We are thrilled to announce an exciting new venture that embodies our vision of promoting Donna Child Fine Art and our talented artists in the heart of downtown. This summer, we are partnering with the newly renovated Novotel Hotel Toronto Centre to establish a brand-new Summer Pop Up Gallery within the hotel located on the Esplanade. The Gallery will be open as of June 16th.
Brian Arualak Sr.
Brian Arualak Sr.
Birth Place: Whale Cove, Nunavut
Residence: Arviat
Medium: Drawing, Painting Murals
Brian lives in Arviat and is married to Arualak Matilda since October 18, 1997. He graduated high school in 1996.
Back Row, Left to Right: Terrence King, Norman Alikut, Romeo Ikakhik, Andy Ulayok, Robert Jr. Gibbons, Gabriel Anowtalik, Jamie Aulatjut. Front Row, Left to Right: Jonah Sewoee, Jonah Kinak, Danny Illungiayok, Evano Jr. Aggark, Brian Arualak
Artist Brian Arualak was commissioned to create the logo for Arviat Film in April of 2013.
Brian has also created various murals in public places in Arviat including the local health centre, the community hall and Levi Angmak Elementary School. The logo has a main mascot of the Polar Bear (nanuq). Arviat is also home to the mighty Polar Bear as they migrate through the coast of Hudson’s Bay and head north during the fall.
Toller Cranston
Toller Montague Cranston (1949-2015) had the distinction of being an internationally acclaimed Canadian painter, Olympic athlete and a Member of the Order of Canada. He was born in Hamilton, Ontario and began skating at the age of 7 in the mining town of Swastika (Kirkland Lake). At the age of 11 his family moved to Montreal and he attended high school at the École des Beaux-Arts.
At the age of 18 Toller moved to Toronto on his own to start training with Ellen Burka at the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club. He revolutionized the world of figure skating and impacted generations of skaters by expressing new dimensions of artistry and emotion. He was the sixtime Canadian National Champion (1971-76), World Bronze Medalist (1974), and Olympic Bronze Medalist (1976). He was named Skater of the Century by the European press, is a member of the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame and ensured that Canada would always have a place on the podium of World figure skating.
Toller showed a talent for drawing from a very young age. He once said, “the inclination, the subject matter, the concepts, the sense of colour, the people, the worlds, the imagery — miraculously — was in evidence when I was six years of age.” His formal art education was halted due to the rigorous demands of his training and competition schedules. The global touring that was an integral part of Toller’s skating life gave him the cultural experiences that helped fuel his imagination.
Toller never left art behind and always considered himself an artist first. He painted actively throughout his competitive skating career, making enough money from the sale of his art to cover his skating expenses. His first solo exhibition was held in the home of his skating coach, Ellen Burka. Today his original works his paintings have been featured in more than 250 exhibitions around the world and are included in prominent private and corporate collections worldwide. His distinctive painting style, rich in global influences, exotic androgynous figures, extraordinary florals, and invented landscapes along with Dali-esque angular forms that shock and alter perceptions attract a universal audience. His style hints at various art movements (surrealism, cubism, expressionism), but is ultimately only definable as Toller’s.
After selling his Cabbagetown home in Toronto in the early 1990s, he bought a home in San Miguel de Allende in Mexico where his main focus became his painting. In an interview, he said that San Miguel seduced him. He loved the fact that it was so cosmopolitan. He became very involved in the well-being of the local community and a most generous philanthropist.
Toller expressed his artistry in his lifestyle, and as a writer, raconteur, decorator and television personality. He shared his knowledge of art and art history by introducing fellow skaters to museums and galleries as they toured major cities throughout the world. He held painting workshops for Mexican youth, to teach, inspire and empower. He shared his studio in San Miguel with aspiring painters, supporting and encouraging them by buying and exhibiting their work.
