.......OF NOTE....

Well, it's over.
SIGH.
My latest show "Sign of the Times" has opened and closed.
If you missed it, you can still see a few of the paintings (in the back) at Galley 129 Ossington.
Or you can swing by my studio to see the remaining pieces from the show!
Here are a couple of little media related things that I found over the corse of the last month:

1. This write up was sent to me....it is advertising my "Town and Country" show.....

2. My artwork was published in an article about farming at the University of Guelph's Student Newspaper.......and was put on their online version as well. Weird.....but neat.

just the head of my artwork showed up on the website

3. This write up on "Dilettante's Diary" (an art blog) about my last show......which was a nice mention...

4. Finally......the biggest news.........I am being published in the next edition of "Spacing Magazine' (details to follow!!)

So there you go!

LAST 5 DAYS FOR "SIGN OF THE TIMES"

This is your last week to catch my FABULOUS SHOW!!!!!

The show is now open at 129 Ossington, and the hours are:
Wednesday to Saturday 12-6 pm or by appointment

Email: gallery@129ossington.com
Phone: 416-532-1310

Come out to see this little assemblage:!!!!!

"More Refined Cocktails", 12" x 9", Acrylic on Mixed Media

"Travel by Ho", 9 x 12", Acrylic on Mixed Media

 There are 10 pieces in my show that are assemblages.
I think they are really good - you gotta see them in person to really enjoy them!!
What are you waiting for???
GO NOW!!!
And then tell me all about it!!

THURSDAY NIGHT: SIGN OF THE TIMES!!!

Howdy all!
Well, we are down to the last few days before the big show opening.
I really hope you can make it out on Thursday...here are the deets:

Sign of the Times features 18 BRAND NEW WORKS! 

(and another 7 in the back stockroom)

I am happy to finally debut this new work, at 129 Ossington.

I am really pleased with these paintings, and would love it if you would join me for a drink and a nibble on THURSDAY OCTOBER 11TH from 7PM-10PM. 

The gallery is located on Ossington Avenue 

(north of Queen St. and south of Dundas)

COME OUT FOR A DRINK WITH ME!!!!!

Here are a couple more smalls that I am exhibiting at this show:

"Bug",  Acrylic on mixed media, 9" x 12" 

"Live Better",  Acrylic on mixed media, 12" x 12"

SCARBOROUGH BLUFFS

It seems to be a trend for me to post brand new work on Fridays.
So, as to not disappoint you...here is a new piece!!

Thankfully I am in the home stretch........getting all the 24 pieces ready for the hang next week.
Here are the deets AGAIN:
"Sign of the Times: a new solo exhibition by Rob Croxford"
October 3rd-27th, Gallery at 129 Ossington, Toronto
OPENING RECEPTION: OCTOBER 11TH, 7PM- 10PM
Remember to come out on October 11th and have a drink with me!!!!!!!!!
So here is my latest for the show:

"It Blows", 36" x 24", Acrylic on Board.

So as you can see, this one is about the intended wind farm for Scarborough.

It is mired in controversy.......so I figured it was worth commenting on!

The poster part is of the bluffs - with the turbines in the water.

The background of the piece is a lovely water/bird inspired wallpaper.

There is a vintage aspirin container (representing the alleged health risks), and also a Blackburnian Warbler (that's one of the endangered birds ;-)

The quote is on a fake postcard and says "You don't need top be a weatherman to know which way the wind blows." It is from Bob Dylan.

Ok....I think that is all I can tell you about this one.

PLEASE come out and see it live.....everything looks better in person!!!
Have a great weekend!!!

BLACK MONDAY - NEW WORK

Well,  it is "black monday".
Why? Today marks the day my youth dies. Here on my 40th birthday, I must now face the fact that I am officially old!
Sigh.
But, this depressing occasion will not stop me from blogging.
Oh - hell - no.
Instead of wallowing, I want to share some more 'smalls' that I will be showing at my upcoming show:

"Sign of the Times", October 3rd-27th, Gallery at 129 Ossington.
Opening night reception:
THURSDAY OCTOBER 11TH from 7-10pm

Ok....on with the new work....
Here are two of my new 'smalls' that I will be exhibiting.

