Welcome to Opaloma

Photo by Jenna Marie Wakani.

Hi, I’m Odessa Paloma Parker, the founder of Opaloma and creator of all the content you see on this site. Does that make it a blog? Maybe a little bit, but what I’m hoping you’ll find first and foremost is that this is a spot to come when you need some mental activation. A place to be delighted and inspired by the words and work of exceptional creatives based locally and abroad.

I started Opaloma coming out of the many COVID-19 lockdowns we had here in Toronto; as galleries began to take private appointments I would eagerly snap them up. Each time I entered an exhibition, I felt a deep sense of gratitude and an immediate attitude shift as I found myself immersed in whatever world the artist, or artists, showing had crafted for us to investigate and appreciate.

I began to tell friends about my gallery hops – I would strive to visit a few at a time, building out an itinerary that eventually included stops into shops and a glass of wine at a cute bar or restaurant; and I was encouraged to share these jaunts with others. And so came the Opaloma newsletter.

Hearing folks say that they had a wonderful afternoon getting out to some galleries, or that they discovered a new artist that they simply adored, gave me great pleasure. From there, I began to feature interviews with artists whose work really resonated with me. Each dispatch is also peppered with fashion, music and theatre news – I am a lifestyle editor, after all!

I’ve come to find myself with so much to be excited about in the art, culture and style worlds that a website was the next logical step. The newsletter will remain a dispatch dedicated to sharing gallery hop itineraries, as well as where you can get first access to upcoming Opaloma Tours.

I hope you find as much pleasure in crafting a life that celebrates creativity as I do, and that Opaloma is part of that experience.