Exhibitions-Fashionality: Dress and Identity in Contemporary Canadian Art

Check out the beautifully illustrated article in the just-out summer edition of the lush Canadian arts magazine Arabella. This isn't the full article, but still worth a peek: http://ftp.arabelladesign.com/Fashionality_Summer2012.htm Among others, the article features the image above, which is one of five frames from Dana Claxton's Onto the Redroad. Lightjet C-print, 2007. Collection of John Cook.

Great short video documenting the installation of Janet Morton's Canadian Monument #2. 48 seconds of the biggest shirt you will ever see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DooquhjwN1k And here it is, after the installation, with one of the McMichael's lovely guards. And yes, the label does say Xtra Large. Janet Morton, Canadian Monument #2. Hand screened red flannel and mixed media 1994. Courtesy of Paul Petro Contemporary Art.

The Justina M. Barnicke Gallery at the University of Toronto is currently showing a small but superb show called Sovereign Acts. Curated by Wanda Nanibush, it features work by several First Nations artists, including Lori Blondeau, who created the equally small but superb COSMOSQUAW piece on display in Fashionality. The show is highly recommended. http://www.harthouse.ca/arts/justina-m-barnicke-gallery/sovereignacts This is a work in Fashionality by Lori Blondeau, entitled COSMOSQUAW…

Beyond Bucksin is a blog by Turtle Mountain Chippewa scholar, Jessica R. Metcalfe. In it she looks at the creation and signification of Native American fashion. See her feature on Fashionality, and check out the rest of this inspiring blog here: http://beyondbuckskin.blogspot.ca/2012/03/exhibit-fashionality-dress-and-identity.html This work by Kent Monkman, entitled High-heeled Moccasins. Machine loomed beads on vinyl shoes, 2007. Collection of the artist. One of several accessories worn by…

Don't miss Barb Hunt's upcoming show, Steel Dresses, at De Luca Art Gallery, May 12th to June 16th. It's at 217 Avenue Road, Toronto 416-537-4699 http://www.delucafineart.com/exhibitions_barbara_hunt.html The opening reception is on Saturday, May 12 from 4:00 to 9:00 pm, and YOU are invited. This is Barb Hunt's famous Root Dress, on display in Fashionality, but all the works from her Steel Dresses series are equally as beautiful. Plasma-arc cut steel, 1994. Collection of the Winnipeg Art…

To come to her tea party this Sunday. Who needs Uncle Sam when you can have tea with Miss C? Don't miss the Opening Celebration this Mother's Day for Fashionality: Dress and Identity in Contemporary Canadian Art. Tours, meet-and-greet with several of the artists, roses, speeches, fantastic artwork, and a tea party with performance artist Camille Turner. Check out the events here: http://mcmichael.com/apps/index.cfmpage=program.detail&programEventId=664&areaId=11 Hope to see you there! (And…

Nice article on the show in Tandem online magazine: http://www.tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=12154 Tandem features this piece by Jana Sterbak: Distraction (detail), organza, tweed, human hair, wood, glass, text, photographs, 1992. Collection Musee d'art contemporain de Montreal.

Check out this video of three artists speaking about their work in Fashionality: Farheen HaQ, Barb Hunt and Barbara Pratt. Beautiful! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chBNW1LyCRo Farheen HaQ. Stills from Endless Tether. 3-channel video installation, 7 min 17 sec loop, 2005.

Congratulations to Jacques Payette for another major retrospective of his work: this time at the Musee d'Art Contemporain des Laurentides. No need to say that it will be a beautiful show. http://www.museelaurentides.ca/ Here's one of Jacques' gorgeous works in Fashionality, entitled Dans des décors inachevés. Fustian and encaustic on canvas, 2003. Collection of the artist, Montreal.

Don't miss the upcoming Art Encounter at the McMichael on the 23rd of June. There will be a curator's "nature walk" through the exhibition focusing on work that intersects with the natural world, as well as a talk with Eco Artist Extraordinaire, Nicole Dextras. It's from 11:00 - 1:00 and $25, or $20 for members. Hope to see you there! http://mcmichael.com/apps/index.cfm?page=program.detail&programEventId=682&areaId=2 Nicole Dextras, Icicle Slip. Colour photographs, 2011.

The McMichael's fundraiser, Fashion as Art -- Exposed! was a tremendous success. Based upon the theme of the relationship between art and dress/fashion, the main event was the celebration of the "Group of Seven" fashion designers, who were showcased in a fashion show. The McMichael crew did an magnificent job, and the show -- hosted by Fashion doyenne Jeanne Beker -- was stunning, with models showcasing the work of the designers to live "crazy classical" violin, and ending up standing in…

The McMichael is welcomes Fashionality artist Nicole Dextras, who is in residency at the gallery until July 1, 2012. Nicole will complete one of her astonishing Weedrobes eco-dress-performance-sculptures, which will be unveiled in a special performance at the McMichael's Canada Day ceremony. More info about this Canada Day sartorial celebration, check here: http://bit.ly/LzknN4 Best of luck on your residency, Nicole -- we know you'll do wonderful things! A little someting Nicole threw…

Have you been to Gallery Bespoke? If not, you're in for a unique experience, described as "a showcase of home furnishings as high art." Open by appointment, it is the Logan Ave. studio of Toronto-based designer and artist Camal Pirbhai, and a place to view his conceptual works, along with collaborations with other artists. You can learn all about it, and about the artist, here: http://www.gallerybespoke.com/gallerybespoke/home.php Camal Pirbhai Camal is also the creative genius behind Studio…

An exhibition at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, May 5 - September 3, 2012

The McMichael has an impressive collection of Canadian art featuring the Group of Seven, and of contemporary First Nations art as well as prints, drawings and sculpture by Inuit artists. The gallery is also custodian of the complete Cape Dorset archive which is on long-term loan while documentation and conservation work is completed on the over 100,000 works.

Explore McMichael Canadian Art Collection's 712 photos on Flickr!