There are 9 new pieces that look like little shadow-box-like dioramas.

As i mentioned on Friday, each piece has been painstakingly created from balsa wood, glue, paint and ink.

The billboard has re-worked imagery from my existing artwork, plunked into almost theatrical scenery!!

(remember you can click them to make them bigger -aka 'enbiggen' them)

"Feed Cities", 12" x 9", Acrylic on Mixed media.

"Move", 9" x 12", Acrylic on mixed media. 

I love them. I think they keep getting better and better!!
What say you??

FIVE HUNDRED FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!

It's Friday! Friday! Gotta get down on Friday!

Everybody's lookin' forward to the weekend! Weekend!

Friday! Friday! Gettin' down on Friday!

Everybody's lookin' forward to the weekend?
Partyin! Partyin! Ya?

Partyin! Partyin! YA!

Fun.

FUN!

FUN!!!!

FFUUNN!!!!

Lookin' forward to the weekend?

You're welcome! ;-)

So.....big news.....I am almost done painting all the new work for my upcoming show!!!

Okay, not necessarily big news for you...but for me BIG NEWS!!!

And here is the bigger news.........

I just completed my FIVE HUNDREDTH PAINTING!!!!!!!

5 - 0 - 0

Crazy huh??

Now let's break it down.

500 paintings since 2003. That's 55 a year!

Now, it is of note that in 2003 I only painted part-time so I only created 25 pieces!

But in 2004 I started painting full time and since then have painted EPIC-LY!

I am very happy to have hit that number!

I really feel like it has been a great adventure!

I have said it before, and I will say it again. I would never be where I am now (artistically) if I hadn't painted soooooo many pieces. 

It has been a HUGE learning curve, both artistically and personally! 

I feel like I have honed my craft, and I continue to do so.

My artistic voice is stronger and clearer than ever.

The work is 'tighter' and is generally just better painted than 499 paintings ago!

I really look forward to seeing how the next 500 paintings shape up!

I wanted to show you my very first two paintings and then my last 2 paintings....

To compare and contrast!

Here are my two OLDEST pieces. Sadly, I still have them...they are rolled up in my studio.

At the time, I was thinking that they would sell sell sell!
They did not.
:-(

As you can see they are heavily influenced by Art Deco.
So, yes, I have always looked for my inspiration from the past!
They are also covered in leaf - gold silver and copper leaf - as at the time, I was painting a LOT of murals that were on leaf (for the casinos of the OLGC). Like these ones at Woodbine:

Good times! (Not really - thankfully, I have had a LOT of therapy since then!!)
Anyways, the next year, I tried to sell these 2 paintings as murals - showing pictures of them in a room:

That also did not help them sell.
But I was NOT thwarted!
Instead of quitting, I decided to re-evaluate my process and re-shape my work!!
That goodness I did so, or I would have never come to these paintings:

"R&R", 12" x 9", Acrylic on Mixed Media.

Yes, I know it is IMPOSSIBLE to compare the old with the new work!

As you can see, the new pieces are little shadow-box-like dioramas.

I think that they are a perfect pairing with my poster themed work for my upcoming show!

"SIGN OF THE TIMES" - CHECK OUT THE DEETS HERE!

Each piece has been painstakingly created from balsa wood, glue, paint, ink, blood, sweat, tears, earth wind and fire. Wait....I am getting off topic - sorry....

The imagery on the billboards is taken from another existing artwork (of mine) - re-worked in photoshop - and then I have tried to re-create billboard scenery to place the imagery in!

