Friday, January 30, 2009

New Website

We've MOVED!

Our new Octopus Project webpage is up at www.octopusproject.ca!

And our blog is also moving to the new site!

Actually, we've been maintaining two sites all along, and now our blog is under our main octopusproject.ca website.

Thanks!

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

OPV: SECRETS ... Nuit Blanche full artist list announced

The Octopus Project is thrilled to announce the full list of artists for the Nuit Blanche Independent Project component of our SECRETS show, taking place on October 4, 6:52pm - 7am. We will be showing the work of our largest group this time, 105 artists in total! Keep checking our website or our blog for updates ... www.octopusproject.ca

Elle Alconel
Audrey Alfred-Duggan
Andrew Alfred-Duggan
Kim Baker
BeneCorpo
Traven Benner
Andrea Blonde
Monica Bodirsky
Paul Brandejs
Chris Brett
David Brown
Steve Brugmans
Mark Byk
Susan Card
Nan Carson
Adrienne Cohen
Amy Collier
Chris Crewe
Graham Curry
Ilana Divantman
Robyn Drage
Natalie Drajewicz
Martina Edmondson
Moudu Ekhar
Susan Ellis
Damon Erickson
Alicia Fahey
Lizbet Franka
Elana Freeman
Tim Freeman & Ginette Mohr
Val French
Beth Frey
Sean Frey
Frodo
Raul Galvez
Foster Gauley
Sue Goldstein
Melanie Gordon
Anthony Grandy
Ilse Gudino
Martha Heder
Chelsee Hennebury
Sarah Hopen
Shelagh Howard
Tammy Hoy
Bryce Huffman
John Hyslop
Tania Natasia Maria Iskiw
Uros Jelic
Jeremy Kaposy
Noah Kenneally
Tanya Kirouac
Ed Kotanen
Fleur-Ange Lamothe
Frank Lemire
Elsha Leventis
Jodi Lewis
Wendy Lilly
Pam Lostracco
Joan Malcolmsen
Barbara Mann
Carol Matson
Catherine Matyskiel
Brian Mayer
Steven McCabe
Mori McCrae
Catherine Mellinger
Sandy Middleton
Michelle Morinaga
Haruna Murota
Lisa Murzin
Renée Nault
Deborah Nolan
Alex Nursall
Elizabeth Nutting
Tracy O'Duinn
Agata Ostrowska
Dave Pijuan-Nomura
David Rayfield
Terence Reeves
Karen Roberts
Maud Rostaing
Deanna Scriver
Patricia Seeley
Alison Shields
Ann Shier
Lisa Smolkin
Anna Sorensen
Ben Stansfield
Jessica Sturrup
Olena Sullivan
Karen Taylor
Mark Tearle
Sarah-Jane Thiessen
Chris Tsirbas
Teresa Van Neste
Najma Velshi
Velta Vikmanis
Carmen Wagner
Kevin Wilson
Emi Yano
Hailey Yates

octopusprojecttoronto@gmail.com

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Octopus Project V: SECRETS ... a whisper of Nuit Blanche

Hi everyone,

To put out a whisper of what is to come of Octopus Project V: SECRETS before Nuit Blanche, we will be exhibiting the work of 16 of Artscape's Case Goods artists at Balzac's Café in the Distillery District from Sept 9 - Oct 4. Balzac's Café's artspace has been dedicated to showcasing the work of Artscape's Case Goods artists since January 2008, and we are pleased to be utilizing this space to launch our show.

The following artists will be showing work as part of Octopus Project V: SECRETS at Balzac's Café ...
Traven Benner
David Brown
Susan Card
Robyn Drage
Melanie Gordon
John Hyslop
Tanya Kirouac
Ed Kotanen
Elsha Leventis
Carol Matson
Catherine Mellinger
Agata Ostrowska
Ann Shier
MJ Steenberg
Chris Tsirbas
Marjolyn Vanderhart

Stay tuned for more Octopus Project V: SECRETS news as we prepare for our Nuit Blanche exhibit.

Balzac's Café
55 Mill Street, Distillery Historic District
Building 60

Best,
Catherine & Melanie
co-facilitators
www.octopusproject.ca
octopusprojecttoronto@gmail.com

Friday, June 27, 2008

Octopus Project IV: ONE RIDE ONLY ... full artist list

Octopus Project IV: ONE RIDE ONLY
July 19-20
49 artists, 2 days, 1 image

We are pleased to announce the full artist list for the upcoming Octopus Project IV: ONE RIDE ONLY!

