Blog

Anteism is a Canadian publisher working with galleries and artists to produce unique art books. Our blog showcases the books we produce and the artist books we love!

Tin Can Forest - Folklore from the Dark Forest

Tin Can Forest - Art Print

Tin Can Forest - Art Print

Pat Shewchuk and Marek Colek are Canadian artists based in Toronto, Ontario, who work collaboratively under the name Tin Can Forest. Together they produce art, film and books. They find inspiration in the the forests of Canada and Slavic art and folklore.

At present, Tin Can Forest  can be found on a forested mountaintop on Salt Spring Island BC, carefully dodging the bears and cougars as they find inspiration amongst the giant cedars.

OuterSpace will be exhibiting some beautiful prints and books by Tin Can Forest during "The Many Faces of Koyama" exhibition.

In the mean time read the Tin Can Forest Cinematic Comic Cabbage in a Nutshell online.

 

Tin Can Forests book Baba Yaga and The Wolf

Tin Can Forests book Baba Yaga and The Wolf

Anteism @ Eyelevel Reshelving Initiative

Anteism Books & Zines in Eye Level Gallery Exhibition

Eyelevel Reshelving Initiative Four and Printed Matter Residency

February Twenty-Sixth to April Third, 2010 Opening Reception: February Twenty-Fifth, 2010 at seven o’clock featuring Eyelevel Gallery’s Online Archive & 35th Anniversary Catalogue Launch.

The Eyelevel Re-shelving Initiative is an international biennial exhibition of artist books, multiples, and printed matter, refreshing Eyelevel Gallery’s Bookstore collection with works from close to 80 established and emerging artists. This fourth installment offers a chance to peruse and purchase new and unusual works from: Red Fox Press (Ireland), Perro Verlag (Mayne Island, BC), Instant Coffee (Toronto), Islands Fold (Victoria), Valerie Salez (Halifax), Anteism Publishing (Victoria), Garity Chapman (Halifax), Andrew McLaren (Halifax), Adam O’Reilly (Halifax), T.R. Ericsson (New York), Stacy Ho (Toronto), and Dustin Wilson (Montreal) and many more.

During the opening reception of this event, Eyelevel Gallery will be celebrating the launch of our Online Archive & 35th Anniversary Catalogue featuring a selection of printed matter ephemera from the vaults of our underground archive system.

We also have the dream team of Will van der Meulen and Daniel Espeset.  These two locals are collaborating in the love of forgotten print technology for Eyelevel and Roberts Street Social Centre’s Printed Matter Residency.  An open studio, lectures, workshops and a launch on March Twenty-Seventh at seven o’clock are to be expected.

In the spirit of ERI 4, The Narrows will be launching a brand new winter and spring season, hosting new work by Eyelevel’s only Chris Foster. This exhibition will run alongside the main space exhibition from February 26 – March 28, 2010. Please contact thenarrowsgallery@gmail.com for information on The Narrows.

For more information, please contact paperworks@eyelevelgallery.ca.

IMYGRATE Artist Profile: Luke Ramsey

Luke Ramsey

Artwork, zines, art residency and new solo show entitle PrETTY PROBLEMS.

Luke Ramsey of Islands Fold has been a huge contributor and supporter of Anteism since day one. His artwork, zines and artist residency has played a vital role in an art scene based around drawing and good people. Luke has a character in the IMYGRATE show, which ended it's trip in Revelstoke, British Columbia. Visit the IMYGRATE Exhibition on February 19th to see the artwork of Luke Ramsey and 103 other International artists.

I'm also very excited about a solo exhibition Luke is having at El Kartel in Vancouver on February 6th, 2010. The show is entitled Pretty Problems.

There are also a number of other great art events happening around Vancouver during the Olympics, such as Monster at the West Vancouver Museum which will showcase the artwork of  Marcel Dzama, Shary Boyle and Howie Tsui among others. Another great exhibition / project is "Here is Now". HERE IS NOW  is a series of “pop-up” exhibitions that features the work of contemporary Vancouver artists shown within the unconventional space. The intention of Here Is Now is to view the exhibits themselves as an overall installation, through the exploration of time and space, creating an aesthetic that varies in participation, duration and negotiates and reconfigures the use of the unconventional space. Through this approach we wish to create a movement that focuses on what Is Here Now.