I think it is pretty cool!!!
I am hoping that they will hit a cord with people and they will be bought up at my next show!!
Sadly, five hundred paintings later, I am still not sure how they will be received.
Funny. For all the progress, I guess I am still waiting for artistic validation.
;-)

"With Baggage", 9" x 12", Acrylic on Mixed media.

The one above is actually a billboard that is above the "Hooters" in Toronto.
One might make a correlation between baggage and Hooters waitresses......or not.
So?
What do you think?
Do you like the new works???????
I love to have your comments - unless you are a jerk......then.....not so much!
And remember to help me celebrate my 500th by coming out to see these new pieces at:

Gallery 129 Ossington  -  Thursday, October 11th, 7pm-10pm

LIBRARIANS: PUTTING THE "READ" IN FREEDOM!

These have been trying days for librarians.
With the invention of "the intra-nets"......many people do not make it out to support their local library.
But we cannot blame it all on the world wide web!
Recently they came dangerously close to getting their funding cut.
And is it any wonder???
Our (presumedly illiterate) Mayor has no idea who Canadian trailblazing author Margaret Atwood is!!!
I MEAN COME ON!!!!
Ok...that is close to a rant...........so I will stop.....but let me show you my latest painting.
This piece will be part of my "Sign of the TImes" exhibition in October.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON THAT SHOW.
This work celebrates our great institutions!

"One Answer", 24" x 24", Acrylic on Board.

So, the 'poster part' of this original painting is of the library at Queen St East and Saulter St., in Toronto. The Queen/Saulter Branch and the Ralph Thornton Centre have been housed in this beautiful heritage building since 1979 (in the former 'Postal Station G'). The Neo-classical building, built in 1918, was designed by legendary architect Edward James Lennox (he also designed 70 other AH-MAH-ZING landmarks including Old City Hall and Casa Loma).
The slogan "Libraries - putting the 'read' in freedom" is my invention!
The quote is from Neil Gaiman.
Neil is an author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films including the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book.
Oh, and his BRILLIANT address to the University of the Arts is really inspirational!! (check it out)
His quote - that I borrowed is:
"Google can bring you back 100,000 answers, a librarian can bring you back the right one."
I LOVE IT!
The quote is painted on a trompe l'oeil library book check-out card/sleeve.
There is also a pair of horn rimmed glasses and a golden Victorian cat-and-mouse bookmark painted on this piece......the background pattern is based on a Victorian wallpaper.
I thought the kind of 'girly' background was manned-up with this very masculine building.
I am pleased with this piece!
What say you?
Come out and see it LIVE LIVE LIVE:

THE ROM. LOVE OR HATE?

Good Monday!

As you can probably tell, I am super focussed on my new show "Sign of the Times".

READ ALL THE INFO ABOUT IT HERE!

So.......here is the latest piece for the show:

"Love/Hate",  60" x 30", Acrylic on Canvas.

Ok....so this painting is B-I-G!

I am thrilled with it.

There are actually TWO painted posters on this.

One poster shows the old entrance to the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum) and is slightly more aged.

The other poster is also of the ROM, with the addition of "Michael Lee-Chin Crystal".

For those of you who do not know anything about the ROM here are some wiki-details:

The 'new' main entrance to the Royal Ontario Museum, Daniel Libeskind's The Crystal, first opened in 2007. The Deconstructivist crystalline-form is clad in 25 percent glass and 75 percent aluminium sitting on top of a steel frame. The Crystal's canted walls do not touch the sides of the existing heritage buildings, used to close the envelope between the new form and existing walls. These walls act as a pathway for pedestrians to safely travel across "The Crystal".

The crystal has been a centre of controversy since it started getting built.

Some say it is an eyesore - and others LOVE it.

That is why I like the quote "When you make something no on hates, no one loves it either."

On this piece I have also painted a butterfly (to represent the huge array of natural history elements in the ROM) and also to make the point about transformation.

