Villa Toronto is the most recent in a series of international gallery meetings initiated by Raster. Previous editions took place in Warsaw (2006), Reykjavik (2010) and Tokyo (2011). The event is not an art fair. Rather, the villa project aims to use the curatorial experience of private galleries to create encounters with the general public and local art communities that are innovative, stimulating, and not merely market driven. The project recognizes the decisive role private galleries play in determining the field of contemporary art and the type of explorations that take place within it. Villa encourages the cross-cultural circulation of art, artists and cultural workers, and dedicates its resources and focus to facilitate such an exchange, throughout the project and in the years to come. In the central Toronto, this collaboration will come together in Union Station—a place with great potential to boost the artistic appreciation of Torontonians.
Raster will present Michał Budny who will develop site specific installation at Union Station and Aneta Grzeszykowska with her piece “CLOCK”.
A publication, Villa Toronto (2014) will accompany the project, featuring presentations of all participating artists and institutions as well as an essay by Polish art historian Sylwia Serafinowicz on the connections between the Toronto and Warsaw art scenes in the 1970s; interview with Corinn Gerber, Director of Art Metropole and one more interview with Toronto art collector by Marshall Webb.
During Villa Toronto a selection of Raster publications will be available at the Union Station.
Villa Toronto is co-financed by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, City of Warsaw, Toronto Arts Council and the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Toronto. In partnership with the Consulate General of France. Villa Toronto is also supported by Osmington Inc., British Council, Goethe Institut, Gallery Express, The Drake Hotel, Wondereur, SOCAN Foundation, Canadian Art, C Magazine.
Union Station, Toronto