Pretty Problems Art Show Luke Ramsey El Kartel

IMYGRATE Artist Profile: Charlotte Cynthia Walton

Charlotte Cynthia Walton

Victoria artist Charlotte Cynthia Walton has been an important contributor to Anteism projects and publications since day one. Charlotte's work spans multiple mediums from paper cut-outs, 3 dimensional paper sculpture, drawing and painting. Her work combines classical photo realist drawings, abstract decorations and simplified anime-like illustrations.

Charlotte has contributed two characters to the IMYGRATE Project. Join us for the exhibition launch on February 19th, 2010.

More Info.

Artist Charlotte Cynthia Walton

Pith – {The Heart Of}{The Essence} is a zine by Charlotte AKA C.C. Walton. The zine highlights works from Charlotte’s sketchbook, scans from 3 dimensional paper sculptures and paper cut-outs. Charlotte has also published work in Manuscribbles & Abracadabra

IMYGRATE Artist Profile: Sean Brookes

Sean Brookes

Victoria artist Sean Brookes has three great characters in the IMYGRATE Project.

Sean Brookes Art / Artist

Sean Brookes skill with the pen is evident in his drawings of grimy, sweaty, heavy metal (magazine) style androids, zombies and humanoid creatures.

Below is a dropzone for one of Sean's Characters. (Toronto)

Check the rest of Brookes artwork as well as 103 other talented international artists at the IMYGRATE Exhibition February 19th 2009.

IMYGRATE Artist Profile: Erik Volet

Erik Volet

Victoria artist Erik Volet's graffiti roots and ink character drawings are well suited to the IMYGRATE Project.

Below is a character drawn by artist Erik Volet. Visit the IMYGRATE Exhibition on February 19th, 2010 to find out what happened to this wandering nomad.

Erik Volet imygrate Character

Volet talks about his mural in the group show "Us Ones In Between"

Below is an introduction written about Erik's artwork for his book Saturnalia. “The drawings collected in the present volume represent a fragment of a much larger work; years of incantations and descents into the emptiness of self are here displayed in a fractured and fragile way, for that which they represent cannot be given in a singular stroke. But they serve to provide us with a glimpse of another grand attempt, another striving towards the centre, another drawing aside of the veil. In these works can be seen the manipulations of a magus born in an age when it has been decreed that such a creature shall not be. Here can be seen a desire to create and recreate another system of nature, where the dead light of fluorescent bulbs can no longer blind us in our dreaming. Here we see the hand moving in the act of tracing the transformations of point and line across the encompassing whiteness of new time, where the cartoon representation of a human face stands as the irreducible representation of that real with which all our sciences struggle. It is only in the image of the face of the other that we find the reflection of the order of the self sought by all our symbolic orders.” – Ami Joseph Brosseau, August 2007

IMYGRATE Artist Profile: J.Shea

Todays IMYGRATE artist profile is a sculptor like yesterdays profile artist Scott Radke. Check back daily to see the artists that are exhibiting at the upcoming IMYGRATE Exhibition.

J.Shea

After refining his skills at the art institute in the late 80’s… shea’s creative career has spanned over 20 years…. working in various forms as a poster artist….animator….. sneaker designer…. puppet fabricator..… muralist… and installation artist.

J. Shea - Sculpture

j.shea was born and raised in boston, ma…. influenced at an early age by the art found in comic books… animation… and classic sci-fi film…. luckily the streets of his fair city were littered with punk rock posters and hand bills that covered telephone poles and recordshop walls…. a constant reminder of the local music scene of the 80’s & early 90’s proved to be very inspirational as well……………

after living in many cities on the east and west coasts, ingesting an array of influences along the way...… shea has been focusing on his personal art….. the work is always handmade in mixed media….. with a recycled twist….. combining influences of folk art, assemblage art , and all forms of street art……

shea exhibits his work in galleries and installation spaces across the country and just had his first international exhibition in sydney, australia….. he can be found working in his studio & riding his bike in portland, or………….

j_shea_sculpture

IMYGRATE Artist Profile: Scott Radke

For the next twenty five days leading up to the IMYGRATE Exhibition we will be adding a mini profile showcasing the artists involved in the exhibition. The first artist is:

Scott Radke

Scott Radke creates beautiful sculptures that are intricately textured and coloured.

