Style Highlights From November’s Art Parties
Luis Jacob at Art Metropole’s 50th Anniversary Party, photographed by Vanessa Cassar.
ART METROPOLE’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY AT EAST ROOM
Since its founding in 1974, Art Metropole – a non-profit artist-run centre which operates the oldest and longest-running artist-run bookstore in the world – has maintained its position as one of Toronto’s key cultural destinations. From its programming, which includes having a booth at the upcoming Turning Tables Art Book / Publication Fair + Show, to the range of publications and multiples it sells, it remains an evolving archive and thriving temperature-taker of the zeitgeist.
Earlier this month, East Room’s west end location hosted Art Metropole’s team, board and an assortment of fabulously-dressed well-wishers for a 50th Anniversary party that included a Lucky Draw featuring works by Art Metropole founders General Idea, Azadeh Elmizadeh, Eunice Luk, Yoko Ono, Lan “Florence” Yee and Patrick Cruz. My date for the occasion was designer Warren Steven Scott, and bless, he wore a piece from the final Dries Van Noten-designed collection (a covetable confection of Grinch-green tinsel). And Frank Griggs, DJ and party host as well as my editor at OMG Blog, was decked out in a shimmery sheer top from the final collection of Jeremy Laing.
Yasmin Nurming-Por, co-founder of Two Seven Two Gallery, was in one of my favourite looks of the evening – a Peanuts-themed blazer and green snakeskin print trousers – and Art Metropole board member Sameen Mahboubi graced us with a gorgeous floral-embroidered jacket. Artist Luis Jacob had a wonderful multi-pattern ensemble on, while other guests like cultural writer Kevin Ritchie opted to make a statement with powerful accessories – in Ritchie’s case, mustard-coloured socks, and in another, with brand Puppets and Puppets’ cheeky cookie-embellished purse.
I wore a few of my favourite closet items: A vintage Diane Freis dress over flowy COS trousers, Maguire flats and a Jenny Holzer Trusims baseball cap that says “Protect Me From What I Want.” And I left the party with a limited edition cap from Art Metropole, which I’m getting questions about every time I wear it!
Photography by Vanessa Cassar.
SOBEY ART AWARD CEREMONY AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF CANADA
I spent a whirlwind weekend in Ottawa to attend the Sobey Art Award ceremony at the National Gallery of Canada. Nico Williams’ striking, deftly made beaded sculptures clearly captivated the jury as Williams went home with the evening’s prize. And I was mesmerized by the array of amazing looks sported by the event’s guests.
There was artist Zoe Kreye in opera gloves and an intriguing dress design by Le8on – a collaborative piece made with Olga Abeleva of whatsunderthemattress. Reneltta Arluk, the Director of Indigenous Arts at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, wore luxe earrings by Savage Rose and an Italian-made belt over a dress from Banana Republic; I love how this detail gave a classic gown a more subversive silhouette!
Artist Oluseye stunned in a latex top by 16ARLINGTON, trousers by Random Identity, and Tabis from Maison Margiela. More major tailoring moments were sported by artist Sameer Farooq; the Montréal Museum of Fine Art’s Indigenous Arts Curator, Léuli Eshrāghi; and Olimpia Lombardi, Exhibitions Manager at the NGC. My favourite duo of the evening was Sobey Art Award juror Kent Monkman (in all Rick Owens) and Laurent Bergeron (whose get-up included a glorious vest by Marie-Ève Lecavalier).
There was an abundance of magnificent Indigenous outfits in the crowd, including looks worn by Vice-President, Indigenous Way and Decolonization at the NGC, Steven Loft; Riddu Riddu festival director, Sajje Solbakk; and artist – and the husband/collaborator of Sobey Art Award shortlister, Taqralik Partridge – Nils Ailo Utsi.
It also wouldn’t be an art party without some truly wacky fashion moments, and my two favourites on this occasion were the cat bag sported by Norberg Hall co-founder, Shannon Norberg, and artist Bridget Moser’s Fashion Brand Company muscle frock (I am now obsessed with the label’s bug dress!). I’ll be writing a post in the future about my outfit, so stay tuned for that!
Photography by Opaloma.
ART ATTACK AT BUDDIES IN BAD TIMES THEATRE
The annual Buddies in Bad Times Theatre fundraiser/auction ArtAttack! was a high-energy event that saw work by Rajni Perera, Marigold Santos, Nathan Eugene Carson, Kris Knight and Maurice Vellekoop being bid on.
Buddies’ Artistic Director Ted Witzel and others opted to wear black lace, and another artist involved in the auction, Amelia Ehrhardt, donned a sheer ecru frock. Kelly Kyle and Sonja Scharf – co-founders of Akasha Art Projects, the framing sponsor for ArtAttack! – had a perfectly coordinated all-black-everything vibe, while Emily Gove of Hamilton-based retailer Polyester Plus – and one of the live auction’s curators – layered pattern and pops of red with a dreamy black dress.
Katie Saunoris, who worked on the evening’s PR, looked ultra-festive in a glowing, star-embellished frock from Doll Factory by Damzels and its voluminous silhouette matched that of my custom Philip Sparks dress and my date photographer Ryan Van Der Hout’s oversized button-down. Birds of a feather, as they say….
Photography by Wade Muir.