Throughout his life Toller faced challenges and adversities—being told at the age of 15 he would never skate again, he couldn’t bring artistry, emotion and expression to men’s skating, that he couldn’t take figure skating to Broadway and that he’d never make a living from his art. But he did all of these things. He became a World and Olympic medalist and is internationally acknowledged as the man who revolutionized the sport. He headlined theatrical ice shows and sold out the Palace Theatre and Radio City Music Hall. Over the past four decades his paintings have been sought by international collectors. Toller rose beyond what is expected, beyond what is accepted, beyond what is “normal.”
He was fearless in expression, courageous in creativity, and innovative in interpretation. Toller had a determination, dedication and a desire to go where no artist or skater had gone before. He lived life on his terms. He found his way of being in the world and staying true to himself. He was funny, generous, brave, and creative, frail, adventurous and daring.
Toller Cranston passed away at the age of 65 in his studio in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. His tombstone in San Miguel simply says Toller, Artist, 1949-2015.
Skating Achievements
• Three-time World Free Skating Champion
• World Professional Figure Skater of the Year, 1988
• Olympic Figure Skating Bronze Medalist, Innsbruck, 1976
• World Figure Skating Bronze Medalist, 1974
• Six-time Canadian Champion, 1970-1976
• Skate Canada International Champion, 1973 and 1975
• Gold Medal, Canada Winter Games, 1967
Awards & Honours
• Honorary Degree LL.D., Carleton University, 2011
• Visiting Artist, Harvard University, 1984-85
• Member of the Order of Canada, 1977
• Canadian Athlete of the Year, 1975
• Canada’s Walk of Fame, 2003
• Canadian Figure Skating Hall of Fame. 1997
• Canada Sports Hall of Fame, 1977
• Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, 1976
• Skate Canada Hall of Fame, 1997
• Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, 1996
• World Figure Skating Hall of Fame, 2004
• Sports Federation Athlete of the Year, 1974
• Special Olympic Order, Canadian Olympic Association, 1995
• Order of Merit, City of Toronto, 1988
• ACTRA Award
• ANIK Award
• Montreux Award
Performances
• Created and starred on Broadway in The Ice Show at the Palace Theatre and at Radio City Music Hall.
• Created and starred in TV specials including Dream Weaver (1979), Magic Planet (1983), The True Gift of Christmas (1985), and most notably Strawberry Ice, (1982) the multiple award-winning CBC special that was sold to 67 countries.
• Performed in North America, Europe, China, and Japan with Ice Capades and Holiday on Ice.
• Regular Performances in Stars on Ice and The Big Show.
• Regular competitor at the World Professional Figure Skating Championships.
• Guest judge for Battle of the Blades.
• Official Artist of Skate Canada, 2013.
• Non-skating acting appearance in I Am a Hotel (1983), a music video featuring songs by Leonard Cohen.
• Appeared on the back cover of Joni Mitchell’s album Hejira.
Publications
Toller, 1976, number two in the Canadian non-fiction charts.
A Ram on the Rampage, 1977.
Zero Tollerance: An Intimate Memoir by the Man Who Revolutionized Figure Skating (1997) with Martha Lowder Kimball.
When Hell Freezes Over: Should I Bring My Skates? 2000, with Martha Lowder Kimball.
Ice Cream: Thirty of the Most Interesting Skaters in History, 2002.
The Nutcracker, E. T. A. Hoffmann, Retold by Veronica Tennant. Illustrated by Toller Cranston. 1985.
Christian Morrisseau
Christian Morrisseau (1969-2022)
Christian was born on December 11, 1969 and raised in Red Lake, Ontario. He was the youngest of Seven Children of the renowned Woodland Artist, Norval Morrisseau. For several years Christian lived between Thunder Bay and Keewaywin First Nation, Ontario. The signing of the Treaty 5 adhesion in 1910 established the Sandy Lake reserve across the water. But some families felt left out of the community life there. It was decided to return to their traditional lands, where they used to set up their trap line to catch fur-bearing animals. They named this new place Keewaywin, which means “going home” in Oji-Cree, the language spoken here. “They wanted that feeling of just being home,” say Joe Meekis, a former Keewaywin chief who is now a band councilor, recounting the local lore. “They were lonely for the land.”