These characters are often human faces within animal bodies. The characters often blur the line between youthful children and haggard elderly. If a picture is worth a thousand words, Scott's sculptures are an epic novel. Visit Scott's Portfolio

Info about IMYGRATE the exhibition

Scott Radke - Sculpture

The Fisgard Mural Concern - Victoria

The Fisgard Mural

The Olio Artists & Workers Cooperative are pleased to announce the development of the Fisgard Mural Concern, an initiative to transform the exterior of 614 Fisgard st. into downtown Victoria’s largest mural and contemporary art piece.

Fisgard - Victoria - BC - Mural Project

At roughly 3700ft2, the exterior wall of the Lee’s Benevolent Ass’n building will accommodate a piece larger than the whale wall and 100% whale-free.

The collaborative initiative will invoke Victoria artists Luke Ramsey, Shawn O’Keefe, Ryan Thompson, Joey MacDonald, Calvin Coles and Renny McClure, among others, to reflect on their hometown through positive, accessible themes and imagery. The resulting artwork will be honed into a single scene through consensus before being rendered onto the sizeable south facing Fisgard site in May. The result will be an invaluable addition to – and departure from – public art in Victoria.

Olio have set up a fund to produce the mural and are actively seeking capable volunteers and generous donations to make the project possible.

Fisgard Mural Concern PDF - englishProject Outline (english – 183kb)

Support

This will be one of 2010’s largest visual arts projects and will need a healthy amount of public support.  Please support a positive direction in public art and make donation to see it happen.  The Olio Cooperative have established a fund to raise the 10 000$ needed to produce the mural – please make a one-time or ongoing donation to the development of the mural using the Paypal link below.

Artwork for the mural will be viewable beginning March 20th as a part of 03.20.10.go., a group art show featuring the artists involved in the mural’s design.

Community Consultation

The Fisgard Mural Concern is a community initiative and cannot progress without the support of the Chinatown, Downtown Victoria and Victoria arts communities.  We strongly encourage community members to take part by bringing questions, concerns, inquiries or words of support to public attention at the community consultation open houses.  Information on the project, the mural’s artwork and the artists involved will be on hand to illuminate the intentions and aspirations of the mural project.

Please join us on any of the following dates:

Sunday, March 21st • 6pm – 9pm at the Olio Cooperative, 614 1/2 Fisgard st.

Wednesday, March 31st • 6pm – 9pm at the Olio Cooperative, 614 1/2 Fisgard st. Translation services will be available in Mandarin and Cantonese at community consultation sessions.

Anteism Publishing @ New York Art Book Fair

nyc_art_book_fair

Anteism will be at this years New York Art Book Fair, sharing a table with our com-padres Islands Fold. Come by and say hi to Harley, checkout our titles and get a sneak peak at what's to come. We would like to give a special thanks to Canada Council for the Arts & the Department of Canadian Heritage for the support which helped us be at the show. We are especially excited to be taking part in this years fair because Canada is a featured Country.

A record 24 Canadian exhibitors will attend the fourth annual NY Art Book Fair 2009 in New York City from October 2 – 4 with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Department of Canadian Heritage. The Fair hosts over 200 international presses, booksellers, antiquarian dealers, and independent artist/publishers presenting a diverse range of the best in contemporary art publications.

This year Canada is the featured country so the Fair will include a special Canadian reception on Friday, October 2. The event will feature art projects by Daniel Barrow and Allyson Mitchell, current recipients of the Canada Council for the Arts International Residency Program – International Studio and Curatorial Program in New York.