I have also painted an antique sextant that is housed in the "Sigmund Samuel Gallery of Canada", and dates back to 1800. 

There is also some painted dino bones in the corner (which are a BIG draw in the new ROM).

Finally the background has the OLD version of tiles in the Museum TTC Subway Station.

I like the new tiles, but I thought that these old ones were more 'retro' and a better neutral background!

So?

What say you?

I love your comments!!!!

THE TORONTO FLATIRON BUILDING AND DUNDAS SQUARE (again)

Hey everybody!!!
It's Friday! Boy, have I gotten a LOT done this week!!
I wanna show you my latest paintings that are finished and ready for my October exhibition.
"Sign of the Times" at Gallery 129 Ossington:

Ok.....so here is one that was a re-paint.
I know, I know, I said I wouldn't waste time on another repaint after my last show...but I wasn't happy with this one.....so I thought I would change 'er up. Here is before:

 and after:

What's different?

Let me tell you.....I reapainted the tiles in the background - because the old ones were just too yellow!

(Yes, I know that tiles in Dundas station ARE actually deep yellow - but I took a little artistic liberty!!)

I repainted the poster part to seem a bit more graphic.

Once I did all of that....the keychain really stood out.....so I repainted that too!!!!

Also this week I finished this one:

"Age and Beauty", 36" x 24", Acrylic on Board.

Ok...so THIS one I am REALLY happy about.

In the background is a vintage inspired Art Nouveau wallpaper...that I have aged with washes.

The poster part is of the Gooderham Flatiron building (which is a Toronto landmark!)

I painted it once before - but not as poster-y. See that one HERE!

(The previous painting had a whole different look and it was sold - sorry! ;-)

I LOVE the lettering and the fanciful boarder that I used on this one. 

I think it really works well (given the age of the building)

I painted a little pink piece of trompe l'oeil paper with the address of the building on it, and a quote that I made up. "Sometimes beauty and age are not mutually exclusive." This is only the second time EVER that I have not used a quote from a smart dead person.

Also on this painting is an Art Nouveau hand mirror. I was really happy how it turned out!!!

As always, there is a lot of aging washes and burnishing to make it seem old & some fake tape too!

Whadda ya think??

LOVE IT?

hate it?

I love your comments!!!

Remember, we are less than a month away from opening of this show.......and all my work looks better in person!!! So come out to see it in October!!

LUCKY NEW WORK

Hot off the easel, is my brand new work. I have another few to show you on friday as well! 

Yup. I am really plowing forward towards my crazy deadline!!!

WHAT DEADLINE???

If you regularly stop by here, you know I have a brand new exhibition opening in October.

"Sign of the Times" will showcase some great new work!!!

Over the weekend I wrote up a new 'artist statement' for the show - (that will be used to help promote/describe the work for this exhibition). Let me share it with you:

At first viewing, this new body of work appears to be all about posters, billboards and advertising. Similar to my previous work, each piece evokes a sense of nostalgia. However, “Sign of the Times” is essentially about the signs all around us.  Signs that tell us our world has changed. Signs illustrating for good or for bad, the kind of communities we have built. Signs that society needs to react and change for the better!

The paintings in this exhibition have a specific message related to the politics of everyday life. I navigate around difficult themes such as drunk driving, urban sprawl and government budget using my ‘signature’ humour and word-play. They say “you can attract more bees with honey than with vinegar”, so I provide political commentary in a somewhat ‘sugary’ manner.

These acrylic paintings employ a collage-like approach, but are rendered in a technique that may be considered ‘trompe l’oeil’. Within each piece, the imagery has been designed specifically to mimic iconography and ephemera from pre-1950. This vintage ‘look’ offsets the political sting and complements a humorous approach to social activism. Along with acrylic paintings, I have once again created work using mixed media and found objects for “Sign of the Times”.

As always, I hope that my work entertains but also challenges people to re-assess the world around them, and perhaps even be a catalyst for change!

