Art lovers invited to Riverdale Art Walk's 12th year.
M-J Kelley is one of the artists whose work will be on display during the Riverdale Art Walk, June 5 and 6, 2010. (May 28, 2010)
Staff photo/NICK PERRY
For a dozen years now, thousands of art lovers have made a mass exodus to the city's east end for a weekend in June to enjoy the Riverdale Art Walk (RAW).The juried original fine art show and sale, put on by the Artists' Network, a Riverdale-based organization dedicated to supporting visual artists in their professional business practice through the promotion of their professional development and entrepreneurship, takes place Saturday, June 5 and Sunday, June 6 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. More than 90 artists are set to exhibit their work at Jimmie Simpson Park (near Queen Street East and Logan Avenue), while dozens more will showcase their art inside retail spaces, studios and galleries in south Riverdale's Riverside and Leslieville communities from Broadview Avenue all the way to Leslie Street. Olena Sullivan, the free event's administrator, said the RAW has been growing year after year and the 2010 edition offers a range of art for people to enjoy. Sullivan said this year visitors can check out the RAW's expanded 12-page guide, which includes details about two new self-guided art tours."It's a chance for people to explore the neighbourhood. It's a great stroll," she said, noting the first walk includes artist exhibits along Queen Street East, Carlaw Avenue and at Jimmie Simpson Park, while the second brings people more into the south Riverdale community where they are more than welcome to do a little shopping, stop for lunch or a coffee break. "We're highlighting the full Riverdale neighbourhood. The area has been changing and improving so much in the last several years," said the Leslieville resident, who will have three of her photographs featured in the Artists' Network's members show at the Hang Man Gallery, 756 Queen St. E. "In this end it's all about supporting our local artists. That's what the Artists' Network is all about."One of those local artists participating in the RAW for the first time is M-J Kelley.A diverse artist specializing in hand-drawn illustrations, and comic and fine art, Kelley will open the doors of her Carlaw Avenue studio to the public for the two-day Riverdale Art Walk, one of the Artists' Network's major fundraisers alongside the Little Art Show.A classically trained artist who draws every day, she'll showcase some of her latest work during the two-day event - notably a series of gouache paintings of anthropomorphic creatures based on plant life exhibiting human behaviour and characteristics.An artist for more than 20 years, Kelley recently completed a contract at the Royal Ontario Museum where she was commissioned to paint more than 120 animal specimens featured in the newly opened Schad Gallery of Biodiversity. She's also designed theatre sets and painted large murals among other things over the years.Kelley, who moved to the area a year and a half ago from the city's west end, said joining the Artists' Network is a chance for her to make connections with other artists locally and throughout Ontario."It's a chance to be a part of the community, to get to know my neighbours," she said.Ann Marie Higgins only recently decided to pursue her passion for art on a more full-time basis. In the late '70s, the Moore Park resident obtained a degree in fine art from the University of Toronto and went on to pursue a career in education. Just more than five years ago, she chose to study art at the Toronto School of Art and hasn't looked back since."Art has been my lifelong interest and I'm glad I'm following my heart," she said.Higgins, who enjoys using reclaimed and recycled metal in her pieces in a style of art she calls non-representational, is one of the Artists' Network's 10 resident artists. Her work is set to be featured for the fourth consecutive year in the network's members' show, which this year is themed "Everything Old is Art Again."The grand opening of the Artists' Network's members' show takes place Thursday, June 3 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Hang Man Gallery, 756 Queen St. E.The exhibit runs until Sunday, June 20.The Riverdale Art Walk, a rain or shine event, will also feature jazz quartet, Mood Swings, who will serenade guest in Jimmie Simpson Park on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.Visit www.riverdaleartwalk.com for more information and a complete list of all participating artists.