Curated by Christos Damianos, ENVIRONMENTS is an art exhibition showcasing the work and vision of 12 York Region visual artists on the theme of environment and the Greenbelt. This group exhibition will be held at the Boynton House Art Space purposely selected for this group show by the curator because of its location and historical status.
The featured artists include: Paul Harpley, Kate Greenway, Hyeon Ju Lee, Sky Cheung, Andrea Taylor, Jing Fu, Talynka Drescher, Sara Guo, Sole Mustica, John Kokkinos, Andrea End, Gregory Chiykosk.
“The installations featured in the exhibition are rooted in lived experience and reflect the finalists’ diverse backgrounds and unique ways of thinking, seeing, and being in the world.” Damianos, who is also an artist and educator, invites viewers to (re)consider the role of nature and the Greenbelt in our daily lives and what we can individually do in insuring its protection and sustainability.
‘ENVIRONMENTS’ started as a site-specific art event and Artist Circle, culminating in an art exhibition and a limited-edition publication. Participants who answered the call for this project took part in a walk along the Dave Barrow Trail in the Oak Ridges Corridor Reserve which is part of the Greenbelt. The aim of the group hike was to immerse individuals in nature as they study and document (photography, notes, voice recordings, video, samples, and objects etc.) the human impact on nature. The curator shared his artistic practice including a current body of work Scar related to this project. Participants were provided with material required in collecting discarded items.
Richmond Hill is one of the most diverse cities in Canada, with a long history of migration and settlement by both Indigenous and settler populations. This project aims to generate a series of personal or collective intercultural encounters and alternative paths into the concepts of nature, conservation, change diversity, and suburban life.
Opening Reception Wednesday January 17, 2024, 5:00 – 8:00 pm – The public is invited to meet the artists with an opening statement by the curator 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. EDT
Location: Boynton House Art Space
Exhibition: January 16 – January 21, 2024 Hours are 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
For media inquiries, please contact: Christos Damianos Christryph@gmail.com
About Curator
I explore the theme of identity and perception. Drawing on memory, observation and media sourced from various platforms, I distill from them a human presence often ignored by society. My studio practice, which is autobiographical at its core, reflects on evolving contemporary social and personal experiences. Individual works are rooted in the stream of consciousness and the experimentation of the physicality of the medium. The use of materials, techniques and repeated marks speak to impermanence and the imperfection of the work. This haptic process of working and the invitation of the viewer to establish a relationship with his work are intimately connected. These sensory experiences can act as a catalyst to lost connections, personal memories, life experiences which are often hidden in the simplicity of the medium or unassuming presence of the work.
Featured Image Credit: Andrea End, 20×27”, Soft Steps, Gentle Rust