Ok.....so it is a bit 'art=speak-y' (which I HATE) but people in the art business are always expecting an obscure and ten-dollar-worded statement that essentially makes people feel stupid. I am NOT like that, so I try to keep it simple and easy to understand. Maybe because I am also simple. 

;-p

OK.....so here is the latest painting for the show:  

"Luck",  36" x 24", Acrylic on Board.

So, as you can see, this one looks like my others in its look.

Now, let's break it down!

It has a background of tiles from Union Station. Actually they are the tiles from the Light Rail (streetcar) station UNDER Union Station. I have always loved the teals and greys and beiges together.

The poster is of some crazy kids partying it up on a Friday night. The streetcar is an oldie. The city in the background it the Toronto skyline. The poster is aged and has the usual folds and such painted on.

The quote on this painting is "Luck runs out, but safety is good for life."Although I cannot find the source from it, I like what it says. It sets the theme of this piece!!

I then painted a horseshoe, and a coaster from 'The Horseshoe Tavern'.

The final elements are a vintage car key for a Ford, and a bottle cap for 'Steam Whistle' beer.

I wanted to make a painting about using your head, and taking transit when you plan on going out to drink. I wanted to tell that story in a tasteful and subtle way. 

I think I was successful.

What say you???

ONTARIO PLACE :- (

Hey y'all!!!
Sorry I have been a slacker! It has been almost a whole week since I last blogged.
No. Sadly, I have not been vacationing.
I have been super busy painting new work for my October exhibition at Gallery 129 Ossington.
I wanted to show the first piece from that upcoming show.
The exhibition is called "Sign of the Times". It is all poster inspired work.
I will be showing pieces that are all themed around posters and billboards.
I will NOT be showing ANYTHING from my last show...which means I have a boat-load of work to do in the next month and a bit.....but you know how I love a looming crazy-person deadline!!!
So, here is the first new piece for the show:

"Summer Fun", 24" x 36", Acrylic on board.

As you can see it is about Ontario Place.
Here in Toronto, there is a bunch of controversy over the closing of the Ontario theme park.
For those of you not from Ontario here is the wiki-description for Ontario Place:

"Ontario Place WAS a multiple use entertainment and seasonal waterfront park attraction located in Toronto, Ontario, and owned by the Crown in Right of Ontario. It is administered as an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture. Located on the shore of Lake Ontario, just south of Exhibition Place, it is approximately 4 km west of Downtown Toronto. It opened on May 22, 1971 and consists of three artificially constructed, landscaped islands. Attractions are spread throughout the park, as well as walking trails and food and drink concessions. Traditionally targeted at a family audience, with emphasis on children's activities, the park has a seasonal operating schedule and is closed from October through April, with the exception of the Cinesphere IMAX theatre and private event space. Central to the complex is a public marina and a major concert theatre. Historically, Ontario Place, as a publicly subsidized provincial agency, aims to keep costs, especially for families, lower than comparable attractions. On February 1, 2012, the government announced that the public sections of the park will be CLOSED  and redeveloped, with a targeted completion date of 2017, in time for Canada's 150th anniversary. All Ontario Place facilities will be closed except for the marina, the Molson Amphitheatre, the Atlantis entertainment venue and parking."

SO SAD. 
I would like to believe that the government isn't gonna screw the re-development up.....
BUT......I have serious doubts!!!!! Thus the painting.
As you can see, the poster part is centred around the Cinesphere (as it really is the most iconic building in the complex) The logo and fonts are all made up on the poster part....
The logo on the ticket is very similar to the former logo....although the ticket is made up too.
There is a quote on a piece of accounting paper....that I really like.
I like it because it was from my husband! (or so he keeps telling me)
There is also a wooden nickel...just for fun!
The entire background is like the tiles at Bathurst TTC station (which is one of the ways to get down to the Exhibition area) I liked that it spelled 'thurst' (which sounds like 'thirst')
I think turned out really well!!
What do you think??