The Canadian exhibitors represent a cross-section of the visual arts publishing industry in Canada. Collectively, these exhibitors have a history (either directly or within their membership) of publishing art magazines, books about art, monographs, exhibition catalogues and limited-edition artists' works. Their publications represent artists and works produced and exhibited in Canada and available for export, either as direct publication sales, as traveling exhibitions, or in relation to international exhibition and publishing opportunities for Canadian artists.

Canadian exhibitors include:

Halifax – Halifax, INK. (a consortium comprising Dalhousie Art Gallery, Eyelevel Gallery, Mount Saint Vincent University Art Gallery, NSCAD Press (Nova Scotia College of Art & Design), Saint Mary's University Art Gallery)

Montreal – Anteism, Conundrum Press, Dazibao centre de photographies actuelles, Leonard & Bina Ellen Art Gallery, Regroupement des centres d'artistes autogérés du Québec (RCAAQ)

Toronto – Art Metropole, Bywater Bros. Editions, Fabulous Fictions and Peculiar Practices, Ryan Dodgson, YYZBOOKS

Winnipeg – BorderCrossings, Plug In ICA/Plug In Editions

Vancouver – Artspeak, Charles H. Scott Gallery, Emily Carr University Press, Fillip, Presentation House Gallery, Pyramid Power

N. Pender Island, BC – Islands Fold

nyc_art_book_fair_Canada

Drawings by Peter Thompson

Peter Thompson has some great original drawings for sale on his flickr account. During the month of August Peter will be donating half of the money from the sales of his drawings to help out Yale St & A Horse and His Boy (two bands that got their music gear ripped off along with 3 years worth of samples)http://www.myspace.com/openhouseartscollective http://www.myspace.com/ahahb

Excerpt from LondonFuse.ca Peter Thompson is one of the most fascinating artists to emerge from the depths of London's art scene. Each of his 50 Dollar drawings comprise his trademark cartoonish lines which outline everything from retro hot rods to strange, ghost-like characters. The swervy lines almost fall off the page like a slinky down a set of stairs. I'm always dumbfounded by the bounty of imaginary characters Thompson draws but also by his unselfconscious, decontextualized social commentary. If it were not for the blunt, sometimes inviting, sometimes forbidding phrases-  like "don't worry, you won't get hurt",  taken sometimes from pop culture, sometimes from an unknown origin - the sheer schizophrenia of the various complex elements intermingling on a page might put people off the way highbrow art often does.

Read the rest of the article.

Peter's artwork can also be seen in Brain Trust a book of collaborative drawings and paintings created with James Kirkpatrick.

Anteism @ Toronto Comic Arts Festival

Anteism Publishing will be sharing a table with Peter Thompson and James Kirkpatrick at the upcoming Toronto Comics Arts Festival. Come by and say hi, it's free to get in and we will be feeling lonely in the big city. There are ton of awesome artists and publishers attending. "The Toronto Comic Arts Festival exists to promote the breadth and diversity of comics, and what is considered comics, as legitimate medium of literary and artistic worth. We seek to promote the creators of these works in their broad and diverse voices, for the betterment of the medium of comics and to reach as wide an audience as possible for them."

The fourth Toronto Comic Arts Festival will occur on Saturday May 9th and Sunday May 10th, 2009. It will be held in the Toronto Reference Library, in downtown Toronto, Canada.

THE 2009 TORONTO COMIC ARTS FESTIVAL Saturday May 9th , 10am-5pm Sunday May 10th, 11am-5pm Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St., Toronto, Canada

Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography

Save the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography

The Canadian Federal Government has announced that the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography building at 1 Rideau Canal in Ottawa will be taken over by Parliament for office space and meeting rooms. The CMCP is the only museum in Canada devoted to the photographic image. It was created in 1985 after intense lobbying by the photographic community and opened its $16M state-of-the-art facility in 1992. We are firmly opposed to this arbitrary decision, delivered by the Government and National Gallery without warning or consultation. This is not just a photographic community concern. The loss of this public art space concerns us all.

To join the fight to save the CMCP, please take a moment to sign the petition:

www.ipetitions.com/petition/CMCP/

For background information on this announcement, please visit:

www.savecmcp.ca/ Please circulate this petition through your network with apologies for cross-posting.

