Launching art
Artscape Daniels Launchpad Toronto recently held a public open house featuring the work of numerous Toronto artists, including editorial photographer Othello Grey.
Image courtesy of Artscape Daniels Launchpad.
Since opening in 2018, Artscape Daniels Launchpad Toronto has provided the Greater Toronto Area with a multidisciplinary arts incubator, helping both emerging and established artists create work and develop new skills. With a diverse set of facilities including a photography studio, textile/fashion studio and a complete digital media lab, Launchpad is equipped to assist young creatives in bringing their talent to the next level. On April 23, Launchpad hosted its first public open house event since pandemic closures began in 2020, complete with live performances, installations and studio tours – all featuring artists currently working out of the creative centre.
Among the event’s highlights was an exhibition featuring the work of Toronto editorial photographer Othello Grey. A self-taught photographer, Grey is known for his ability to blur the lines between editorial, commercial and abstract work. Entitled Black Future, the exhibition comprised a dynamic collection of Grey’s portraiture, primarily depicting young Black creatives in various editorial poses and settings. Arranged by Launchpad’s lead curator and engagement manager Zahra Siddiqui, Black Future spanned between two sites at the facility. Wall-mounted portraits were hung in The Hallway Gallery at the facility’s entrance, while a second room (flooded in red light) contained more abstract photographs that were printed on fabric and hung from the ceiling.
Over the course of the evening, Launchpad’s vibrant music recording program was showcased as well, with a lineup of emerging musical artists performing live sets for attendees. Neo-soul artist Kristian King, singer-songwriter Yarro, singer-songwriter KIANA, and artist-songwriter Dani Saldo – all participants in the RBC Launchpad Music Program – shared multi-song performances with a packed room of onlookers.
In addition to the concert and exhibition, the open house agenda included various workshops and facility tours aimed at providing attendees with more info about Launchpad’s programs and operations. An inside look at indigo dip-dying in the textile studio, 3-D printer demonstrations, and tours of the VFX studio’s green screen sitcom living room were among the experiences being offered.
Check out Artscape Daniels Launchpad’s homepage for more info about membership for emerging and established artists, and to stay up to date on future public events being held in the space.
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