Max MacDonald: Reprise

Some as yet unseen paintings on canvas and wood will grace our south gallery for the next few weeks. Definitely worth a return visit.

Fun Was Had!

                      and funds were raised, at our first (of many) music nights.                           

Saturday June 23 was a night to remember.

It all started with a casual conversation, a simple plan to help out some local musicians and the new kid on the block, Gerrard Art Space.

Before I knew it 3 music acts were lined up and a date was set.

Borsky Cai. What can I say about Borsky Cai?  This young man, with an innate talent for taking a Canadian classic and infusing it with such enthusiasm, that it was as though hearing the song for the first time.The sing alongs were infectiously joyful, as infectiously joyful as Borsky himself, and as unforgettable. 

A great opening act, setting the tone for the night.

Sam Cash – not only a true rep for the east end where he was born and raised, the very neighbourhood where GAS now resides, but also as a representative for the past and future of what was, still is, and will continue to be a great and dynamic Toronto music scene. 

Sam has a voice that evokes a calm confidence. His music is self assured and lovely. He sings like he has no other choice; like it's destiny and he has fully embraced it, completely aware and grateful for this gift, this opportunity. As are we. 

I am not quite sure people were expecting the spectacle of music and performance fused together that is the Woodshed Orchestra. I was sure of two things – that their performances are never the same twice and that they are always entertaining  and fun. The kind of fun where you just want to grab a pot and use it as a drum and make some noise and jump around and grab a friend and jump around with your friend and jump around some more and go outside and drag people in off the street and wave and jump around some more and maybe dance a little and respond to the call, that all is very alive and well, remembering that music and jumping around and clapping your hands and stomping your feet can be really really fun.

And that it is really, really fun seeing a room full of faces, glowing from smiling so much. The fun people that make up the Woodshed Orchestra are: Karen Ng (saxophone), Julia Hambleton (clarinet), Nick Bulligan (tuba), Dave Clark (band leader and snare), and Jason Kenemy (bass drum).

I just wanted to thank every single soul who showed up and made it all very real.

I also want to send a special thank you to Donna and Ray who I rely on to make GAS run, and to Jason Kenemy, the music curator who made sure this all happened. And to Max MacDonald, who shared his photos.

That is what it was like Saturday night at GAS.

There will be more, so don’t worry if you missed it. (But don’t make that mistake again.)

- Joanne

Great Music at GAS

Local musicians Sam Cash, Woodshed and Borsky Cai bring the party to GAS, Saturday June 23

We're excited and honoured that Sam Cash and his compatriots are joining us for a midsummer fundraiser. Hope to see you there. 
- Joanne

"Sam Cash's songwriting captures a youthful angst, filtered through a compassionate eye... confident, natural use of simple, eloquent language that you'd expect from someone with many more years behind them."
--Hawksley Workman


"The Woodshed Orchestra have this amazing ability to make real life sound like the best musical in the world. I can't name another group of people who sound so joyous together, get to some essential truths about living, and dance their pants off doing it." 
--Vish Khanna, CBC Radio3/ Exclaim Magazine

PWYC at the door (suggested cover of $10)
Cash Bar
Read more about our musician friends, and sample their music, here:

Young Artists, From the Fridge Door

It might not be apparent from the Gerrard Street view of our space, but four times a week our north gallery becomes a hub for the junior artists attending From the Fridge Door art classes. You can see what the next crop of Rothkos and Picassos are creating tonight from 6:30 to 7:30, or Saturday June 9 from 10:00 to 11:00.  
Better than cartoons.

Summer Art Camp runs from July 16-20 and July 23-27
For more information click here
Weekly classes resume in September

GAS Looks Up

Sincere thanks to all who came by on Saturday evening to help us celebrate Marlene Pape's latest show of paintings "Keep Looking Up".

Many thanks to everyone who made "Keep Looking Up''s opening reception such a success, including my husband Jeff, and many many friends who encouraged me to go on my eccentric  'stairway tangent'.

Thanks especially to Joanne Filletti for her commitment to, and support of, developing the arts in her new gallery GAS and her assistance in making this show look so great! It is really much appreciated.

         --Marlene

Marlene Pape:  Keep Looking Up
June 1 - 21, 2012
Reception  Saturday June 2   6:00 - 10:00 pm

GAS is pleased to announce a new show of figurative paintings by Marlene Pape, showcasing the "perfectly imperfect" themes of skyscape, birches and staircases.

For Marlene's bio and artist's statement, read on