Michel Campeau: "It is imperative that the CMCP be returned to its former status among international institutions dedicated to photography. The building that was designed for the CMCP when it was founded must house it once again. To accomplish its mission, it is urgent that a francophone curator be hired to fill a vacant post. An increase in the budget is also needed for the CMCP to maintain its operations, acquisitions, and influence."

Donigan Cumming: "The loss of the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography has sparked a national effort to stop this government's systematic erasure of Canada's cultural heritage. As established Canadian creators, we need to send a strong message to Ottawa. The CMCP was created by artists coming together and making their views known. We can do this again. We owe it to the next generation."

Vera Frenkel: "The Harper government's appropriation of CMCP premises for routine office use follows on its grab for party receptions of a beautifully renovated building designated for the Portrait Gallery of Canada. Colonizing cherished and hard-earned cultural resources for bureaucratic bumph on the one hand and private parties on the other signals that the fog is rolling in. What is it that these jokers don't understand about this sentence: 'Canada's most powerful ambassadors are its artists.' Or this: 'Every citizen is entitled to experience Canada's visual history.' The collections of the CMCP and the Portrait Gallery are being hidden from view; a criminal deprivation, in my opinion, of a citizen's right to know who we are through the inspiring work of our great artists, many of whom are internationally admired photographers. This extraordinary double blunder is already embarrassing Canada elsewhere and together with other foolishly destructive decisions will cost this government the next election."

Sauvons le Musée canadien de la photographie contemporaine !

Le gouvernement a annoncé que l'immeuble du MCPC du 1, canal Rideau à Ottawa serait repris par le Parlement pour servir de bureaux et de salles de réunions. Le MCPC est le seul musée du Canada consacré à l'image photographique. Il a été créé en 1985 à la suite d'immenses pressions exercées par le milieu de la photo. Il a ouvert ses portes dans des installations ultramodernes de 16 millions de dollars en 1992. Nous nous opposons fermement à cette décision arbitraire, prise par le gouvernement et le Musée des beaux-arts du Canada, sans aucun préavis ni consultation. Ce n'est pas seulement le milieu de la photo qui est atteint par la perte de ce lieu public, c'est chacun d'entre nous. Pour exprimer votre désir de sauver le MCPC, prenez quelques secondes pour signer la pétition:

www.ipetitions.com/petition/CMCP/

Pour de plus amples renseignements sur ce message, visitez :

www.savecmcp.ca/ Nous vous encourageons de faire circuler la pétition dans votre entourage. Veuillez nous excuser pour les courriels se répétant.

Michel Campeau : « Il est impératif de remettre le MCPC au diapason des institutions internationales dédiées à la photographie, et que l'édifice qui a été aménagé pour l'accueillir à sa fondation l'abrite à nouveau. Pour parfaire sa mission, il est de toute urgence qu'un conservateur francophone soit nommé afin de combler un poste laissé vacant et que des budgets accrus soient alloués à son fonctionnement, ses acquisitions et son rayonnement. »

Donigan Cumming : « La fermeture du Musée canadien de la photographie contemporaine a donné lieu à la formation d'une coalition nationale pour mettre fin à la destruction systématique de l'héritage culturel canadien entreprise par le gouvernement en place. En tant que créateurs canadiens établis, nous devons envoyer un message clair à Ottawa. Le MCPC a été constitué par un regroupement d'artistes qui souhaitaient s'exprimer. Nous pouvons le faire encore. Nos héritiers ont besoin qu'on le fasse. »

