Art Tours  

Car marcher ensemble, c’est le plus court chemin pour aller vers l’autre.

Dans un monde qui tourne trop vite, ralentir et retrouver un espace-temps naturel auprès des artistes se fait par le mouvement le plus naturel: mettre un pied devant l’autre. Dyana a mené une marche lente, légère et profonde pour tous ceux dont l’envie de découverte et discussions démange.

Because walking together is the shortest route to the other.

In a world that moves too fast, slowing down and rediscovering a natural space and time with artists is the most natural of movements: putting one foot in front of the other. Dyana leads a slow, light and deep walk for all those with an itch for exploration and discussion.

Dyana Ouvrard is an emerging curator and cultural worker. In her quest for meaning, Dyana questions the way the world works with artists. Geography colours her approach. In her curatorial practice, she questions the concept of productivity and results and actively creates time for exploration with artists, as well as the process of [collective] creation. Currently Executive and Artistic Director of Le Laboratoire d’Art de Toronto, her artistic signature is the conscious environment and the connection to the “other.” She currently lives in Toronto/Tkaronto.

Join Cindy Scaife, artist and senior curator of the Richmond Street Cycle Track Art Project, in learning about these trend setting concrete barrier murals that help keep the city moving!

Over 350 murals, spanning 3.3 km ( 2.05 ml ) from Parliament Street in the east to Bathurst Street in the west, were painted in 2021 by over one hundred street artists and muralists who responded to the theme of ‘Cycling is Elemental–Earth, Air, Fire and Water’. The concrete barriers were divided into four zones, each comprised of approximately 88 barriers and the artwork was inspired by the assigned zone’s theme. We will be exploring murals inspired by the Fire element.

Cindy Scaife is a highly skilled and experienced professional muralist from Toronto. With over 30 years of experience in the field, Cindy has designed and created murals for a diverse range of clients, including residential, corporate, and educational facilities, as well as public art initiatives. During her involvement with the City of Toronto’s Street ARToronto / StART program, Cindy is proud of the overwhelmingly positive feedback that she has received from citizens who have viewed her work, including her Park Lawn underpass mural and the four Cycle Track Barrier Mural Projects that she curated. For the cycle track projects, Cindy created the themes and the zone specific colour palettes and acted as senior curator. In 2016, as the curator for the pilot project on the Lake Shore Cycle Track Barrier Mural Project, Cindy created and set forth the method of organizing the large scale project that continues to this day. For Cindy, the most rewarding part of mural making is enriching neighbourhoods with a shared artistic vision while respecting the community’s history. With a passion for creating dynamic and diverse works of art that inspire joy and appreciation in all who view them, Cindy is dedicated to elevating the art of mural making to new heights. Her extensive portfolio and enthusiastic reviews demonstrate her talent and unwavering commitment to public art excellence.

This tour is for appreciators of beauty and attention to detail in functional and fine art, including vessels and textiles. Discover craft and design gems and contemporary makers at the Fair through the discerning eyes of Vanja Vaisc of Fashion Art Toronto and enjoy a guided tour of exquisite designs and unique collectibles. 

Vanja Vasic is the founder and creative director of Fashion Art Toronto, Toronto’s leading multi-arts fashion platform. Fashion Art Toronto provides an inclusive platform that supports and celebrates Canadian designers, creatives and artisans through dynamic runway shows, fashion presentations, art installations and retail pop-ups.

Founded in 2005 by Vanja Vasic, Fashion Art Toronto is a multi-arts fashion organization celebrated for its ongoing commitment to providing an inclusive platform for Canada’s diverse fashion and artist communities. Fashion Art Toronto’s fashion week attracts over 8,000 guests per season and features runway shows, fashion presentations, art installations, retail pop-ups and more.

Art dealer Myta Sayo brings her multifaceted and expert perspective to share insight on diverse viewpoints, contexts, and experiences that shape artists’ works and offer viewers new horizons to view art. 

Myta Sayo is an art dealer with extensive experience placing works with collectors in North America. She has facilitated the production of large-format works for corporate and hospitality projects worldwide. Myta founded reference: contemporary, an online art gallery, and exhibited in nine art fairs in New York and three in Miami from 2015-2021. From 2021-2024, she founded and operated Myta Sayo Gallery in Toronto’s vibrant Dundas St. West neighbourhood. The gallery hosted regular exhibitions of works by contemporary Canadian and American artists. Her gallery regularly participates in Art Toronto and the Affordable Art Fair in New York. Through her work, she has cultivated strong partnerships with art consultants, architects, and designers. Myta is a PhD candidate in politics and pursues projects that dovetail research and fine art. She is an amateur machinist, a keen novice golfer, and a measured fan of the Blue Jays.

Curious about how to take the first steps of becoming an art collector? Collector Meghan Yuri Young will inspire you to start and grow an art collection that’s reflective of your personal taste and build a connection to art that speaks to you. 

Meghan Yuri Young is a Toronto-based wellness advocate and storyteller. She not only writes, speaks and hosts, she also produces, consults and mentors. With a focus on art initiatives and the mental health community — the latter through the founding of The Sad Collective, her goal is to promote happier, healthier lifestyles as well as awareness and activism.

 2024 Art Nest curator Rafi Ghanaghounian guides you through this year’s selection of public art installations. Art Nest is TOAF’s annual public art incubator, providing access to artists at the early stage of taking their studio practice to public space.

Rafi Ghanaghounian has been a staple in the Toronto visual arts and design community as an artist, independent curator and consultant for the last twenty years. He has exhibited and organized exhibitions and events that have represented national and international artists, many of whom have moved on to become representatives in international exhibitions and fairs through respected galleries and museums.

Get to know TOAF63’s top award recipients with this special tour led by curator Josh Heuman! Visit the booths of stand-out award recipients, meet the artists in person, and learn more about their practice! You’ll leave the tour with a greater understanding of what made them stand out to the judges.

Josh Heuman is currently Head of Artistic Engagement at Koffler Arts where he is focused on developing a wide array of public programs for audiences of all ages. He has held previous positions in education, exhibitions, and administration at The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery; the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Salt Lake Art Center; Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art at Utah State University; and Joslyn Art Museum. Heuman has delivered guest lectures and participated in panel discussions at numerous galleries/museums and postsecondary institutions. He earned a BA in Visual Art and MA in Art History at York University.

TOAF has shown many nationally and internationally acclaimed Canadian artists during the early stages of their careers. Want to know who will be the rising stars of TOAF63? Join curator Dallas Fellini, who will introduce you to promising talents making waves and taking risks in their genre. 

Dallas Fellini is a curator, writer, and artist living and working in Toronto. Their research is situated at the intersection of trans studies and archival studies. Dallas is a co-director of the arts publication Silverfish and has curated exhibitions and screenings for Gallery 44, Vtape, Trinity Square Video, Xpace Cultural Centre, Hearth, Riverdale Hub Gallery, the Jackman Humanities Institute, and the Art Museum at the University of Toronto. Dallas is the recipient of the 2024 Middlebrook Prize for Young Canadian Curators. 

Photo Credit: Phillip Lý