…at WAAC
Every year Women’s Art hosts The Small Gems Show. Members are called upon to submit up to three small pieces that are no more than $400.00 each. This year 47 members participated.
On Saturday I attended the opening reception and took photos of the show.
If you’re in Toronto come down and check out this show. It runs till Jan. 10, 2026 and if you want an original Christmas gift you can take it with you on the day you make the purchase.
….sometimes shows get cancelled so members are asked to step up
Yesterday I dropped off three pieces of my work to the Women’s Art Association of Canada. The show that had been scheduled to go up this week dropped out and instead of leaving the gallery empty a last minute call was made to members to bring in up to three pieces of work to fill the gallery.
Yesterday after I dropped off my work I also volunteered to stay and help hang the show. Apart from hanging my solo shows, I haven’t been able to do this in almost a year and I really missed the challenge of working with other artists towards a common goal. Not only is the show called ‘Joy’ but it also brought me a great deal of joy working with these wonderful women.
My contributions were three pieces from my solo show that give me much joy.
…today I helped install a pop-up show at WAAC
Thanks to Becky B for hosting November Shadows https://thesquaresofb.com/2025/11/11/shadow-square-11/
…taking in two great shows
The first show featured indigenous artists. It is called REDefined: voices from Turtle Island. Here are a few of my favourite pieces.
The second show was in the Ruth Upjohn Gallery where Kate Greenway featured her beautiful watercolours.
Generally most sales if not all are made in the first week of a show. I hoped to sell one more paintings or photographs in the last two days and much to surprise I sold a photograph in the first hour today and a painting in the last hour plus a few more cards.
One of the best parts of these shows is getting together with family and friends, reconnecting with acquaintances from my past and meeting new people. Yesterday I met two new artists who I hope I can keep in touch with. Today friends who have never seen my work came to the show and two of them completely surprised me when they walked through the door in the last half hour.
Thanks to everyone who supported me throughout my art journey and a special thanks to Rod for helping me set up the show, Kevin who spent three days with me at the gallery and Frieda who helped me take down the show.
….at WAAC
It was a beautiful day. We had the doors wide open at the gallery waiting for my guests and the public to arrive. The wine was chilling and my hostess, Mary had prepared the platters of sweets and nibbles. Here is a quick tour of the gallery.
The afternoon started out slowly but my guests started to arrive and the wine started to flow. The public also started to come through the doors. It was wonderful catching up with friends and family and I loved meeting new people. My cards were a big hit and several paintings and photographs sold. Here is where I was able to add red dots.
…after months of preparation
My art show in the Ruth Upjohn Gallery at the Women’s Art Association of Canada officially opened on Wednesday. I’d love to say that it opened without a hitch but alas a couple of problems did arise or should I say ‘fell down’.
On Wednesday morning I received a message from the gallery that one of my pieces had fallen. After finishing my shift at the Inn (I volunteer at one of Toronto’s Historical Museums) I drove into the city to fix the problem. When I arrived I discovered that a second photo had fallen.
The problem stemmed from the hanging system on the back of the frame. It works fine when you hang it in your home but it doesn’t work in a gallery situation where you are required to use D rings. I had five frames in total with this faulty system and I knew that it was only a matter of time before the others fell.
I took home the frame that broke and purchased two new frames and repurposed two similar frames that I had at home. I returned the next day and found that two more frames had fallen. I reframed and rehung the pieces. I know that the nothing else will fall now and I can rest easy.
The official opening reception starts in a few hours.
Here is a glimpse of what the show looks like:
…enjoying other people’s art
Last Thursday I enjoyed a concert in the afternoon put on by the Women’s Musical Club of Toronto. They featured the tenor Asitha Tennekoon with pianist Steven Philcox and a string quartet. Here is short description of this man’s musical journey into opera.
https://www.amplifiedopera.com/asitha-tennekoon
After this very moving concert I walked over WAAC and took in the the show featuring photography for this year’s Contact Show.
On Saturday Kevin and I drove to the Better Living Building and spent a couple hours exploring the beautiful art at the Toronto Art Project. It was fun meeting artists that we followed on Instagram and conversing with new artists.
On Saturday Kevin and I continued our our art filled weekend and took the train into the city and enjoyed an afternoon listening to a big band group of young people , the Angela Pincente Orchestra at the famous Rex.
The Rex is Toronto’s oldest jazz club.https://www.therex.ca/events/angela-pincente-large-ensemble-9gmm4-txnft-w799d-h3m7j
…a little opera and lots of paintings
On Thursday I made my way downtown to listen to a wonderful opera singer, Midori Marsh.
Midori was the winner of the Women’s Musical Club of Toronto 2024 Career Development Award.
After the concert I walked over to the Royal Museum of Ontario but didn’t get beyond the gift shop because you can no longer access the museum via the store. I’m hoping this is temporary.
I could have entered from the main entrance but I wanted to check out the show at WAAC which is a block north of the ROM.
When I arrived at Women’s Art I was greeted by this sandwich board.
The show is wonderful with very large and varied pieces. One year I’ll attempt a large piece so that I can participate in this show.
… more
Today Kevin and I attended the Lambton Kingsway Annual Art Show. Kevin learned that one of the artists that he follows was exhibiting here so he wanted to meet her.
Mama Cormier 