Christian was an accomplished artist in his own right. His love of the style of art was traditionally passed down to him by his father, Norval, who in turn learned from his grandfather, Potan. Potan was a well-known and respected traditional Shaman. Christian spent four months learning and listening to his father’s teachings and began painting in May 2002. He wanted to celebrate his gift and keep the Morrisseau’s family traditions and stories alive. Christian paints in the Woodland style, which was developed by his father Norval upon receiving a vision instructing him to do so. Today there are well over 400 followers that paint in the Woodland style. Christian painted his animal images, landscape, his father and children, his tradition, his legends. Christian was a devout student of his father’s art yet continued to develop his artistic gifts with intensity, discipline, and passion. This passion and devotion were reflected in the success of his pieces, which sold well in many markets during his lifetime and are widely accepted by art lovers. Christian donated works to charitable organizations including; youth organization, diabetes organizations, to the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation ‘Treaty 9’ where Christian was from, the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition and The Outdoor Writers of Canada. Christian also taught the Woodland art style to both native and non-native students in Thunder Bay and across other northwestern Ontario communities. Christian Morrisseau’s work can be found throughout both internationally and throughout Canada.
During his life, Christian also suffered a great tragedy. His son, Kyle Morrisseau was one of seven students from remote First Nations who died while attending school in Thunder Bay between 2000 and 2014. Their deaths are the subject of one of the largest inquests in Ontario’s history. Christian told the CBC News program The Fifth Estate that Kyle had started painting shortly after his grandfather, Norval Morrisseau died in 2007. “His art was really progressing a lot faster than I would have ever imagined,” Morrisseau said. Kyle Morrisseau was last seen on October 26, 2009 by classmates on the banks of the McIntyre River in Thunder Bay. His body was pulled from the river on November 10. He was the third student from Keewaywin to die during the course of three years, truly a tragic loss in a community numbering 300 residents.
Audrey Smith
Audrey Smith is a figurative artist. She works in acrylic and charcoal, most frequently on birch panel. Her brushstrokes are unapologetically visceral and expressive. After graduating from Concordia University (Montréal, Quebec), Audrey pursued a career in graphic design. Her education continued on a workshop/class/program basis through The Academy of Realist Art (Toronto), The Toronto School of Arts, The Haliburton College of the Arts (Peterborough) and, most recently, the DVSA Advanced Studio Program. Her career transitioned into a professional studio practice in 2011. Since then, Audrey has had solo shows and been in numerous juried group shows. She now has works in Canada, the U.S. and Europe. She now has works in Canada, the U.S. and Europe. She is an elected member of the Society of Canadian Artists.
SOLO SHOWS – JURIED GROUP SHOWS
2022
Artist Project 2022, Toronto
2019
Viva Vida Art Gallery, Society of Canadian Artists elected members’ exhibition, Pointe Claire, Quebec
J B Aird Gallery, “Paint2019”, Toronto, Ontario
Westland Gallery, London, Ontario, curated group show
Noodle Gallery, Alton, Ontario, featured artist, “These Boots Were Made for Walking (but sometimes you were sitting)”
Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, Toronto
Blue Crow Gallery, Toronto
Arta Gallery, “Appetites”, Toronto (Distillery District)
Propeller Gallery, “of People and Pavement”, Toronto, solo exhibition
Propeller Gallery, “Salon 13”, Toronto
2018
Figureworks 2018, Ottawa, finalist
DVSA, “Each. Distinct.”, Dundas
Propeller Gallery, “Cited”, Toronto
Propeller Gallery, “A Portrait Gallery”, Toronto
Propeller Gallery, “Waking The Dream”, Toronto
Colborne Art Gallery, 6th Annual Open Juried Exhibition, Colborne
Propeller Gallery, “Red Impulse”, Toronto
AWARDS
2018 FigureWorks, Ottawa, Finalist
2016 FigureWorks, Ottawa, Finalist
2014 Colborne Art Gallery, 2nd Annual Open Juried Exhibition, Colborne, Juror’s Choice Award
2013 Carrousel du Louvre International Art Exhibition, Paris, France; Award Finalist
2012 Beaux-Arts Brampton, 5th Annual Open Juried Show, honourable mention
Alan Syliboy
Education:
1971 Private Study with Artist Shirley Bear
1975 Nova Scotia College of Art and Design Halifax Nova Scotia
Recent Awards:
2012 “Snapshot: East Coast Contemporary Aboriginal Art”, Curator, Khyber Centre for the Arts & Wagmatcook Cultural Centre.
