Endless House: Intersections of Art and Architecture, which looked to explore the concept of house and how it has been used to discuss a variety of subjects in addition to its part in developing the practice of architecture. In these images, you can see Tom @tommniuu, an architectural studies student in his final year taking pictures of Asymptote Architecture’s New Wing House. Here’s Tom’s tip for visiting MoMA: sleep well and carb up before getting engulfed it's overwhelming and charged content. #avssuxnyc #dayinthelife #danielstakeover #instatakeover #studentlife #danielsfaculty #uoft Photo credit to @carmelamelamela and @tommniuu

A photo posted by @uoftdaniels on Feb 22, 2016 at 10:21am PST

It’s different seeing art in real life, the in-person experience of the original piece truly gives a feeling of discreet monumentality. The full "ooooh and ahhhh" moment! Not gonna lie, screamed like a true fan girl, said @peonycen a second year architectural studies student after seeing #Picasso's Les Demoiselles d’Avignon and other modern art at the #MoMA #avssuxnyc #dayinthelife #danielstakeover #instatakeover #studentlife #danielsfaculty #uoft Photo credit @najia_fatima

A photo posted by @uoftdaniels on Feb 22, 2016 at 11:25am PST

“#HighlinePark was awesome! I liked how you could experience the city and the #architecture of the #Chelsea area from a different level. It's probably one of my favourite parks, loved it.” said Phat @phatvle a third year architectural studies student. #avssuxnyc #dayinthelife #danielstakeover #instatakeover #studentlife #danielsfaculty #uoft Photo credit @ericwoah

A photo posted by @uoftdaniels on Feb 22, 2016 at 1:56pm PST

“#CentralPark was fantastic! Each part was very different from the rest, it was very calming, I still can’t believe that every square inch of it was human-made” said Robert @rkraynor a second year visual and architectural studies student. #avssuxnyc #dayinthelife #danielstakeover #instatakeover #studentlife #danielsfaculty #uoft Photo credit @dina.aldajani and @woullfs

A photo posted by @uoftdaniels on Feb 22, 2016 at 3:22pm PST

Eric @ericwoah a second year Architectural Studies Student, visited the World Trade Centre #PATHstation. Here are his thoughts on the space - It’s a luminous and peaceful concourse that will bring you to the #WTC memorial - it brings a sense of peace and serenity from the use of marble - getting at that weird eerie feeling. What I liked about the concourse was how the lights were projected towards the ceiling on the rib-like structure rather than it pointing downwards giving a quieter tone to the #environment. #avssuxnyc #dayinthelife #danielstakeover #instatakeover #studentlife #danielsfaculty #uoft

A photo posted by @uoftdaniels on Feb 22, 2016 at 4:31pm PST

In the words of Shawn Carter AKA #Jay-Z These streets will make you feel brand new Big lights will inspire you Let’s hear it for New York We will end this journey on top of the #RockefellerCentre thinking about #DiegoRivera’s mural and all the controversy it caused in this building that is now a hotspot for tourists. Natasha @natashapetzold an Architectural Studies student in her final year experienced the 3 level observation decks from storey 67-69 and the glass roofed elevator. “It was amazing to see the whole city with the lights at night!”. Exploring #NYC over reading week with my classmates was a spectacular experience. Here’s to New York and Old York AKA #Toronto! Hope you all have a lovely evening! #avssuxnyc #dayinthelife #danielstakeover #instatakeover #studentlife #danielsfaculty #uoft Photo credit @dania.shh and Natasha

A photo posted by @uoftdaniels on Feb 22, 2016 at 9:16pm PST

See other Daniels Faculty Instagram Takeovers:

