From October through November, the Toronto Biennial of Art invited school groups and educators to engage with a host of newly commissioned and existing projects from over 48 Canadian and international contemporary artists.
Offered for free on weekdays at the Biennial’s two main venues – the Small Arms Inspection Building and 259 Lake Shore Blvd East – school groups from across the GTA could visit the exhibitions with the Biennial’s Storytellers, as well as participate in specially-designed workshops for various age groups facilitated by dynamic artists and educators. Through experiential and embodied approaches, students and educators could connect their own experiences to the questions and conversations posed by Biennial’s contributors and their projects.
Educators were able to attend special information evenings to introduce the Biennial’s programs and exhibitions, as well as identify curricular connections. In addition, the TBA Tools for Learning Toolbox could be downloaded for free, and offered a range of experimental and relational approaches for visitors of all ages to engage with artist projects.
October 1 – November 29
Bios
Using the authentic studio-based method of artistic creation, Blank Canvases was founded with the mission to teach children about real local Toronto Artists. Artist Educators engage our participants in activities that promote creative thinking and inspire them with contemporary art practices and creative sustainable approaches to artmaking. Our unique student-centred facilitation works to emphasizes collaboration and group camaraderie. With partnerships with the Toronto District School Board and Toronto Catholic District School Board, our programming links clearly to the Ontario Ministry of Education Arts Curriculum.
Mark Dudiak (he/him) is a Toronto-based artist whose work explores loss through painting, video, and installation. A settler born on Treaty 6 territory in Saskatoon, he holds a BFA from Emily Carr University, Vancouver and an MFA from Concordia University, Montréal. Dudiak has exhibited across Canada and Europe at venues such as ZK/U Berlin; Projet Pangée Montréal; Forest City Gallery, London, ON; Access Gallery, Vancouver; and Nuit Blanche Toronto.