2012 Awarded Canada Council Project Grant for production of “Little Thunder & The Stone Canoe” Exhibit
2010 Shortlisted for the Lieutenant Governor’s Masterworks Art Award for People of the Dawn
2010 Recipient of a Canada Council grant for his work in “Brainstorm” a collaboration with Nance Ackerman (NFB) and Dr. Ivar Mendez
2010 Presented Queen Elizabeth II with portrait of Grand Chief Membertou
2010 Quill Basket Mural, 10’ x 10’ sold to Lord Beaverbrook Art Gallery
2009 “People of The Dawn”, twelve 4’x8’ paintings, Commissioned Mural/2010 Olympics
2009 Lead artist of a Group Sculpture, entitled “Keepers of the Eastern Door” for Vancouver 2010 Olympics
2009 Collaborated with Nance Ackerman (NFB) and Paton Francis to create Animation, “Little Thunder” for Vancouver 2010 Olympics
2007 Atlantic Canadian Export Award from Atlantic Canada Cultural Exports, for “Export success 2007”
2007 Illustrated The Stone Canoe: Two Lost Mi’k Maq Tales, Gaspereau Press
2002 Awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal
2002 Juror, National Aboriginal Achievements Foundation
2001 Commissioned by the Town of Windsor to create a multi-panel mural
2001 Parks Canada, use of images for Tourism brochure
2000 Founding Member, Eastern Aboriginal Artists Collective
1999 Commissioned for design of $200.00 22kt Gold Coin for Royal Canadian Mint
1997 Member, Board of Governors, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design
1996 Two Murals, Youth Correctional Centre, Waterville, Nova Scotia
1996 Member, Board of Directors, Society of Canadian Artists of Native Ancestry
1992 Member, Board of Directors, Cobequid Arts Council
1992 Delegate, Department of External Affairs (Canada) Trade Mission to Japan
Select Exhibitions & Projects:
2018 Exhibit – The Daily Drum Series – Université du Québec à Chicouitim
2018 Thundermaker performance – Solar Festival Halifax Central Library
2018 Thundermaker performance – Open Water Festival Halifax NS
2017 DAREarts Project leader Atlantic Region
2017 New Band “The Thundermakers performed at Stanfest July 1, 2017
2017 FAVA Indigenous Art Exhibit – Caraquet NB
2017 Halifax Common Sign Post Installation – My Common Woods Project
2017 Thundermaker Exhibit Cape Breton University
2016 AGNS Exhibition Halifax & Yarmouth Branches– The Path We Share
2011 4’ x 26’ Mural commissioned by Antigonish Regional Library
2010 Retrospective Exhibit, Klu’skap Art Gallery, Moncton, NB
2010 Art exhibited at the Red Cross Humanitarian Award Dinner
2010 Solo Exhibit at Argyle Fine Art
2009 Little Thunder is Leaving Home, Solo Exhibit Nova Scotia Community College
2007 Marks on the Ground: New and Old, Solo Exhibition for Lorenzo Society, UNBSJ, Saint John, NB
2006 A113 000 Moons, Solo Exhibition at the Marigold Cultural Centre, Truro, Nova Scotia
2003 Group Show, Puy-de-Dome, France
2002 Private Show, Pilar Shepard Gallery, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
2001 Journeys, Group Show, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
2001 Solo Show, Houston North Gallery, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
2001 Homeboys, Joint show with Alex Janvier, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
2000 Hands of the Ancestors: An Assembly of Algonquin Artists, South Shore Art Center, Cohasset, Massachusetts
2000 “Indian Summer”, Royal Museum of Art & History, Brussels, Belgium
1999 At the Great Harbour, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
1999 Shifting Boundaries, Mary E. Black Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