Andrew Alfred-Duggan
Audrey Alfred-Duggan
Kim Baker
Traven Benner
Paul Brandejs
David Brown
Susan Card
Amy Collier
Liz Coucean
Sarah Crover
Justine E. Dart
Darrin Davis
Natalie Drajewicz
Moudu Ekhar
Susan Ellis
Alicia Fahey
Val French
Michelle Furlong
Sue Goldstein
Melanie Gordon
Ilse Gudino
Sarah Henriques
Bryce Huffman
Blair Kelly
Ed Kotanen
Fleur-Ange Lamonthe
Pam Lostracco
Catherine Matyskiel
Brian Mayer
Catherine Mellinger
Sandy Middleton
Michelle Morinaga
Sarah Mousseau
Renée Nault
Deborah Nolan
Elizabeth Nutting
Tracy O'Duinn
Rey Ortega
Joya Paul
David Rayfield
Hannah Reim
Karen Roberts
Maud Rostaing
Ann Shier
Anna Sorensen
Olena Sullivan
Mark Tearle
Velta Vikmanis
Nancy Joy Wilson

Monday, May 26, 2008

Octopus Project IV: ONE RIDE ONLY ... Spark Announced!

Thank you all so much for your support of Octopus Project III: PUSH/PULL, we are ecstatic at how the show came together and the wonderful traffic we had throughout the weekend. We have uploaded a web gallery of images from the weekend, which can be viewed at www.octopusproject.ca/octopusproject3

A enormous thanks as well to all those that volunteered during the weekend, we could not have run the opening or the exhibit as smoothly without your help.

And now on to the next spark!

The spark for Octopus Project IV is "ONE RIDE ONLY" and this time around we chose to base the theme on an image which served as our inspiration to pass on to our Octopus Project community. Please find the image attached, and feel free to take from it what sparks you, the colours, the text, the date, the image, anything that speaks to you.

Show details are as follows ...
Octopus Project IV: ONE RIDE ONLY
Saturday July 19 - Sunday July 20
Opening reception will be help on Saturday July 19 (times to be announced)

The fee to participate is $15.00, and we will be limiting the number of participating artists to 100, with one piece per artist only. Maximum size per piece will again be 30 x 30 inches. Please do keep within this limitation to help us in hanging the work.

We have been thrilled with your enthusiasm, support and talent and look forward to seeing the show evolve and further grow as we continue with the Octopus Project! A special note as well that we have had some artists tell us they have not been receiving our e-mails. We ask that all of you add the octopusprojecttoronto@gmail.com e-mail to your address books in order to ensure we are not sent to your junk mail, and thus making sure you all get show information etc.

If you would like to participate in the Octopus Project IV: ONE RIDE ONLY, please confirm back to us by JUNE 22.

The OCTOPUS PROJECT seeks to …
• Provide an outlet for artists to keep making art by offering a challenge to create (a "spark") based on something we may not usually be inspired by.
• Bring playfulness back into art and the art process.
• Offer an avenue to reconnect with the sparks that fuel creativity.
• Create a shared visual representation of diversity within unity through one theme with many different voices.

WHO … You. Painters, sculptors, photographers, printmakers, storytellers, musicians, performers, puppeteers, writers, poets,
potters, glass artists, beaders, sewers, quilters, doll makers, dancers. Anyone who uses creativity as an outlet, who uses creativity to express themselves and wants to share that with others in an environment of community, collaboration and support. Note that if you are a performer or dancer, please speak with us about how we can accommodate your submission, as we want all art/creative forms to be included.

WHAT … A collective show, running for one weekend, every eight weeks based on one image, sent out as a "spark" to our mailing list. Artists are to create 1 piece each, either individually or in collaboration, with maximum dimensions of 30 x 30 inches.

WHEN ... Participants must confirm they will be submitting a piece to the show by JUNE 22. The drop off times will be 1-2 days before the event and will be sent out to participants in advance. The show will take place July 19-20, with opening reception time to be announced.

WHERE … 55 Mill St., The Case Goods Warehouse in the Distillery District, Studio 410 (home of Melanie Gordon Photography) and 4th floor studios.

HOW … By e-mailing us at octopusprojecttoronto@gmail.com and including your name, contact info (including phone number please) and mediums you work in (all of them). We are asking for a participation fee of $15 to cover the cost of installation and production (flyers etc.) All works will be for sale and artists will receive 100% of the sale price. If you do not wish to sell your pieces, you can specify this with us.

Welcome to the Octopus Project, we look forward to playing with you all!

Regards,
Catherine Mellinger & Melanie Gordon
co-facilitators

Octopus Project IV: ONE RIDE ONLY ... Spark Announced!

Thank you all so much for your support of Octopus Project III: PUSH/PULL, we are ecstatic at how the show came together and the wonderful traffic we had throughout the weekend. We have uploaded a web gallery of images from the weekend, which can be viewed at www.octopusproject.ca/octopusproject3

A enormous thanks as well to all those that volunteered during the weekend, we could not have run the opening or the exhibit as smoothly without your help.

And now on to the next spark!

The spark for Octopus Project IV is "ONE RIDE ONLY" and this time around we chose to base the theme on an image which served as our inspiration to pass on to our Octopus Project community. Please find the image attached, and feel free to take from it what sparks you, the colours, the text, the date, the image, anything that speaks to you.

