This year, the Buckhorn Fine Art Festival hosted a Canadian Masters exhibit featuring an unsurpassed display of original artwork for show and sale by a collection of elite artists. 
Robert Bateman generously provided an original oil painting for sale created especially for the show. His work was exhibited along with artists, A.J. Casson, Krieghoof, Glen Loates, Michael Dumas, Brent Townsend (designer/artist of the Toonie), Chris Bacon, Norval Morrisseau, Ken Danby, Fenwich Lansdowne, Claudio D' Angel, and sculptures by Nori Peter and Joseph Jacobs.  Works by ARA’s own Fernando Freitas and Juan Martinez were also featured. This exhibit is unique, since artists on show were all chosen by their peers.

Both Juan and Fernando were in attendance for the opening ceremonies and very honored to be included in this prestigious. It was a wonderful evening where guests had an opportunity to view and purchase exquisite original works by great Canadian artists. Despite the three hour drive from Toronto, the event drew a standing room only crowd.

The Buckhorn Fine Art Festival was named one of the Top 100 Festivals and Events in Ontario for 2010 for the third year running. It was chosen from among over 2,000 festival and events that are held across the province each year. The Top 100 list includes such marquee events as the Toronto International Film Festival, the Ottawa Tulip Festival and the Kitchener Waterloo Octoberfest, to name a few.

The Junction Arts Festival offers an edge splitting combination of the high art, community arts and popular culture. The ethos of the festival is to present the arts as necessary, relevant, accessible and exciting. The Junction is populated by a great mix of is bright, savvy and curious people: interested in discovering new experiences; widening their knowledge though arts.  Equally, the festival appeals to those who may know nothing about art, or theatre or modern dance but simply are curious. It intersects  the classic forms of art with fresh eyes and champions emerging talent. 

There will be music, visual arts, theatre, dance, comedy, outdoor sculpture, children's events and free family activities. The first day in the festival sees the excitement begin with the opening celebrations on the festival's own Dundas St West festival lot with our purposely built stage. Opening night consists of the 1st performances and rundown of the activities for the next few days.

The 2010 Junction Arts Festival will be held on Dundas Street West between Runnymede Road and Annette Street on:
 
Wednesday, September 8th, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.,
Thursday, September 9th, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.,
Friday, September 10th, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. until 11:59 p.m.,
Saturday, September 11th, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. until 11:59 p.m.,
and Sunday, September 12th, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
 
This annual community event, produced by the Junction Forum for Art and Culture and sponsored by the Junction B.I.A., is a celebration of the arts, food, and music in the Junction.
The Festival expects to match last years numbers for attendance of  75 000 visitors per day on the Saturday and Sunday street closure!

Call for volunteers! For more info e-mail volunteer@junctionartsfest.com

The Junction Forum for Art and Culture (JFAC) is an arts presenting body whose main project is the annual Junction Arts Festival. JFAC was incorporated as a non-profit group in February 2004. The people who make up the Board of Directors of the Junction Forum for Art and Culture are dedicated cultural producers, artists, residents, business owners and politicians all of whom are connected, in some way, to the Junction.

For more information please visit www.junctionartsfest.com
2968 Dundas St. West suite 306
Telephone (416) 767-5036  

After many months of preparation, cross-Atlantic travels, and visits from dignitaries and art lovers, we’re delighted to announce the official opening of the Academy of Realist Art Portugal on June 20. Fernando Freitas traveled to Portugal for the opening ceremonies, which were attended by Azores President Carlos Manuel Martins do Vale Cesar . The curriculum will kick off with a six-day Old Master Painting workshop starting August 16. Additional workshops in the works for 2010 include an introduction to the Bargue program, and portrait drawing and painting. We’ll be sure to keep you posted as new workshops become available.

ARA Alumni, Instructors and students recently participated in the Art Renewal 2009/2010 Salon Competition. 

Finalist include:  Juan Martinez (figure and drawing), David Gluck (drawing), Shaun Downey (figure), Elaine Rakowski(still life), and Teresa Nice(still life).

Congratulations Finalists.

More results at:  www.artrenewal.org

You are cordially invited to Academy of Realist Art - Toronto Gala Opening for the Contact  2010 Photography Festival.

Date:  Saturday May 8, 2010

Time:  6:00 to 9:00 PM

Contact artists include:  Penelope Edgar, Joseph Michael Howarth, Erika Jacobs, Don Michie, Lindsay Murrell

About
CONTACT is an annual month long festival of photography with over 1000 local, national and international artists at more than 200 venues across the Greater Toronto Area in May. Founded as a not-for-profit organization 14 years ago, CONTACT is devoted to celebrating, and fostering an appreciation of the art and profession of photography. As the largest photography event in the world, and a premiere cultural event in Toronto, CONTACT stimulates excitement and discussion among a diverse audience that has grown to over 1.5 million and is focused on cultivating even greater interest and participation this year.