1998 Alan Syliboy and Nancy Ackerman, Journey, Multi-cultural Arts Resource Center, Halifax, Nova Scotia
1996 Solo Exhibition, Spectrum Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
1995 Group Exhibition, Bay of Spirits Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
1994 Solo Exhibition, Gallery Connection, Fredericton, New Brunswick
1993 Group Exhibition, Pel ATuKwey: Let me… tell a story, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia
1992 Exhibitor, Calgary International Arts Festival, Calgary, Alberta (1993-1996)
1992 Solo Exhibition, Family, Quest, Strength, Dartmouth Heritage Museum, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
1989 Solo Exhibition, “A” Gallery, Truro, Nova Scotia
1989 Solo Exhibition, Owens Art Gallery, Sackville, New Brunswick
1985 Atlantic Region Indian Art Juried Exhibition, Manuge Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia
1984 Alan Syliboy and Phillip Young, Doomsday Studios, Halifax
1983 Maritime Indian Art Exhibition, Doomsday Studios, Halifax
Collections:
Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
Town of Windsor, Nova Scotia
Innu Nation
Canadian Canoe Museum
National Aboriginal Achievements Foundation
Mashantucket Pequot Indian Nation
Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
Sable Offshore Energy Corporation
Bank of Montreal (featured on cheques)
Canada Post Corporation
Art Collection of the Dept. Of Indian and Northern Affairs
Owens Art Gallery
Nova Scotia Community College
Activities:
2018 2020 Indigenous Games – Drum image selected in Provinces successful bid application
2018 Interview by Jeff Bear for his Series “13 Indigenous Artists” to be released January 2019
2017 Parrsboro Film Festival – entered Syliboy Films.
2017 Buffy Sainte-Marie interview by Alan Syliboy Decoste Centre Pictou NS
2017 Lunenburg School of the Arts – Joint Art Instructor with Todd Labrador – Making and Painting First Nation Hand Drum.
2017 Sherbrooke Village Exhibit – First Indigenous Artist to make appearance.
2017 Halifax Common Art Installation – Mi’kmaw Signpost
2017 Reveal Indigenous Art Award Winnipeg – Received a $10,000.00 award
2017 Received Honouray Doctorite from STfx University
2016 “The Thundermaker”, was shortlisted and is in contention to become the First Nation Communities Read reading selection for 2016-2017.
2016 2016 Coady Chair in Social Justice at StFX University
2016 The Path We Share Exhibition – AGNS Halifax NS & Yarmouth NS.
2015 Aboriginal Children’s Hurt and Healing Initiative (ACHH).
2015 Released Childrens Book “The Thundermaker” publisher Nimbus
2014-15 Thundermaker Multi-Media Exhibit – Touring 10 Nova Scotia Libraries
2014 Correctional Service Canada – Exploring Culture through Art – 6 Institution Tour
2014 Short Listed for the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia Masterworks Arts Award
2014 Selection committee for the New Brunswick Art Bank
2013 Galerie D’art Louise et Reuben-Cohen – Aboriginal Voices Exhibit
2013 Beaverbrook Art Gallery- Open Thundermaker Exhibit
2013 Mural Installation – Halifax Stanfield International Airport
2013 Featured artist – Festival Des Arts Visuel en Atlantiq
2013 Instructor – Direct Perception Program, Dorje Denmaling
2013 Lone Cloud Featured performance Shakespeare in Victoria Park – Mid-summers Night’s Dream
2013 Lone Cloud wins ECMA for Best Aboriginal Album
2012 Juror for Canada Council for the Arts – Ottawa
2012 Elected to the Board of the East Coast Music
Cylla von Tiedemann
Cylla von Tiedemann is one of Canada’s most sought-after performance photographers. She has become renowned for her ability to capture points in movement.
