Rick Janson Art Studio

I don’t recall how I ever found out about it. For three years I participated in an event called The Little Art Show which raised money for the Riverdale Art Walk.

Once registered to participate, artists got sent a small 7″ x 9″ canvas and a deadline to send or bring it back, presumably, with a painting on it.

The event took place in November at the BMW dealership that overlooks the Don Valley Parkway, the upper-floor room used for the event was mostly glass walled, which would have been challenging had the event been held in the daylight given the backlighting. The paintings, I recall about a hundred or more, were placed along a ledge on the window with an attached bid sheet for the silent auction. There was a lot of furious activity towards the end as people would literally stand beside the painting they wanted to take home less someone outbid them at the very end. I discovered it’s more than just hockey players capable of getting their elbows up.

The event was well managed, with a cash bar and terrific food. Once it got rolling, the room was full of artists and collectors. There was a lot of art chatter. It used to be among the highlights of my year.

I would not only show each year, but would also bid on work, taking home what I referred to as a replacement for my own entry. In fact, I ended up taking home four paintings in three years.

The first year I entered a tiny painting of the ice cream shop along the waterfront in Cobourg, Ontario (see also Almost Canada’s Capital), of which there was some competition that night in the bidding for it.

I spoke with the winning bidder who said they recognized the location, having spent some time in Cobourg themselves (it’s a small world). Unfortunately the photo I took of the painting is a little bit blurry. It’s hard to work that small!

That is my spouse dressed in green with a determined walk heading towards the door of the shop. The photo at top is from the 2004 show. Facing us is my first cousin Mariola, my spouse Geraldine and my fellow artist friend Robert.

The Riverdale Art Walk is now in its 27th year, so those were early days, but I was impressed by their level of organization and ability to promote that particular fundraising event. I noticed that the same artists’ network now has a permanent gallery (Leslie Grove Gallery on Queen St. East at Jones) and a second Artwalk event at the Shops at Don Mills. They also organize seminars and have opportunities for networking. I love to see artists get organized in this way and may take out a membership soon.

—

Don’t miss a post! Subscribe for free by using the little black box on this page.