Show details are as follows ...
Octopus Project IV: ONE RIDE ONLY
Saturday July 19 - Sunday July 20
Opening reception will be help on Saturday July 19 (times to be announced)

The fee to participate is $15.00, and we will be limiting the number of participating artists to 100, with one piece per artist only. Maximum size per piece will again be 30 x 30 inches. Please do keep within this limitation to help us in hanging the work.

We have been thrilled with your enthusiasm, support and talent and look forward to seeing the show evolve and further grow as we continue with the Octopus Project! A special note as well that we have had some artists tell us they have not been receiving our e-mails. We ask that all of you add the octopusprojecttoronto@gmail.com e-mail to your address books in order to ensure we are not sent to your junk mail, and thus making sure you all get show information etc.

If you would like to participate in the Octopus Project IV: ONE RIDE ONLY, please confirm back to us by JUNE 22.

The OCTOPUS PROJECT seeks to …
• Provide an outlet for artists to keep making art by offering a challenge to create (a "spark") based on something we may not usually be inspired by.
• Bring playfulness back into art and the art process.
• Offer an avenue to reconnect with the sparks that fuel creativity.
• Create a shared visual representation of diversity within unity through one theme with many different voices.

WHO … You. Painters, sculptors, photographers, printmakers, storytellers, musicians, performers, puppeteers, writers, poets,
potters, glass artists, beaders, sewers, quilters, doll makers, dancers. Anyone who uses creativity as an outlet, who uses creativity to express themselves and wants to share that with others in an environment of community, collaboration and support. Note that if you are a performer or dancer, please speak with us about how we can accommodate your submission, as we want all art/creative forms to be included.

WHAT … A collective show, running for one weekend, every eight weeks based on one image, sent out as a "spark" to our mailing list. Artists are to create 1 piece each, either individually or in collaboration, with maximum dimensions of 30 x 30 inches.

WHEN ... Participants must confirm they will be submitting a piece to the show by JUNE 22. The drop off times will be 1-2 days before the event and will be sent out to participants in advance. The show will take place July 19-20, with opening reception time to be announced.

WHERE … 55 Mill St., The Case Goods Warehouse in the Distillery District, Studio 410 (home of Melanie Gordon Photography) and 4th floor studios.

HOW … By e-mailing us at octopusprojecttoronto@gmail.com and including your name, contact info (including phone number please) and mediums you work in (all of them). We are asking for a participation fee of $15 to cover the cost of installation and production (flyers etc.) All works will be for sale and artists will receive 100% of the sale price. If you do not wish to sell your pieces, you can specify this with us.

Welcome to the Octopus Project, we look forward to playing with you all!

Regards,
Catherine Mellinger & Melanie Gordon
co-facilitators

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Octopus Project III: PUSH/PULL artist list!

65 artists, 3 days, 1 theme
Octopus Project III: PUSH/PULL in conjunction with Doors Open Toronto and Open Doors at the Case Goods Warehouse is pleased to announce our artist list!

Kim Baker
Traven Benner
Allison Billings
Andrea Blonde
Mike Bolwell
Paul Brandejs
David Brown
Maihyet Burton
Nan Carson
Po Chun Lau
Neil Collyer
Darrin Davis
Natalie Drajewicz
Moudu Ekhar
Sue Ellis
Damon Erickson
Laura Fetterley
Milo Flores
Elana Freeman
Tim Freeman & Ginette Mohr
Val French
Heather Gentleman
Sue Goldstein
Melanie Gordon
Johan Hallbert-Campbell
Martha Heder & Naomi Heder
Laurel James
Ed Kotanen
Fleur-Ange Lamothe
Sara Lauzon
Michael Lewis
Sophia Lin
Elisha MacMillan
Catherine Mellinger
Shara Mohamed
Renée Nault
Deborah Nolan
Elizabeth Nutting
Tracy O'Duinn
Dave Pijuan-Nomura
Lisa Pijuan-Nomura
Corin Pinto
David Rayfield
Karen Roberts
Patricia Seeley
Afsaneh Shafai
Anne Shier
Lisa Smolkin
Fiona Smyth
Anna Sorensen
M.J. Steenberg
Nebojsa Stojkovic
Natasa Stojkovic
Janine Stoll
Jessica Sturrup
Sam Sueshi Miya
Olena Sullivan
Denis Taman Bradette
Teresa Van Neste
Stephanie Vegh
Laura Vegys
Alexei Vella
Najma Velshi
Emi Yano
Hailey Yates
Zotz* Collective

We are also pleased to announce that Janine Stoll will be performing at our opening on Friday May 23rd from 7-10pm. Performances will take place between 8-10pm.

More announcements and the press release with flyer to be out soon!
For more information about the show, to be held May 23-25, please contact us at octopusprojecttoronto@gmail.com

Have a sparkling day,
Catherine & Melanie
Octopus Project Co-Facilitators