ART TORONTO 2004 - "THE ESSENTIAL EVENT OF THE YEAR"

Celebrating its 5th anniversary, the Toronto International Art Fair closed with record participation, strong sales and solid attendance. The Opening Night Preview benefit for the Art Gallery of Ontario set the tone for the following four days, attracting a sold-out crowd of collectors and local celebrities, with, as the National Post reported, " red dots everywhere." Numerous participating galleries reported record sales. Show management confirmed that over 600 pieces were sold and removed during the show, a 22% increase from last year.

This year was by far the Fair's largest turnout of exhibitors who ranged from Canada's top art dealers to international participants from France, Austria, Spain and Germany. A constant flurry of journalists, television crews, radio hosts visited the Fair that has gained new status as "an institution with a certain weight."

Fair organizers have consistently invested in cultural programming and that was clearly proven to be the case again this year. Seminar rooms were full for panel discussions that included MoCA North Miami Director Bonnie Clearwater, Belgian collectors Yannicke and Wilfried Cooreman and Triple Candie co-directors Shelly Bancroft and Peter Nesbett. This year's cultural program was coordinated by Popsy Johnstone and Marshall Webb.

Richard Rhodes returned to present the second edition of The News At Five, three mini-exhibitions entitled Painting! Painting? Sculpture. installed at 5pm daily. Berlin Constructions examined the work of Berlin-based artists since the fall of the Berlin Wall. The third edition of Fresh Avant-Garde unveiled new work by emerging Canadian and international artists represented by 15 galleries from North America and Europe. Solo Spaces, the Fair's latest addition, featured new project works by Myfanwy MacLeod, Scott McFarland, Daniel Borins and Jennifer Marman, and David Hoffos, names that prompted Canadian Art magazine to say "The artists selected are among the most prominent emerging names on the Canadian art scene." Over at the Power Plant booth visitors were able to sample Guarana Power, a beverage introduced the latest by the Danish collective Superflex that has also served as a conceptual work at the Venice Biennale. The project was a prime example of the Fair's contemporary direction and confirmed its reputation as a venue for new ideas and international dialogue.

A wide range of special events took place in Toronto during the Fair's four-day run. Visitors were also able to celebrate the launch of the new Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art space in Toronto's gallery district and the Art Gallery of Ontario opened its doors to host a private viewing of three remarkable exhibitions. In the city's Distillery District, participating galleries opened their spaces to host unique after-hours receptions for VIP guests and visitors. Special programs for collector groups were well attended.

The 6th edition of the Toronto International Art Fair will take place from November 3-7, 2005.

Art Toronto 2004 was supported by Cadillac, CIBC Wood Gundy, The Globe and Mail, Foreign Affairs Canada, Canadian Art, Roche Bobois and Ontario Tourism.

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Jessica Goldman
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Lauren Dando
Applause! Communications
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