CONTACT 2010 will consider the ways in which photography informs and transforms human behavior. The festival will recognize the influence of Marshall McLuhan, on the 30th anniversary year of his death. We will present images that examine connections between mass media, advertising, art and photography. This includes conceptual approaches to photography that utilize the codes of advertising, the language of consumerism, the stylization of marketing campaigns and the force of propaganda. Photojournalism and socially concerned documentary photography will provide a realist-based examination of the emotional and political impact of images and their effect on society and culture. CONTACT 2010 will explore the personal and social consequences of the medium of photography, in a world devoted to the image.

The Human Figure: Dynamic Opposites is an exhibition of fine art black and white dance action shots, portraits, and nude bodyscapes that provide an elegant exploration of the humanfigure. Most of the photographs emphasize dancers who display the dynamic opposites of exceptional physicality (strength, flexibility, athleticism, muscle definition, body control) and beauty (poise, composition, gracefulness, expression of emotion).

Academy of Realist Art - Toronto
Works displayed from May 1 to 31, 2010

2968 Dundas St West, Suite 200
Toronto, M6P 1Y8

ARC approved Academy of Realist Art is building its online video and DVD portfolio to familiarize visitors with our programs and provide detailed instruction on realist art techniques. When complete, our online video offerings will include studio tours, as well as workshop summaries and helpful hints from senior instructors at ARA.

We are also planning the launch of a new DVD release “In the Studios of the Old Masters” this summer. A sequel to the highly popular “Drawing the Figure”, this DVD will walk students through many of the painting techniques used by the Old Masters.

Check out the ARA website at www.academyofrealistart.com to view the latest online videos. For pricing information or to pre-order a copy of “In the Studios of the Old Masters” DVD, contact info@academyofrealistart.com.

ARC approved Academy of Realist Art is expanding its reach in North America and Europe in the coming months. While details won’t be available until the official announcements are made, plans are in the works for ARA – with the enthusiastic support of local government agencies - to open a new school in a European resort location as early as June 2010. ARA is also in the very early stages of considering a new site in the UK in response to popular demand.

ARA Boston is undergoing some major upgrades, as it takes on more space to accommodate its growing student population. The studio is in the process of grooming new instructors, as well as expanding its highly-popular workshop calendar. Visit www.academyofrealistartboston.com to learn more.

Last but not least, ARA is also looking to establish a more permanent program in the Ottawa region in partnership with the Monart Art School. Already a popular location for workshops, this site will be home to an extended ARA curriculum, and will feature regularly scheduled workshops with senior ARA instructors.

Updates will be posted on the ARA website at www.academyofrealistart.com or email info@academyofrealistart.com to be added to our mailing list.

ARA student Mercedes Cirfi Walton has realized her passion for art and architecture with the publication of her new book, L'architettura di Antonio Federighi - The Architecture of Antonio Federighi. The launch took place at the Palazzo Pubblico (City Hall) in Siena, Italy on December 21, where she celebrated with her many friends, family members and colleagues.

Mercedes was encouraged to publish her research by Italian scholars in Siena after reading her 1996 thesis on Antonio Federighi and his pivotal role in introducing the Renaissance style to the city during the 15th century. Among other noteworthy achievements, Federighi was also the personal architect to Pope Pius II, considered to be one of the greatest humanist pontiffs  in history.

Her new “masterpiece” published by Betti Editori (ISBN: 9788875761462) is now available in the New York through Michael Shamansky, Booksellers Inc.  “For Siena to come to North America and ask me to publish was a great honour and showed me that my work was worthwhile,” she says.

Having entered the world of publishing, Mercedes says she is anxious to get back and continue her studies on Siena’s rich Renaissance history. “It’s so rare to explore something from the 1400s that no one has studied before. This has been a wonderful experience.”

Mercedes is currently looking for a Canadian distributer for her book. If you have any enquiries, or would like to know when her book launch will take place in Toronto, please contact her at: pantheon.group@sympatico.ca

ARA student Heather La Rue has been asked to participate in a 10th anniversary invitational show at the Georgina Arts Centre & Gallery in Sutton, Ontario. Heather will be showing two children’s portraits that she is creating especially for the kick-off event being held Sunday, January 31, 2010 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

A part-time ARA student for more than five years, Heather’s portrait work has been featured at the gallery on previous occasions and she has received several commissions from those events. “I couldn't be happier that these kinds of opportunities are now becoming possible thanks to everyone at ARA,” she says.

The Georgina Arts Centre & Gallery is located on 149 High St. in Sutton, Ontario. For information, call 905-722-9587. You can also email info@gacag.com or visit www.gacag.com. Directions to the gallery can be found at http://www.gacag.com/pages/level2/about/location.html.

ARA graduate Yevgeniya Savosta's tenebrist still life graces the cover of the new Canadian Brushstroke Magazine.

Brushstroke magazine, an innovative electronic artist magazine, has a feature article on Yevgeniya titled Business As Usual Is Now A Joy.

The article discusses how Yevgeniya changed career paths from business and is now a successful young artist after studying at the academy. 

The article displays several of her paintings including; the portrait of Janette Woodroffe in oil, graphite drawing of Lidya, the portrait of Dr. Elaine in oil, and her Still Life with White Flowers.

The magazine is an e-zine and is a free subscription at www.brushstrokemagazine.com

Congratulations Yevgeniya!

Yevgeniya's personal web site www.savart.ca