Cylla von Tiedemann is a performing arts photographer, educator and visual artist with an impressive and wide-ranging body of work. Renowned for her dance portraiture and live theatre photography, she is also involved with film, music and the visual arts.
Von Tiedemann’s photography ranges from portraits of dancers and performers, to production documentation for notable national and international organizations including the National Ballet of Canada, Stratford Festival, Mirvish Productions, Toronto Dance Theatre, Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Yo Yo Ma’s SILK Road Project among many others. Beyond conventional photography, Cylla has collaborated on numerous multi-media projects and her recent collections of work involve dancerfocused digital collage.
Von Tiedemann has lectured and presented workshops at Ryerson University, Sheridan College, La Concordia University and the Canadian Centre for Photography.
Her photographs have been recognized in magazines and through publication of a book, “The Dance Photographs of Cylla von Tiedemann” by the National Arts Centre. She has exhibited globally and her images form part of many private and corporate collections.
Solo Shows
2022 Toller Cranston: Metamorphosis, Donna Child Gallery
2014 What Dances in Between, JCC Gallery Toronto
2013 What Dances in Between, Al Green Gallery Toronto
2012 Tanz, German Consulate Toronto
2009 Dancing Wall, Silent Soul, Elaine Fleck Gallery, Toronto
2008 inVention, Elaine Fleck Gallery, Toronto
2005 9 (nine), Harthouse, University of Toronto
2004 Reach beyond your grasp, Pikto Gallery, Toronto
2003 Reach beyond your grasp, Galleria LaMama, New York
2001 Mother India, Harbourfront, Toronto
2000 Dance Installations, Dance Umbrella Toronto
1999 Sacred Spaces, Franke•von Oppen Gallerie, Berlin
1999 The Other Festival, Chennai, India
1998 Dance Images, Jane Corkin Gallery, Toronto
1996 Stones and Bodies, Alliance Francaise, Toronto
1996 Retrospective Bill Douglas Danse, Angora de la Danse, Montreal
1994 My Beautiful Europe, Upper Canada Brewery Gallery Toronto
1992 Canadian Embassy, Mexico City
1992 Solo Show, Lille, France
1991 Dance Photography, Jane Corkin Gallery, Toronto,
1991 Solo Show, Manitoba Centennial Concert Hall, Winnipeg
1991 Montreal Danse, Biblioteque National Tangente,Montreal
1991 Dance in Nature, 21 McGill Gallery, Toronto
1990 Canvas-Camera, Roschar Gallery, Toronto
1990 Paris, New York, Canada, Harbourfront TPW,Toronto
1990 New Dance, National Art Center, Ottawa
1990 Sensuous Explorers, Harbourfront -TPW, Toronto
1988 Dance Photography, Harbourfront, Toronto
1987 Dance Photography, 21 McGill Gallery, Toronto
1985 Dance Ontario, Centre Pompidou, Paris
1983 Peggy McCann & Dancers, Harbourfront, Toronto
Group Shows
1989- 2005 Group Exhibitions
2005 Live With Culture, Eglinton Subway Station
2001 Dance Photography, Harbourfront, Toronto
1999 Group Show, Jane Corkin Gallery
1998 Miami Art Fair, Miami
1997 Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina,SK
1997 Paris Photo, Paris
1995 Figured in the Nude, Hiawatha Dance Festival, Quebec
1993 The Photography Show, New York
1992 Art Cologne, Germany
1992 Basel Art Fair, Switzerland
1992 Chicago International Art Exposition
1991 Landscape and Dance, Etobicoke Civic Center, Toronto
1991 Los Angeles Art Fair, California
1991 Niagara Falls Art Gallery, Niagara Falls
1991 A Show of Recent Works, Margaret Cameron Gallery, Ottawa
1990 Flowers, O’Keefe Centre, Toronto
1990 Clochards, Jane Corkin Gallery, Toronto
1989 Christmas Show, Toronto Photographers Workshop Toronto
1989 Dance, Roschar Gallery, Toronto
1989 Alternatives, O’Keefe Centre, Toronto
Visual Designs for Stage
Nov 2008 Gita Govindam – Menaka Thekkar Dance C. Trail, BC and Markham Theatre,
