Smash @The Gardiner Museum -Thurs.,May 30th 2024

Posted by BK on June 1, 2024 in Art Exhibit, Arts, Camera Call And Announcement, celebration, Design, Events, Exhibition, Foundation, Gala Scene, Open House, premiere, Showcase | Leave a comment

By Sally Warburton

The sold out annual SMASH event at the Gardiner Museum Toronto is a night when the next generation of artists, arts enthusiasts and cultural philanthropists come together to celebrate Toronto’s vibrant arts community. May 30 was the evening when SMASH: Between Worlds allowed guests to explore the boundaries between states, parallel worlds and altered realities through mind-bending installations, art, fashion, food, drinks, music, and more. Guests also had access to the Gardiner’s annual International Ceramic Art Fair, presenting some of the most compelling contemporary work of clay.

The evening allowed us to see Installations by Briony Douglas
Briony Douglas is a multi-talented artist from Ontario, who has made a name for herself with her captivating sculptures, art installations and photography. Her unique style blends sustainability and advocacy, shown through surrealism and pop culture inspiration. Briony has photographed the Clintons, Oprah and Jennifer Lawrence, and uses her lens to tell a story, creating unique pieces of art through every frame. Briony’s work evokes curiosity, sparks conversation and encourages connections, while challenging our perception of the world and ourselves.

Gunnar Floral  Jaime McCuaig of GUNNAR Floral is an artist whose creative practice engages with the living world of plants and flowers, processes of growth and the ephemerality of seasons. Inspired by the intersection of manufactured landscapes and true wilderness, GUNNAR confronts its urban audience with an opportunity to see the natural world in new ways.

Arnie Guha  Arnie Guha, Chief Innovation Officer at Phase5, is the multidisciplinary creative behind Acid4Yuppies which focuses on experiential art works—from illuminated light boxes and electric murals, to psychedelics-inspired scarves and fine art prints. Guha’s ‘trippy’ works are complemented by an extensive body of minimalistic photography and portraiture. From vivid colours to subdued hues, Guha’s practice explores both realms of the visual experience from extreme intensity to soft suggestion.
Peggy –  Peggy is the social marketplace for discovering, buying and selling contemporary art. Peggy provides essential technology for fine art, expanding the opportunity for more people to build and grow an art collection. The Peggy-designed Digital Fingerprint uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to create a unique identity for paintings, enabling transaction security, provenance transparency and artist royalties on primary and secondary sales. Peggy is trusted by artists who have shown at the Venice Biennale, Centre Pompidou, MOCA Geffen, and Louvre Abu Dhabi.

Entertainment for the evening was provided by  DJ Jayemkayem
Jayemkayem is a DJ, music producer and community organizer. Born in England and raised in Hong Kong, Jayem is a well established nightlife staple in Toronto and all around Canada, renowned for genre-hopping sets and crowd-pleasing sensibilities. Her transcontinental upbringing fostered a sense of curiosity that she explores as both a creator and curator of music. 

The SMASH Committee did an amazing job!  Here they are:  Briony Douglas (Chair) / Victoria Alves / Sadhisha Ambagahawita / Cole Fawcett / Garrick Frittelli / Azadeh Houshmand / Kulin Matchhar / Kevonn Morgan / Liam Randhawa / Jennifer Stack / Audrey Zhang / Kathy Zhou

The evening was Hosted by  Gardiner Museum Young Patron Circle

Event Partners   Altas and Diana Reitberger

Catering Partner with its delicious food!!  The Food Dudes

Hospitality Partners   Collective Arts & Corby Spirit and Wine Limited

A wonderful evening of art appreciation and time with friends and like-minded art enthusiasts. An annual Gardiner Museum event to mark on your calendars for 2025!