Vera Frenkel : « En s'appropriant les locaux du MCPC pour les transformer en simples bureaux, le gouvernement Harper démontre encore une fois l'avidité qui lui a fait récupérer le bel édifice rénové du Musée du portrait du Canada pour y tenir ses réceptions. Déplacer des ressources culturelles prisées et durement acquises pour favoriser la bureaucratie d'une part et les réceptions privées d'autre part est un signe précurseur de noirceur. Comment est-il possible que les marionnettes qui nous dirigent ne comprennent pas que : « Les ambassadeurs du Canada les plus éloquents sont ses artistes. » ou encore que : « Chaque citoyen a le droit de connaître l'histoire visuelle de son pays. » Les collections du MCPC et du Musée du Portrait sont soustraites à notre regard; à mon avis, c'est une privation qui n'est pas acceptable; on n'a pas le droit d'empêcher le citoyen de se découvrir par le biais des travaux révélateurs de nos grands artistes, dont plusieurs sont des photographes de renomés international. Ce double impair incroyable ternit toute l'image du Canada et s'ajoute aux autres décisions dévastatrices qui vont entraîner la chute du gouvernement aux prochaines élections. »

Olio Screenprinting Co-op | Grand Opening

olio-grand-opening-mar-21-09-web

Hello! I hope you're well & in good health.  It is with great excitement that we at the Olio Artists & Workers Cooperative at last announce the grand opening of our cooperative work and exhibition space.  You are cordially invited and encouraged to attend our Grand Opening!  We will be opening our doors to the public Saturday, March 21st, with free screen printing workshops for all levels beginning at noon, followed by an evening open house from 7:00pm onward.  Please find attached invite & press release.

Located at 614 1/2 Fisgard (2nd floor), the newly renovated studio is a publicly accessible work/exhibition space for artists of all disciplines.  Members of the Olio Cooperative are able to book studio time at a subsidized rate ($5/hour, $15/month for membership) which allows them dedicated studio time in a clean, quiet environment, as well as use of the extensive cooperative screen printing, print making and button press equipment.

The studio will be open from noon onward offering free screen printing courses throughout the day (introduction, advanced and poster printing courses), tours of the space and use of the screen printing equipment (when not in use by instructors) free of charge.  From 7:00pm onward, we will be hosting an advance viewing of Recent Works by Calvin Coles (opens March 27th) with ample refreshments and entertainment.  All for freaking free.

When: Saturday, March 21st Where: Olio Artists & Workers Cooperative 614 1/2 Fisgard st. (At Government, 2nd floor) What: Olio Grand Opening!, featuring free screen printing courses and an advance viewing of Recent Works by Calvin Coles Time: Courses begin at noon, 2:00pm & 4:00pm, evening open house being at 7:00pm Admission: Free/by donation Info: To register for courses (recommended) contact admin[at]oliocooperative.ca or call 250.896.5679. For membership inquiries, please contact Amy Wilson at membership[at]oliocooperative.ca

Thanks so much!  See you there!

- Olio

Canadian Renaissance Project

I recently stumbled across an interesting article about the identity of Canadians and the status of the arts here. It states that Canadians don't seem to have a proper identity?? Is this true? After living in Asia for a few years I did notice something strange from other foreign people living in Asia. When they asked me where I was from I said Canada. They continued by saying where are you really from? I think Canada is one of the very few places we have got past the identity of imaginary lines. There are plenty of problems here but Canada may be one of the first places where national identity may disappear. The cup is half full and empty.

The Canadian Renaissance Project aims to strengthen the art community in Canada and I believe it has some very valid points. Whether or not it's possible to implement is another subject. Visit the site Canadian Renaissance Project.

Read The Statement Below Then Click Here to Find Out How You Can Be Involved

It is almost a cliche to say that Canadians have an identity problem, no one, not even Canadians can seem to define exactly what it means to be a Canadian. In spite of this, the Canadian voice is unique in the world. Perhaps this is because, in a world where the environment is in crisis, it is a vast country where nearly everyone is close to nature almost all the time. Perhaps it is because of multiculturalism. In the rest of the world ethnic and religious tension are spiraling out of control. In Canada, the world's most multi-cultural country a wide variety of social, ethnic, and religious groups manage to live together relatively peacefully and cooperatively. Whatever it is, it is a voice that resonates the world over. Whatever else people know about Canada (it is sometimes very little, and often wrong) they know Canadian art, music, literature, actors, directors and other artists.