Feb 2008 Transmission of the Invisible – Tribal Crackling Wind, Peter Chin, Enwave Theatre Toronto
Feb 2007 John & Beatrice – Tarragon Theatre, Carole Frechette Leah Cherniac
Oct 2006 Past Perfect – Tarragon Theatre, Michael Tremblay, Leah Cherniac
Apr 2006 Purnima – Premier Dance Theatre InDance, Hari Krishnan
Feb 2005 Berdandan – Premier Dance Theatre Peter Chin, director
Apr 2004 Difference/Desire – Harbourfront Theatre Hari Krishnan, inDance
Sep 2002 The Miracle Worker – Loraine Kimsa Theatre Leah Cherniac, director
Jun 2002 Transylvanian Dances – Bravofact film, director Seiler String Chamber Orchestra
Mar 2002 Merlin – Lorraine Kimsa Theatre Pierre Tetrault. Director
Apr 2001 Revealed By Fire – Premier Dance Theatre followed by a world tour Lata Pada, choreographer
Mar 2001 Ghost Train – Young Peoples Theatre, Pierre Tetrault, director
Aug 2000 f’Light – Japan/Toronto Hideo Arrai and Peter Chin
Jun 2000 Inter-actions – Bomanville Highschool,Ontario
Aug 1996 A Song From Exile – Music gallery, Toronto, Rena Singha, choreographer
July 1995 Inferno – Site specific, Toronto, Bill James , choreographer
May 1994 The Golden Zone – L’Agora de la Danse, Montreal, Bill Douglas, choreographer
May 1992 Glass Orchestra – Music Gallery, Toronto
1991/92 Reaching Beyond – Mousounturm,Frankfurt/Germany, Premier Dance Theatre, Toronto, L’Angora De La Danse, Montreal
Agata Wisniewski
EDUCATION
Ryerson Polytechnic Institute (Graphic Communications)
York University (Honours Degree, Double Major in Fine Arts and Psychology)
Cawthra Park Secondary School (Special Arts Program)
“I am a lifelong artist and started my creative journey as a child. I was born in Poland and was enrolled in the arts as a four-year old, winning a Polish national art award for a child artist at eight years old. At 14, I moved to Canada and attended Cawthra Park Secondary School for a specialized arts program. I studied at York University, receiving a Fine Arts degree with a double major in Psychology. After graduation, I also completed a program at Ryerson Polytechnic University for Graphic Communications.
While moving through various themes, the subject of flowers is very uplifting and inspirational for me. I take illuminated photographs to create compositions to be painted on canvas. I enjoy the large format because it makes me feel like I get lost inside the flower’s beauty. I tend to choose dynamic compositions of peonies and tulips as they exude a sense of movement and facets of the whole.
“I am fascinated with illumination from within; to me, it exemplifies the soul shining through. Light is an omnipresent force that permeates through physical matter and gives it life.
I see peonies as symbols of humans. The dynamic shapes and variety of petals remind me of our facets/parts creating and completing a whole. Each petal is unique and an opportunity for growth towards spiritual evolution. It may be more or less illuminated by light; however, it is an integral part of a whole flower. The twists and turns of the nature of the petals remind me of life and our paths.
My spiritual and meditative practices have exposed me to the importance of chakras, which are energy centres in our bodies. Peonies also remind me of chakras; the dynamics of petals look like they are in a constant movement. Each painting of the flower has a specific “energy signature”, which evokes an emotion, feeling and visual impact resonating with the viewer; many times, it also has a healing quality.
The intricacies of petals and the sense of movement resemble a never ending dance with its various spectrums of light and dark and the beautiful outcome it creates in a composition. It symbolizes our journey through life.”
