The Toronto Star

THE TORONTO STAR
AGO course explores feminism through art: Participants learn to use visual art to inspire change and create dialogue."

by JACKIE HONG, staff reporter
Friday, April 14, 2017

Canadian artist Aleks Bartosik has long used painting, drawing and sculpture to explore feminist ideas.

Her life experiences were the inspiration behind the first edition of “Art-making Inspired by Feminist Ideas,” a course at the Art Gallery of Ontario that saw a dozen participants explore feminism through various visual mediums including zine-making, collage, painting and sculpture. 

“It was feminist-driven . . . but I don’t want that to be the only thing that (participants) take away from it,” Bartosik said in March after the conclusion of the first edition. “(I hope they get) a sense of achievement and self-expression to speak through visual language, to inspire change or create a dialogue about feminism and talk about ideas to end sexism, oppression, things like that,” she said.

“Art-making is just one form they can do that through without standing around and picketing.” 

The second edition of the course will run for five weeks starting May 3, and costs $275 for AGO members or $355 for the public. Registration is available on the AGO’s website.

The Star asked some of the first edition participants what feminism means to them and how they expressed it through the art they made during the course. 

And here's the direct link to the article: https://www.thestar.com/life/2017/04/14/ago-course-explores-feminism-through-art.html enjoy!

Below,  some of the work created during my class.
all photos by Cole Burston of The Toronto Star.

camille deputter

 

karen vianna

anna zhyn

kristyn dunnion

Mid-OCTOBER in Kingston, ON

If you're in Kingston (Ontario) in mid-October, come and check out Queen's University's Project for Homecoming titled Creative Expressions of Teaching and Learning.  This exhibit runs from October 1 through October 31.

"Much of what we do to enhance teaching and learning at Queen's 
focuses on teaching practices, learning outcomes, course design, 
etc.  While these are incredibly important, we can sometimes miss
the creative element of teaching and learning in higher education.

This month-long exhibit aims to display and celebrate the creativity 
of teaching and learning that contributes greatly to student 
learning."      __ Queen's

Creative Expressions will exhibit the following artifacts 
in a number of spaces on campus throughout the month 
of October 2016 with several interactive components 
during Homecoming 2016 (October 14-16).  Passport 
booklets and maps will be available in Grant Hall. As 
part of these artifacts, my Iridescent Story Pieces 
will be featured at Grant Hall. 

Iridescent Story Pieces: Grant Hall 

Friday, October 14, 2016, 1:00 - 6:00pm

Saturday, October 15, 2016, 8:30am - 12:00pm

for more info visit:

http://www.queensu.ca/ctl/programs-and-events/creative-expressions

© aleks Bartosik, 2016.  Whitehorse Nuit Blanche

SEEKING 10 to 15 CANADIAN MUSICIANS

ANY AGE       ANY STYLE       ANY SOUND

DEADLINE: APRIL 20, 2014

photo credit: leah griffin. 2013

I am proposing a course to the Art Gallery of Ontario that combines two disciplines: Painting and Music.  In order to proceed, I need a solid list of Canadian musicians who would be willing to pose for 2 hours for a painting class (portraiture), as well as, share with the students their craft; either sing, rap, or play an instrument for about 20-30 minutes at the beginning of the class.  Duets are also welcome! This will be a paying gig (standard model fee; 20$/hr).  Dates to be determined.  Once the dates are finalized, the chosen musicians will be notified and will need to be present in the city of Toronto to attend the 3-hour class on the assigned date. The course will most likely run in the Fall of 2014 or Spring of 2015.  

Nominate a musician you know or apply yourself!

Send all SUBMISSIONS via email to Aleks Bartosik at aleksbartosik@yahoo.ca no later than April 20th, 2014.

Submissions must include:

(A) musician’s contact information (email, phone, address, website or blog, if applicable)

(B) a short bio (100 words max)

(C) a sample of your work.  Samples can only be links: either to a Youtube, Vimeo, or a Soundcloud link, and should NOT be longer than 10 minutes (please provide one link only!)

(D) one-page CV showing your experience, that includes your full contact information

(E) one-paragraph proposal what you (and your partner if doing a duet) intend to perform for the class (you will be expected to bring your own instruments/music equipment)

Professional musician: having at least 5 years experience in the music field and had performed in front of an audience, nationally (and internationally). Professional musicians include performers, composers, arrangers, conductors, lyricists, etc. A professional musician is someone who has specialized training in the field (not necessarily in academic institutions); is recognized as a professional by his or her peers (professional artists working in the same artistic tradition); is committed to devoting more time to artistic activity, if possible financially; has a history of public presentation in a professional context.

Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you!

NEWS :: AGO COURSE REGISTRATION

Hi Everyone, 

To those interested, I would like to share some news with you.  Some of you may already know that I teach a painting course at the Art Gallery of Ontario. In January I will be teaching now LIFE DRAWING.  Course registration is ending, so please register before the course is full.  Below are the full details about the course and how to register.  Please feel free to pass this information along.  Thank you and please spread the word! :D

Life Drawing

WEDNESDAYS, January 11 – February 29, @ 7 – 10 pm (8 weeks)  
Instructor: me
Members $321 | Public $385

Prerequisite: Any drawing course or some background in any form of visual art.
Working with life models, students will explore the technical and perceptual skills needed to confidently produce drawings. Students are responsible for the purchase of their own materials.

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How to Register

Online – Click Here

By telephone

Call 416 979 6608
Monday to Tuesday 9 am – 5 pm
Wednesday 9 am – 8 pm
Thursday to Friday 9 am – 5 pm
Saturday 10 am – 3 pm
Sunday Closed

By fax

Send a signed written request with the name of the student, address, phone number, credit card information (card name, card number, your name, expiry date) and course and date selection(s) to 416 204 2717.

Please note: Registration is not confirmed until you have received written notification from the AGO Program Registration office. Members must provide their membership number in order to process requests.

In person

Visit the Program Registration Office at 317 Dundas Street:
Monday to Tuesday 9 am – 5 pm
Wednesday 9 am – 8 pm
Thursday to Friday 9 am – 5 pm
Saturday 10 am – 3 pm
Sunday Closed

painting with aleks...

... some simple painting techniques to paint a portrait.  Adding colours to creat edepth and building detail.  Just one of the painting demos I do at the Art Gallery of Ontario as a painting instructor. 

(a) orange wash, with some pencil

(b) orange + alizarin crimson

(c) orangs, alizarin crimson, phalo blue + turquoise 

(d) orangs, alizarin crimson, phalo blue,  turquoise , yellow, napel's yellow light, + raw umber (some white for major high-lights)