There is also no question that arts and culture are a vital part of the Canadian identity (whatever it is). The arts are both a part of industry and part of the daily quality of life of Canadians. According to the Canada Council for the Arts: 75 percent of Canadians believe that the arts are important in enhancing the quality of their lives and 85 percent aggree that governments should provide support for arts and culture. Further, according to Statitstics Canada, the 7.7 billion dollar government investment in culture generates 40 billion dollars in economic activity and creates 600,000 jobs. The importance of arts and culture for tourism, as an example, goes without saying.

With all of this said, the social and economic status of the artist in Canada in no way reflects the importance of their contributions to society. In 1995, Parliament implemented the 'Status of the Artist Act' which, through a heavily bureaucratized process, allowed certain tax deductions, under certain circumstances for certain artists. According to the Canadian Journal of Communication there were "670,000 people working in the arts and culture, representing six times as many employed in fisheries and three times greater than in the forestry industry." But, the article points out, "In 1991, self employed painters and artists earned an average of $11,947; artisans and craftspeople $10,020; musicians and singers, $14,473; dancers, 13,757; actors, $21,800; broadcast composers, and arragners $26.201."

So with nearly 10 years since the "Status of the Artist Act" have things improved substantially for Canadian artists? It wouldn't appear so. According to a study published in 2004 the number of Canadian artists had risen by 29%, but they were still making less than people in other professions. Another study in 2005 determined that a Canadian artist earns on average $23,500 and minority artists even less. This average is also inflated by highly successful Canadian actors, producers and recording artists as well as artists employed full time by arts and media companies. This would indicate that a large number of artists earn substantially less than that average.

It is little wonder that many of the most successful Canadian artists and performers have sought larger markets, and higher incomes, in the United States and Europe. The goal of the following proposals is to lessen this trend, not by making artists wealthy, but to offer them the ability to stay to stay in Canada, earn a stable income and enjoy a standard of living comparable to other highly skilled professionals; An income that is more reflective of their importance to Canadian society. Doctors and lawyers and business executives are undoubtedly vital to society, but they do not define that society in the way the arts do. Without definition; without understanding who we are, it is difficult to understand the past, make appropriate decisions for the present or plan the society we want to create for the future.

Part One of the plan draws it's inspiration from but does not copy the Irish system. In Ireland certain artists pay no taxes at all. This system though has two major drawbacks, the first is that those artists pay no taxes at all no matter how successful they become. Even in the case where they are making millions, they still pay no income taxes. The second problem is that the Irish put in place a government bureaucracy to decide what constitutes art. This is an area which I do not think Canadians want the government directly involved in.

What I propose as an alternative is a system where an artists profits (after expenses) which comes directly from their art, are tax exempt up to fifty thousand dollars. It should be pointed out here that the excemption would apply to artists in the broad sense, not only visual artists. This would ensure that highly successful artists payed taxes and it would enable and encourage many artists to quit their 'day jobs' and focus on their art. Since their non-art income is not tax exempt it would also provide incentives for them to focus more on earning income from their artistic pursuits.

Part Two is inspired by the new Children's Fitness Tax Credit which provides up to five-hundred dollars for health and fitness activities for children. While health and physical fitness are obviously important, the nurturing of the mind and the soul and ultimately of Canadian culture is of equal importance.

The second part of the plan would apply to both children and adults and provide a five-hundred dollar (per person) tax write off for arts and culture purchases and activities. This would include everything from music or art lessons to buying a musical instrument or art supplies. It would also include the purchase of concert or theatre tickets, and the purchase of books, music, films, and art by Canadian artists. It should be stressed here that in order to qualify for the deduction that it must fall within the guidelines of Canadian content. Purchases of non-Canadian music, books, etc., would not qualify.

This does several things at once. It encourages individuals and families to participate in more arts and culture related activities. It puts Canadian content at a premium over imported content. It provides an improved marketplace for Canadian artists to make a living in, the marketplace is not larger, but it is more lucrative. It encourages content producers to produce more Canadian content. It encourages venues to showcase more Canadian talent. It encourages retailers to carry more Canadian content. It encourages children, and adults to to an extent, to become more educated in the arts and to make arts and culture a more integrated part of their day to day lives. Finally, on a more timely and controversial note, the tax deduction would encourage Canadians to buy rather than download for free, Canadian music and movies.