THE VERY LAST "ARCADE" POST

This is the last time I will be posting about this show. No, REALLY! I know you are just sick sick sick to death of hearing about this show. The truth is, when you work so hard getting an exhibition together, you just have to keep shoving it down peoples throats! All in the hopes that you are noticed, and perhaps even bought!! For me, I tend to feel a bit sad when it is over. I get a case of the Post Exhibition Depression. It is kinda like the feeling a bride gets after all the presents are opened, and the honeymoon is over. WAAAA. So for me, once the show is done, I usually get the P.E.D. Which means I am expecting this to wash over in me in a few days. So, before the tsunami of self-pity hits, I want to share a couple more of the pieces in this exhibition.
I have talked a lot about the mixed media pieces in this show. Infact, I have gone on and on about the pinball machines made of repurposed materials with the flashing lights. They were the real show-stoppers. They were a BOATLOAD of work, and truthfully, I am not anxious to do more of these right now. So today I am gonna focus on the 3 paintings that I did for the show.
#1 - Sassony Arcade, 36" x 48"

The back story on this one is that it is taken from a photograph of an actual arcade in Los Angeles. I took a snapshot of this building in Google Maps for you:

As you can see, I took a whole whack of 'artistic liberty' with it. Now don't get me wrong,  I think it is fabulous in its current state of....well.......disrepair. But for this show, I felt it needed to be a bit more glossy and new looking. I worked up a bunch of different photoshopped versions, and the angle just worked!!


#2 "Scarlett Women". Which is 25.5" x 21.5" This one was a lot of fun. I love the colours on this one. Pink is a terrific colour to use. Yes, there is a lot of innuendo in the text on this! I know. Dirty. Thankfully as a gay guy, I can get away without being called a pervery misogynist! It was a lot of fun to do. I got the idea from old ads. 

You see, the pinball manufacturers used to send out ads to their clients whenever a new pinball machine came out. (I guess to make sure that they had all the latest machines??) So EVERY machine ever produced has a flyer-like advert for it. Cool huh?? Here are a couple of examples!

Do you love them or WHAT??

I love the 1950's "Eager Beaver". It is so simple and nicely designed. 

On the other hand the "Cactus Jacks" was obviously a more modern example. I like the high-rise jeans on the ladies.....and the size of the melons in this. RIDICULOUS!

#3 "Rocket Ride" 25.5" x 21.5". This is another large scale version of these ads. The colours in this one are some of my favourites. Teal with red and yellow. YUM!!

So folks, that is all she wrote. That is all the fat lady wrote. I hope you had a chance to come out to Gallery 129 Ossington. If you didn't, you have a few more days:

"Arcade" - runs to Saturday September 25th, 2010

Gallery at 129 Ossington (located at......get ready for it......129 Ossington Ave, Toronto, ON)

Gallery Hours: Wed. to Sat. 12 - 6pm or by appointment

And if you can't make it, remember, the unsold work will be there for a few months. You just have to ask to see it! Thanks to everyone for all the positive support on this show. I was really pleased with the work, and I hope to do more work like this in the future. Just not for a few months. WHEW!

LAST WEEK - "ARCADE"

Time flies, huh?
It just seemed like a month ago when I was franticly working to get the paintings done so that my new show could open. Oh wait, I WAS a month ago. Well, for those of you who haven't checked it out, you still have until Saturday, September the 25th. If you just cant make it, be sure to check out this little movie (that is also posted on my website).
I made it on my little mac, but be warned, the production values are not spectacular. It is a bit 'Blair Witch Project-y'. So expect a little drunken camera work. If you were expecting something Spielberg-y you will be filled with disappointment. Be pre-warned that there is some music with this little movie tour, so if you are watching this at the office make sure to turn down your speakers. OR prehaps turn up your speakers and attract a crowd of co-workers who can check it out too!! (can you tell I am not an office worker? ;-) If you are like me, you may just have the song stuck in your head for the remainder of the day. Also be warned that I got a bit heavy on the imovie transition effects! It is a bit of an illness.
Enjoy the video, and hey, try to make it out to my big exhibition this week! There is nothing like seeing it in person!!

