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VESNA SONTSE
Group Exhibition
Event
Info l
Artwork
Opening Reception:
Saturday, February 23rd, 2008
7-10pm @ The Gladstone Hotel
Premiering: February 22nd - 24th
As part of Come Up to My Room Designer Showcase
The Gladstone Hotel
1214 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON, Canada
Continuing: February 28th - March 20th
Magic Pony Gallery
694 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON, Canada
416-861-1684
Closing Reception:
March 20th, 2008
6-9pm @ Magic Pony
Event Description:
Magic Pony presents VESNA SONTSE, an
ode to Ukrainian traditions celebrated through contemporary craft. Artists
Beci Orpin, Caroline Hwang, Coe&Waito, Elizabeth Ullrich, Julie
Moon, Melinda Josie, Matthew Feyld, Nathan Jurevicius, Noel Middleton,
Sally McCubbin and Tania Sanhueza contribute oblations honoring the
solstice. VESNA SONTSE opens as a
site specific installation at Come Up to My Room, Gladstone
Hotel from February 22nd-24th and continues at Magic Pony until March
20th, 2008.
In Ukrainian pagan worship, the coming of spring is rich with meaning
as the sun brings warmth, fertility and life. Offerings are presented
to a Sun God in exchange for blessings of prosperity. Of these offerings,
none is more significant than the decorative eggs known as pysanka.
This delicate art form embodies a wealth of symbolism from the egg
itself to the intricate patterns, symbols and colors drawn and dyed
in layers of wax and color. The significance of the egg is tied to
the bird's close relationship with the sun. Birds are considered symbols
of revere and prosperity and their eggs represent fertility, life
and luck. In the folk life of Ukrainian people, the pysanka and krashanka
possess talismanic powers. Receipt of a pysanka is not only a token
of friendship or esteem but also brings with it protection from harm.
The symbolism found in pysanky is echoed in the many traditions of
spring worship. Carefully crafted textiles, wood carvings, ceramics
bearing these symbols are all of cardinal significance in Ukrainian
Spring Solstice.
VESNA SONTSE is a celebration of lost traditions.
Drawing from the symbolism found in pysanky, contemporary artists
practicing traditional crafts present ceramics, glasswork, painting,
sculpture, textile and woodwork as oblations honoring spring.
A site specific installation will be presented as part of Come
Up to My Room February. 22-24. A second installation will be
on exhibit at Magic Pony from February 28-March 20. There will be
a closing reception at Magic Pony from 6-9pm on March 20, the first
day of Spring.
Press Inquiries:
Please send an e-mail to contact@magic-pony.com.
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