The Canadian Government, like most Western governments, has many priorities to deal with. The military, business and industry, health care, infrastructure, the environment, education, culture, the arts and more all contend for precious tax dollars. All of these things are obviously, to varying degrees, important. Many of them are essential to the quality of life enjoyed by Canadians.

It is important to consider though that great societies are remembered as great not by their industry or military power, or even by the daily quality of life of their citizens. Even where these societies were particularly violent, or committed great attrocieties, they are remembered most by their art and cultural achievements. If we look back though history: The Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, the ancient Muslim world, ancient China and Japan, the British, Spanish, French, Germans in their glory days, and the Aboriginal cultures of North America they are remembered because of their art, architecture, literature, music, theatre and other cultural achievements. Even the great United States of America, when thought of fondly, conjures up images of Hollywood, Motown, Woodstock, Elvis, Sinatra, and Marilyn Monroe. There are some societies who achieved historical infamy without widely recognized artistic achievements. Cultures such as the Huns, Mongols, Vandals and Vikings are remembered almost purely for their brutality.

Combined these two initiatives will make being a full time artist in Canada a more realistic proposition. It is hoped that it will encourage more Canadian artists to stay in Canada, and that it might even lure some Canadian artists home from other parts of the world. In any event, it would allow more artists to give up their 'day jobs' and devote themselves full time to their art. It would enhance Canada's image abroad as a hotbed of arts, culture and creativity. It would promote and encourage tourism within Canada and from abroad and boost the travel and hospitality sectors on the whole. It would help to finally define the Canadian identity in the minds of Canadians and others and, given the amount of talent and creativity we have in this country, it would fuel an arts movement of historic proportions.

What You Can Do

Take action by signing the petition http://www.gopetition.com/online/13374.html Contacting your Member of Parliament http://crp.publicbroadcasting.ca/mp.html and adding a promotional graphic to your website (see right hand column.) Stay involved by adding the Canadian Renaissance Project MySpace http://www.myspace.com/canren and/or joining the facebook group http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=676355194

Abracadabra Exhibition & Book Launch

Abracadabra Exhibition & Book Launch PosterThe countdown is on.... Only 10 DAYS till our set-up begins (JULY 16, 17, and before opening JULY 18th!) The city (Victoria) is covered in posters, articles are being published in the Metropolitan, Monday Magazine, Focus and the Times Colonist. The books have arrived in Vancouver. Shaw TV, A Channel and others are going to be coming down to the space to promo the event. The buzz is starting to spread! We have heard from a lot of you in regards to ideas and plans for the show...thankyou! it all sounds wonderful so far.

Heres some last minute details: Art Taxi Service: Tuesday Evening, JULY 15th (Night Before Set-Up) We have a van and are available to pick up artwork that is too big or heavy to carry or bring in by bike. If any of you need help with bringing art to the space, please call us (250) 383-3866 and we will be glad to arrange a stop.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 16TH: Set-Up Begins If any of you want to collaborate or take part in on-site painting + installation, we are going to be Behind Value Village all today. Space is going to be tight with between 30-40 artists so the earlier everyone comes down the better we can see where everyone is going to go.

THURSDAY, JULY 17TH: More all day (all night?) set-up time. See you there

FRIDAY, JULY 18TH: Last Minute Wonders up untill OPENING NIGHT 8PM

SATURDAY, JULY 19TH: Gallery Hours (10am-6pm) BIKE RACE PARTY @ 10pm

SUNDAY, JULY 20TH: Gallery Hours (10am-6pm)

MONDAY, JULY 21ST: Gallery Hours (10am-6pm) CLOSING NIGHT  8PM

TUESDAY, JULY 22ND: Take Down and Massive Appeal to artists to help remove artwork + clean up. We appreciate any help you guys can give making the Sunset Room appear as though our show magically disappeared.

New Website

It seems like we are always working on a new website! It's not that we like designing sites, it's just that there's allot of changes happening with Anteism right now. So we've had to change the site to flow with these changes. We are currently working on an online shop that will be finalized near the end of May.

Let us know what you think.