• Day in the Life: Follow grad student Alistair Grierson as he prepares for his thesis review
• Day in the Life: Lecturer Jay Pooley documents Faculty life in an Instatakeover
• Day in the Life: Undergrad student Mendy Lu takes over the Daniels Faculty's Instagram page
• Day(s) in the Li(ves): Grad students Elise Hunchuck and Vanessa Abram take over Daniels Faculty Instagram account from Japan
• Day in the Life: Master of Landscape Architecture thesis student Shelley Long takes over the Daniels Faculty Instagram page
• Day in the Life: Visual studies and architecture undergrad Julia Gasenzer takes over the Daniels Faculty Instagram page
• Day in the Life: Recent MArch grad Emma Dunn takes over our Instagram page for the weekend

• Day in the Life: We hand over our Instagram keys to undergrad student Josie Northern Harrison

Master of Visual Studies curatorial studies student cheyanne turions was awarded the 2014 Award for Emerging Curator of Contemporary Canadian Art. The award is presented to a Canadian curator, under the age of 35, whose body of work has achieved a public presence and peer recognition. The award was presented during a reception at the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art in Toronto.

Curator and jury member Daina Augaitis said about cheyanne: "Her curatorial vision stands out for being highly considered and articulated, ‎as well as being relevant, provocative, risky and ambitious." cheyanne says her work "approaches the space of exhibition as alive -- the gallery is a space of dialogue where artists, curators and publics can reflect on and experiment with ways of seeing (and being)."

The jury was impressed with turions' breadth of work, its intelligence, and sensitivity. Summary of highlights include:

• Most recently she co-curated the series Canadian Ecstasy with poet and performance artist Ariana Reines at Gallery TPW and reviewed the Kuwait Pavilion at the Venice Biennale of Architecture for C Magazine.
• Her exhibition at the Art Gallery of Windsor, Other Electricities, was presented the inaugural award for Innovation in a Collections-based Exhibition by the Ontario Association of Art Galleries in 2014.
• She has presented other curatorial projects at the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, Video Fag, SBC Gallery, Nuit Blanche (Montréal), Art Metropole, A Space, Gallery TPW, the Images Festival, VIVO Media Arts and the Western Front.
• Her writing has been published by Monte Cristo Magazine, the Blackwood Gallery, General Fine Arts, Prefix Photo, Syphon, the MacLaren Art Centre, Gallery 44, the Museum of the Near Future, FUSE and Canadian Art.
• Currently she is a member of the co-creative team for the Art and Society theme within the Cities for People project and works as a Curatorial Assistant at the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery while pursing a master's degree in Visual Studies at the University of Toronto.
• She also sits on the Board of Directors for Fillip Magazine and is the director of No Reading After the Internet (Toronto).

turions was selected by a jury of arts professionals, including Daina Augaitis, Chief Curator/Associate Director at the Vancouver Art Gallery and recipient of the 2014 Hnatyshyn Foundation Award for Curatorial Excellence; Reesa Greenberg, art and exhibition historian based in Ottawa; and Pamela Meredith, Senior Curator, TD Bank Group, Toronto.

Related news:

• Mary Lou Lobsinger, Charles Stankievech, Scott Sørli, and cheyanne turions to participate in the event Furnishing Positions: Conversations, November 22

• Charles Stankievech, cheyanne turions, and John G. Hampton receive Ontario Association of Art Gallery Awards

A new Visual Studies faculty member, a new Visual Studies student, and a recent graduate of the Daniels Faculty’s Master of Visual Studies program received awards from the Ontario Association of Art Galleries (OAAG) earlier this month.

The OAAG Awards are annual, province-wide, juried art gallery awards of artistic merit and excellence. They recognize the new exhibitions, publications, programs and community partnerships that have been commissioned by and produced by Ontario’s public art galleries over the previous year.

Assistant Professor Charles Stankievech — an acclaimed artist, author, and curator working in the fields of architecture, landscape, and cultural geography who joined the faculty this year — was honoured with two awards: one for the exhibition CounterIntelligence (Themetic Exhibition of the Year: Budget over $20,000), another for a major essay written for the same exhibition (Curatorial writing award).

CounterIntellegence was organized by Barbara Fischer, Executive Director/Chief Curator of the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery, where the exhibition was held, and the University of Toronto Art Centre. Fisher is also a Senior Lecturer and the Director of the Master of Visual Studies program in Curatorial Studies.

