With the chilly weather, are you feeling wistful about sunnier days? Maybe even doing a little California dreaming? The good news is you don’t need to leave Toronto to experience the West Coast. Canada’s international contemporary and modern art fair, Art Toronto, is bringing the Golden State to us, thanks to this year’s theme, FOCUS: California.

Taking place October 26 – 29 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, this year’s edition of Art Toronto will bring galleries from all over California to Toronto. Art lovers and collectors can discover new and amazing artworks and mingle with artists and curators. The FOCUS Exhibition: INDOOR/OUTDOOR will include works by artists Luke Butler, Janet Delaney, Woody de Othello, Kota Ezawa, Ramiro Gomez, Margie Livingston, Terri Loewenthal, Karen Lofgren and more.

Can’t wait to see the art work? On October 25, the art fair kicks off with a special not-to-be-missed benefit preview for the AGO. You’ll get exclusive access to view and purchase works – before the art fair opens to the public.

In anticipation, we chatted with Art Toronto curators Kim Nguyen and Glen Helfand to get the scoop on this year’s art fair and the California art scene.

AGO: What’s the vision for the INDOOR/OUTDOOR exhibition?

Nguyen and Helfand: The inspiration for the exhibition is the shifting terrain and cultural landscape of California. There are specific conditions in California that raise themes we’re interested in, such as transformation and rebirth, disaster, pleasure-seeking, excess, indulgence and the changing environment. We hope to reflect a California spirit and sensibility while investigating the mythologies it creates and perpetuates.

AGO: What are some West Coast art trends you can share with us?

Nguyen and Helfand: The exhibition brings together works from California that have a pervasive sensuality and political underpinnings that have roots in California. It’s a land of resistance. And there’s flourishing artist projects that attempt to work around systems that stand in their way, allowing artists to do the same. We think the text in Janet Delaney’s 1982 photograph, 10th at Folsom Street, sums up the overall feeling: “We’re changing.”

AGO: What’s one thing about the West Coast art scene that’s not talked about?

Nguyen and Helfand: Good wine at studio visits. ;-)

Don’t miss Art Toronto at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, October 26 – 29. Or see it first at the Art Toronto Opening Night preview fundraiser for the AGO on October 25.

Are you an AGOinsider yet? If not, sign up to have stories like these delivered straight to your inbox every week.