PHOTO BY SUMMER REID/GLEANER NEWS: The city’s first road mural was installed late last month on Baldwin Street in Kensington Market. Part of the StreetARToronto Road Mural program, the mural is the result of a collaboration between artists and the Kensington Market BIA. The mural was painted using latex paint, which is made to withstand weather elements and foot traffic for six to nine months. The City of Toronto launched the pilot project after a proposal to legalize road murals did not pass Toronto City Council. Four additional murals will be installed throughout the city under the project by the end of October.
—Summer Reid/Gleaner News  Read more

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Bohemian Embassy tribute honours founder Don Cullen

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By Annemarie Brissenden

It’s hard to feel sad when playing a ukulele.

“Everyone feels good when they play the music,” laughs Sarah Bradley, a branch head librarian with the Toronto Public Library (TPL). She and her colleagues have been running a ukulele program at the Lillian H. Smith branch at College Street and Spadina Avenue that is proving surprisingly popular.  Read more

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Open Tuning festival returns to Seaton Village June 11

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KYM WATTS: Laneways, porches, and garages come alive with music during Seaton Village’s Open Tuning festival. Musicians of all ages, genres, and abilities are welcome to perform during this community celebration, which is modelled on La Fête de la Musique in Paris.  Read more

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Photo Courtesy Philip Desjardins

A canoeist portages across Bay Street on Davenport Road during last year’s Davenportage, an annual trek made by history buffs along Gete-Onigaming, an old Aboriginal trail that links the Humber and Don rivers. “Portage” by Philip Desjardins is one of 15 photographs that comprise Solitaire, curated by Becky Parsons for QSQ Giclee Boutique (845 College St.). This solo exhibition, which is part of the Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival 2016, explores translations of the 18th century card game through 15 photographs presented alongside captions that suggest a range of interpretations.  Read more

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Transforming neighbourhoods into open air galleries

Artist Jorge Molina poses on Walmer Road with some of his work. He is installing 416 canvases on utility poles throughout the city as part of his 416 Project.
NEILAND BRISSENDEN/GLEANER NEWS

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Galleries & Studios Hop returns to Markham Street April 23 and 24

Landscape artist Jill Boschulte, who works from small planes, creates monoprints, water-coloured pencil drawings, and collages. Her Furrows (above) will feature at Art Zone during the Hop.
COURTESY ART ZONE

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Several local galleries are participating in this year’s Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival, now in its 20th year. The largest photography event in the world, the festival features 1500 artists in 200 exhibitions across the Greater Toronto Area.

Exhibition: The Dark Room 5.0
Artist: Various
Gallery: 918 Bathurst
918 Bathurst St.
Date: May 17  Read more

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NEILAND BRISSENDEN/GLEANER NEWS

Annex resident, Governor General’s Performing Arts Award Winner, and Order of Canada Member R.H. Thomson (shown here at The Green Beanery at Bloor and Bathurst streets) stars as a prominent historian and Quebec sovereigntist navigating the ravages of dementia in You Will Remember Me playing at the Tarragon Theatre (purchase tickets) until April 13. For full story, please see: What does it mean to remember?  Read more

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Play starring R.H. Thomson opens at Tarragon

COURTESY CYLLA VON TIEDEMANN
Warm and funny: You Will Remember Me is about a family struggling to care for a loved one who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

By Annemarie Brissenden  Read more

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Two of the University of Toronto’s distinguished art galleries have merged to create one of the largest university-based art museums in the country. The Art Museum at the University of Toronto — previously the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery and the University of Toronto Art Centre — is also the second-largest museum-standard visual art museum and collection in the city, and will continue to occupy two close physical spaces at Hart House and University College. Sarah Robayo Sheridan has curated the art museum’s inaugural exhibition Showroom, which will showcase a diverse range of work from 48 artists all portraying the influence of lifestyle marketing on the cityscape.  Read more

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Book launches, dance festivals, and fashion mark month

#FNLROM returns Feb. 5 with Encore: One Love, a celebration of Bob Marley. The evening includes music, great food, and an art exhibition.
Courtesy ElectriCITY Events

By Dilara Kurtaran  Read more

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Toronto City Opera’s performances are approachable and fun

By Annemarie Brissenden

What could possibly go wrong when a poor peasant who only has eyes for a beautiful landowner buys a magical love potion from an itinerant doctor? Discover the hilarity that ensues in Gaetano Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore, performed by the Toronto City Opera (TCO) this month at the Bickford Centre.  Read more

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