Message to Japan

Sending you a message of courage and optimism. Thinking of you and hope that things are better now. Moving forwards, rebuilding, living, laughing and loving again, I wish all good things for everyone in the disaster area.

I’ve looked into how to present that whale painting and it’s looking like a major problem, to build some kind of a solution would take longer than just making a new painting. So it its ok with you then that’s what I’ll do. It will be a vertical painting and just hang off the pack and drape down. I’m not sure of imagery yet but maybe a building. How does that sound?

Best regards
Douglas

Artist information

Douglas Walker was born in Brockville, Ontario. He graduated with an Honors Diploma from the Ontario College of Art in 1981. He presently lives and works in Toronto.

During the 1980′s Walker received early acclaim for his work in photo-drawing, photography, and sculpture. In the 1990′s Douglas turned to painting and recently reduced his palette to the Blue and White for which he is now known for. Through these disparate media he has consistently articulated a finely wrought vision of the beautiful residing in the strange.

Considered a unique talent, Douglas is known for his ability to make works of a compelling originality regardless of media. Walker has exhibited his work at the ICA in London and the Dia foundation in New York. In Toronto he has shown at the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Powerplant, YYZ, Mercer Union and at the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art. Walker has been the focus of a traveling mid-career retrospective curated by The Mendel Art gallery in Saskatoon and an overview of his career was featured at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art gallery. He has also shown at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, the Dunlop Art Gallery in Regina, the Agnes Etherington Art Centre in Kingston, the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography in Ottawa, Hallwalls in Buffalo, and the 49th Parallel in New York City. Many of these exhibitions were supported with publications.

Douglas’s work is included in many important public and private collections most notably the Art Gallery of Ontario, Mendel Art Gallery and Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography. He has received awards from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council and the Toronto Arts Council. Walker’s work has captured extensive media and critical attention wherever he has exhibited.

Official Website: Douglas Walker
Blog: Douglas Walker Blogspot

Message to Japan

Courage, peace, and affection to all, my heart is with you.

Artist Inforamtion

Diane Borsato is a visual artist working in performance, intervention, video, installation, and photography. She has exhibited in galleries and museums across Canada and internationally including the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Vancouver Art Gallery, the National Museum of Fine Arts of Quebec, the Art Gallery of York University, the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, and The Power Plant. Diane Borsato is currently Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Studio at the University of Guelph, and lives in Toronto.

Official Website: Diane Borsato

Message to Japan

In this work I have cut the knapsack into 150 squares. They are meant for you to take and wear with you at all times. Students are encouraged to take a square and wear it in support of their own memories, hopes, aspirations and dreams. Those students who choose to wear the square will be connected to one another, in solidarity of future dreams and past memories.

Artist information

Derek Liddington works and lives in Toronto. He obtained his MFA from the University of Western Ontario and BFA from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. Liddington’s work has been exhibited in numerous public settings, most recently at the opening night of Art Toronto 2011 where he staged Dandy Gangs. In 2010, Liddington staged Allegory for an Opera as part of Nuit Blanche. He had his first solo show, titled Coupe de Grace, at Clark and Faria Gallery in 2010. Liddington’s work has also been exhibited in group shows, most recently in Meet us on the Commons, curated by Elizabeth Underhill for the Art Gallery of Mississauga. Derek has received project support from the Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council and the London Community Foundation. In 2011, Derek Liddington was shortlisted for the Toronto Friends of the Visual Arts Artist Prize.

Official Website: Derek Liddington