The exhibition included film screenings and a project by Stankievech that contemplated “the intersection of art and military intelligence communities.” It ran at the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery from January 23 - March 16.

MVS curatorial studies student cheyanne turions (pictured above), whose curatorial projects have been presented at galleries in Toronto and Vancouver, received the inaugural award for Innovation in a collections-based exhibition for Other Electricities: Works from the AGW Collection for the Art Gallery of Windsor.

“This exhibition presented a rigorous and considered pairing and contrast of modern and contemporary artworks from a range of mediums found in the Art Gallery of Windsor’s permanent collection,” read the jury notes, which tureens posted on her website. “The sensitive juxtaposition and exploration of relationships between colonial and Indigenous cultures effectively brought to light issues of sovereignty and the strategies of cultural decolonization. This entire exhibition was further enhanced by the strong curatorial essay presented in the on-line publication which will provide a lasting legacy of this provocative collections-based exhibition.”

John G. Hampton (pictured above), who recently graduated from the Daniels Faculty’s MVS Curatorial Studies program, received an OAAG award for his exhibition Coming to Terms (Thematic Exhibition of the Year: Budget under $20,000). The exhibition was produced in collaboration with the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery, and was financially supported by the Jackman Humanities Institute, as part of the Instututes 2013-2014 Program for the Arts on the theme of Translation. The show brought together the work of “seven international international interdisciplinary artists working within the intersection of translation studies and artistic practice.

For more information on the OAAG awards, visit: http://oaag.org/awards/2014winners.html

From September 2 - October 19, 2014, the Why Can't Minimal Exhibition was on display at the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery. The exhibition was curated by Daniels Alumnus John G. Hampton as part of the requirements of the Master of Visual Studies—Curatorial Studies program at the University of Toronto.

Why Can’t Minimal addresses the humorous side of minimal art by embracing its humanity and latent absurdity. The exhibition rejects the assumption that minimal art requires solemn, unmoving contemplation, and instead embraces the more intuitive, jovial, and personal pleasures that occur when one has fun with the comically utopian ambitions of unitary forms. Playing with the forms, traditions and incongruities of multiple minimalisms, the presented works elude rational thought, repositioning conceptual value away from cognitive labour, towards the instinctual recognition offered through levity, play, humour and sentiment.

With works by Jennifer Marman & Daniel Borins, John Baldessari, John Boyle-Singfield, John Marriott, John Wood & Paul Harrison, Jon Sasaki, Ken Nicol, Liza Eurich, and Tammi Campbell.

Now magazine recently profiled recent Master of Visual Studies graduate John G. Hampton for its monthly education and career training feature "Class Action." Hampton is the programming director at Trinity Square Video, a not-for-profit centre that provides video production and post-production support for artists and community organizations at accessible rates, as well as community workshops, exhibitions and screenings.

Hampton received his undergraduate degree in visual art at the University of Regina and a diploma in 3D animation and game design from the New Media Campus in Regina. At the time of the interview with Now, his was in his last few weeks of visual and curatorial studies at the Daniels Faculty.

Says Hampton:

The program divides the curriculum between curatorial studies and studio art. I entered it primarily because I was trying to decide which career to pursue and thought it would give me an education that worked with both.

Curator is a strange profession. This program is as close to a professional degree as you can get for curatorial practice. It’s somewhat similar to doing an MFA for an artist. There are opportunities for students to curate exhibitions as they’re going along. Last year I curated a screening of undergrad video work for an annual exchange with an institute in Stuttgart, Germany.

…

The program helps with the intellectual aspects of being a curator. A big part of the job is framing contemporary artwork through writing and how you speak about it. The university is well suited to train you for that. Access to the various departments at the University of Toronto – the program is interdisciplinary – means you can seek out the types of advisers you need. I’m taking classes in the philosophy department and in museum studies to gain administrative-type skills.

For the full article, visit Now’s website.