MY INTERVIEW WITH TRISH BOON

Last week, I had the great pleasure of being interview by Trish Boon. She will be leading audiences through Gallery at 129 Ossington, during the Ossington leg of the Canadian Art Foundation’s Annual Art Hop on September 25th. Trish swang...er...swung....(that is why I leave the fancy writing to the professionals) by my "Arcade" exhibition while I was hanging it. It was a super hot day and we went next door for a iced latte. I was a bit nervous, because I tend to speak my mind and sometimes I forget to think first. It is a habit that has gotten me into trouble before! I have gotten out of interviews thinking "Oh, Rob, That was awesome!" and then when I read the article thought..."hmmm....I SAID that???".  Luckily any fear I had was almost immediately washed away. Trish had an easy to talk to style that was both effective and interesting. She shared a bit, I shared a bit. It was very nice. She was smart, and I like smart. She was also an interested audience which was refreshing! It was so enjoyable that when I looked down at my watch and noticed the time, I realized that I had spent over an hour talking her ear off. Thankfully, none of this came across in the blog! I would like to quote passages from it here, but I would rather you read the article, from her site. It is much better than I could have put it! 

On a side note, I have to say how nice it is to have someone really get what I am doing. And how happy I was that I did not come accross as a total BAH-FOON!

What did you think of the article??

"ARCADE" IT UP, UNTIL SEPTEMBER 25TH!

Are you sick of hearing about this show?

I knew it!

Well, I won't talk about it much in this post. Last night was the opening reception, alas I forgot my camera at home. There was a packed house. It was terriffic. It was also exhausting! I am so thrilled for the support! For those who couldn't make it out, the exhibition is open until September 25th!

Gallery at 129 Ossington

Gallery Hours: Wed. to Sat. 12 - 6pm or by appointment

For those of you who live out of town/province/country, here are a few installation shots of the show. Remember, they look totally different in person. You simply must see them LIVE LIVE LIVE to get the full effect of the bright colours and large scale and flashing lights!

As you can see, there are a number of smaller pieces that are perfect for a smaller budget! There are a few that don't light up as well, that were inspired by  the information/advertisement package that the pinball machine manufacturers used to send out to interest arcade owners in the latest machines!

FOR A VIDEO TOUR OF THIS SHOW, YOU CAN CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE AT www.robcroxford.com

TOP 10 REASONS TO ATTEND "ARCADE" OPENING

Ok, if you are a regular reader, (I know there are 3 of you) you already know I have a big official exhibition opening this week. If you are not a regular reader, and have somehow stumbled here accidently, or perhaps were redirected from a porn site, herer are the details:

"Arcade" A new exhibition of mixed Media works

Gallery 129 Ossington (2 blocks north of Queen - see map on my website)

Opening Night Reception: Thursday, September 9th, 2010 - 7pm-10pm

I For those who simply cannot come out this Thursday,  you can still check out my exhibition until September 25th. Gallery Hours: Wed. to Sat. 12 - 6pm or by appointment!



Here are the 10 reasons you MUST see this exhibition:


10. This is my first exhibition of mixed media pieces, and is a great benchmark in my illustrious art career. It might be the catalyst that changes my work FOREVER!  The benchmark that will be noted in all the art textbooks (ok ok maybe just in a wikipedia entry....that I wrote myself).


9.   There are 16 pieces that have NEVER BEEN SEEN before. Ok, you can see them on my site, but there ain't nothin' like the real thing! Seriously! They look ok in pictures, but in real life, they are WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY better!


