1st place to Erin Kursietis – full year scholarship from the Academy of Realist Art value $7,620.00

2nd place to Lisa Ng - $500.00 in custom framing from Picture it Framed

3rd place to Mary Ma – Gallery show at Latitude 44 with $250.00 towards opening night

Congratulations to the winners and all entrants.

Date:  Saturday October 23rd, 2010 at 5:00 pm
Location:  ARA Toronto

HOSTS:
Eva Chwojko, art historian (University of Toronto) and journalist
Steeve Chwojko, composer, music historian (Sorbonne University, Paris)

Meet Caravaggio, who created an outrage in 16th century Rome, not only because of his volatile character and temper but also because of his controversial painting methods. He chose beggars and drunkards as models for saints and painted them in realistic fashion, causing scandal after scandal. Some of his large-scale paintings were refused by the patrons who had commissioned them, but he also had supporters who protected him from the police whenever he got into trouble. 

Let’s look at his life and his powerful paintings – rejected by his contemporaries, but today deemed to belong among the greatest masterpieces of art. Music was just finding its classical voice at the same time, with the first opera in the world produced in Italy just before Caravaggio’s death. What did these paintings look like? What did this music sound like? Come and see it,
come and hear it!

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.

Justin de Lima has been studying at ARA since his teens. But he didn’t let his age stand in the way of getting a birthday commission to paint individual portraits of local celebrity chef Massimo and his family. The offer was made after Massimo’s wife visited the studio, where she asked Justin to paint the four portraits….in two weeks! Now a first year student at OCAD, Justin continues his part-time studies at ARA.

ARA student Albert Coria was also commissioned to do a portrait of author Dana Cottrell for his book "Genesis 1". You can check out the portrait on the author's web site at www.danacottrell.net under the “About Author” section.

ARA instructors Fernando Freitas and Juan Martinez were both selected to showcase their works at the Buckhorn Fine Art Festival’s “Canadian Masters Exhibit”. This annual event features original artwork for show and sale by many of North America’s leading artists. Fernando’s and Juan’s works will be showcased alongside paintings by A. J. Casson, Robert Bateman, Krieghoff, Glen Loates, Michael Dumas, Brent Townsend, Chris Bacon, Norval Morrissseau, Ken Danby, Fenwick Lansdowne, Claudio D’Angelo, and aboriginal master artists Joseph Jacobs and Nori Peter. The annual Festival is being held August 12 to 15 at the Buckhorn Community Centre, 1801 Lakehurst Road. For information, visit www.buckhornfineart.com.

Former ARA student Imam Azhari’s continues to receive accolades for his works. His painting “Zig Zag”, which he worked on during his time at ARA, recently won the Best in Show award in the Richeson 75 Still Life & Floral 2010 Awards. Imam’s work convinced the jurors - who admitted to usually preferring a more “painterly” style – with its interesting composition, exceptional execution and realistic detail. The Richeson 75 awards are open to both established and emerging artists. Winners’ works are presented in the Richeson Art Gallery in Kimberly, Wisconsin, and on the website at www.richeson75.com.

Part-time ARA student Morris Piccone’s landscapes have become the talk of gallery circles these days. His “Dusk-Canoe Lake” is currently on display at the McMichael Gallery as part of its “Progression” exhibition until September 2010. The painting was completed as part of an educational venture between McMichael and the Haliburton School of the Arts. For information about the McMichael, visit www.mcmichael.com.  Morris’ landscape “Lake Kashagawigamog” has also been selected as a featured work from the Advanced Individual Studies Program of the Haliburton School of the Arts.

This exquisitely detailed still-life entitled “Captain’s Journey” by ARA student Marcelle Turenne has been selected for the Aviation Paintings of the Year show in London, UK. The event is taking place at the Mall Galleries near Trafalgar Square from July 19 to 25. We encourage anyone traveling to London during that time to stop by the gallery for a first hand look. Or feel free to contact Marcelle at mturenne@rogers.com for details about the opening reception.