Agata Wisniewski
Toller Cranston – Diplomatic Strategy (2014) – 60″x60″ – TCE0293 – Oil on Canvas – at Novotel
Toller Cranston – Arabian Princess – 60″x48″ – TCE0343p – oil on canvas – at Novotel
Toller Cranston – Lasso the Moon – 72″x72″ – TCE0330p – oil on canvas – at Novotel
Toller Cranston – Musician Over Goblet – 66″x66″ – TCE0311p – oil on canvas – at Novotel
Toller Cranston – The Blue Horse – 66″x66″ – TC046 – oil on canvas – at Novotel
Toller Cranston – The Golden Moon – 48″x48″ – TCE0292 – Oil on Canvas – at Novotel
Toller Cranston – Three Figures – 31″x31″ – TC045 – oil on canvas – at Novotel
Toller Cranston – Tightrope – 48″x48″ – TCE0302 – oil on canvas – at Novotel
Toller Cranston – untitled Skating Pair, 2013 – 36″x48″ – oil on canvas framed – at Novotel
Toller Cranston – Distinguished Gentleman – 28″x20″ – TCE0344 – ink & gouache on paper – at Novotel
Toller Cranston – Figure – 84″x24″ – TCE0329p – oil on canvas – at Novotel
Toller Cranston – The Eternal Pond – 20″x20″ – TC030 – signed limited edition print – at Novotel
Cylla von Tiedemann – Toller One WM – original photograph – CVT0001 – Large Format – only edition #3 remaining – at Novotel
Cylla von Tiedemann – Toller Four WM – original photograph – CVT0004 – at Novotel
Cylla von Tiedemann – Toller Five WM – original photograph – CVT0005 – at Novotel
Cylla von Tiedemann – Toller Seven WM – original photograph – CVT0007 – at Novotel
Cylla von Tiedemann – Toller Nine WM – original photograph – CVT0009 – at Novotel
Cylla von Tiedemann – Toller Ten – 18″x13″ – limited edition photography framed – CVT0010 – at Novotel
Cylla von Tiedemann – Toller Ten (large) – 40″x28″ – limited edition photography framed – CVT0010L – at Novotel
Cylla von Tiedemann – Toller Twelve – 17″x13″ – limited edition photography framed – CVT0012 – at Novotel
Cylla von Tiedemann – Toller Thirteen – 13.5″x16.5″ – limited edition photography framed – CVT0013 – at Novotel
Brian Arualak Sr. – Untitled Drawing – 14″x11″ – pen & marker on paper, Arviat – NDC-BAS0001 – $330 framed – at Novotel
Brian Arualak Sr. – Untitled Drawing – 14″x11″ – pen & marker on paper, Arviat – NDC-BAS0002 – $330 framed at Novotel
Christian Morrisseau – Astral Fish – 28″x46″ – CM0048 – acrylic on canvas – $5,000 framed – at Novotel
Audrey Smith – Sense Un-sensed (triptych) – 48″x36″ – AUD0003 – acrylic & charcoal on wood panel – $3,500 unframed – at Novotel
Audrey Smith – Suspended Animation – 36″x36″ – AUD0007 – acrylic & charcoal on wood panel – $2,600 – at Novotel
Audrey Smith – Unseen (triptych) – 48″x36″ – AUD0004 – acrylic & charcoal on wood panel – $3,500 – at Novotel
Alan Syliboy – Mi’kmaw Woman on a Hill – 30″x20″ – AS0001 – acrylic on canvas – $3,350 framed – at Novotel
Alan Syliboy – Mi’kmaw Woman, Yellow Series – 48″x24″ – AS0002 – acrylic on board – $5,500 framed – at Novotel
Alan Syliboy – Travelling Through the Night Sky – 24″x48″ – AS0004 – acrylic on board – $5,500 framed – at Novotel
Agata Wisniewski – Orange Mist – 48″x36″ – AW0008 – oil on canvas – $4,000 unframed – at Novotel