8.  The opening night is stressful for me, and I am always afraid that it will be like a Mary Tyler Moore party. For those of you who are not old enough, and/or were not fans of the Mary Tyler Moore Show, Mary had a knack of having sad, ill-attended, and sometimes disastrous parties! Oh the stress!


7.  The opening coincides with the Toronto International Film Festival. Which means Toronto will be filled to the brim with Hollywood celebrities including: Clint Eastwood, Jon Hamm, Robert De Niro, Hilary Swank, Colin Firth, Robert Redford, Keanu Reeves, Ryan Reynolds, Woody Harrelson, Will Ferrell, Bill Murray, Uma Thurman, Natalie Portman, Clive Owen, Matt Damon, Javier Bardem, Paul Giamatti. And while I am not guaranteeing that George Clooney will show up on my opening night........it is possible. Not probable. But possible!


6.  A bunch of the art lights up. YES. LIGHTS UP!!! C'mon, have you ever seen this before? It is really something new and innovative for me. 

7. You can also check out Stewart Jones' exhibition in the middle room at 129 Ossington that same night. You can also walk up/down ossington and take in a couple of other Galleries. Hell, you could be drunk by the end of the night by checking out all the openings - FOR FREE!


6. There is some food for thought too. Some of the work has an environmental message. Without being too hit-you-over-the-head preachy! The pinball machines are made from re-purposed and recycled materials.

5. There is a great wall of installation behind the art. Something kinda new and different, that really makes the show look like the inside of an old arcade! 


4. Robots. 'Nuff Said?

3. On opening night, there is a FREE glass of wine waiting for you!! (or more importantly - FOR ME!)


2. There is something for every budget! Pick up a little something for $275 or pick up something big and spectacular for more.


1. The show is 'retro-tastic'. It really feels like 1950's work! Oh, and did I mention that some of the work lights up??


So, that is the LAST sales pitch I will make for my show. Ok, maybe not the last, but the last for the OPENING NIGHT RECPETION this THURSDAY the 9th at 7pm.


I hope to see you there!!!!!!

CANADIAN ART FOUNDATION GALLERY HOP HOP HOP

Ok, so as you can see it has been A LONG TIME since I have posted anything. Here's the thing. I have been under the gun to get my latest show together. "Arcade" is less than a month away, and I am still getting the work done....I know what you are thinking - "way to leave it to the last minute, Rob".
Well, I can hardly hear you when you speak to me in that tone! Any-who.....so, things are going along swimmingly, and I am right on track for the big exhibition. I thought I would give you a few more details about the show.
The show opens for 'previews' at Gallery 129 Ossington from September 1st to 8th, and then the opening night is on Thursday September 9th from 7-10. We are doing this so that those of you cottagers have a last-ditch pre-school-start vacation on the Labour Day weekend! 
You're welcome! ;-)
Now, for this show, I am hoping to go all out - decorating the walls with an extra-interesting pattern to 'jazz up' the overall look of the show. I want to capture the excitement of an actual arcade. We will see how this concept translates on site!

As an extra bonus, on the 25th of September, there is an event running in the gallery district
"The Canadian Art Gallery Hop". You can have the chance to tour different gallery areas with key critics, curators and collectors—insiders who will introduce you to the artists and dealers who make the art scene tick. For more details, check out their site!

So, if you can't make it out to the opening night on Thursday the 9th of September, try to catch the tour!!


As an exciting bonus, I am being interviewed by Trish Boon who is leading the Canadian Art Foundation's Art Hop through Gallery 129 during my upcoming exhibition. I am meeting her for coffee to give her the skinny - the 411 - the scoop on all things "ARCADE"  and then if I am interesting enough, I will be featured on her blog in September! F-U-N. Having just spent an hour reading on her blog, I was really taken with how in-depth she gets. It was interesting to NOT read just a regurgitation of an artist statement!


So, that is all the news fit to tell! I will have more to say very soon! Just you wait for more!!