Charismatic Storytellers & Great Vibes

Today we are spotlighting the return of Art Tours and the electric music programming to get you excited for what’s coming up. 

A fantastic roster of curators and artists – all charismatic storytellers – are joining us to lead great conversations between you and the #TOAF61 participating artists. We love the variety and myriad of perspectives in our guided Art Tours this year – we hope you do too! Make sure to reserve your spots! 

There are also some exciting new initiatives. This is the first time we will offer an Art Tour in American Sign Language led by TOAF Artist and the 2021 Murray and Marvelle Koffler Founder's Award recipient, Peter Owusu-Ansah. He will guide you through his connections, relations, and inner and outer feelings about this year’s artists. Also new, is a French-language tour to celebrate all our visiting Francophone artists and audiences in partnership with Le Labo, Toronto's Francophone Media Arts Centre. 

The last first (for today’s newsletter at least! 😉 ) is highlighting the electric selection of bands and musicians that are joyfully curated by our new partners at Small World Music. The high-energy sounds of Big Smoke Brass Band, the blues and arabesque tunes of Maria and The Band, Ammoye's future-forward reggae sounds and the groovy spinning of DJ Sawtay, will be sure to enliven the cascading Beer Garden on the stage as you take a break from art-loving and collecting at Nathan Phillips Square. 

StreetARToronto Laneway Project Mural Walk with Sadie Marshall

Wednesday, July 13 at 2:00 PM | Register here
Location: 281 College Street, Toronto, M5T 1S2, meet in front of the building

Join Sadie Marshall, an artist with StreetARToronto, in exploring a series of new laneway murals and graffiti art themed ‘grit’. These works celebrate the resilience of local businesses and the surrounding communities, illustrate the history of the Chinatown, and Kensington neighbourhoods, and showcase the resurgence of the legendary El Mocambo music venue. This tour will also be available as TOAF Instagram Livestream.
 

‘I Covet This’ with Danielle Suppa   

Friday, July 15 at 12:00 PM

Danielle Suppa, Owner + Creative Director of SOUVENIR, has a keen eye for beautifully executed, purposefully and lovingly-made objects. Join her as she visits the artists behind her dreamy finds.
 

Emerging Artists to Watch at TOAF with Jacqueline Kok

Friday, July 15 at 1:30 PM

Get to know the next generation of TOAF artists pushing the boundaries of their mediums alongside Jacqueline Kok, curator at The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery.
 

Peter Owusu-Ansah’s Tour

Friday, July 15 at 3:00 PM | Register here
American Sign Language Tour

With Peter Owusu-Ansah, join him in discussing collective and individual connectivity and how our diverse similarities and differences shift perspective and experience. 
 

Fair Awards Tour

Saturday, July 16 & Sunday, July 17 at 10:30 AM
Hosted by TOAF Team

Discover a selection of TOAF61’s award recipients for a deeper look into their works and what made them stand out to judges.
 

Francophone Artists at TOAF with Dyana Ouvrard

Saturday, July 16 at 12:00 PM
Presented by Le Labo
French Tour

Join Dyana Ouvrard, Director of Le Labo, Toronto's Francophone Media Arts Centre, for a French-language tour of Francophone artists at the Fair.
 

Art Collectors in Conversation with Hirbod Human

Saturday, July 16 at 1:30 PM

Join Hirbod Human, an art enthusiast, businessman and TOAF61 Juror, on art collecting 101, infused with his inspiring collecting stories and practical tips. 
 

Behind Art Nest with Asad Raza

Saturday, July 16 & Sunday, July 17 at 3:00 PM

Art Nest Artists talk about their processes and imaginations behind creating their first large-scale public artworks in an engaging conversation facilitated by Asad Raza, an expert in public art. Tours highlight three different artists on both Saturday and Sunday. 
 

Story Walk with Que Rock

Sunday, July 17 at 1:30 PM

Que Rock, artist and TOAF61 Juror, will draw you in with his captivating storytelling, connecting the land and the everyday art around us through his stand-out artists of the Fair. 

Presented by
Small World Music

Location: Beer Garden, Nathan Phillips Square

Our new programming partners at Small World Music have curated an electric selection of bands and musicians to get you moving for the three days of the Fair. 

Big Smoke Brass Band

Friday, July 15 at 5:00 PM & 6:00 PM

Kick-off the Fair with high-energy sound as Big Smoke Brass Band, a leading voice in the Canadian Brass Scene, erupts in joyful celebration. 

Maria and The Band

Saturday, July 16 at 1:00 PM
Sunday, July 17 at 4:00 PM

Revel in vibrant music from the Canadian and Brazilian group rooted in traditional forró "pé de serra" music and shaped by influences ranging from blues to arabesque. Follow them on Instagram: @mariabandca

Ammoye

Saturday, July 16 at 4:00 PM
Sunday, July 17 at 1:00 PM

Move to Ammoye's future-forward reggae sounds that pull from dancehall to R&B influences as her infectious voice invites you to reflect on justice and empowerment.