Thursday 27 January 2022

Toronto's Gargoyles and Grotesques Online Map


Birge-Carnegie Library North-West entrance, University of Toronto
Photo by Lera Kotsyuba


Despite its relatively young age compared to old-world cities, Toronto has managed to build up an architectural landscape boasting some surprising variety. Though the city's built form is becoming dominated by glass towers, earlier periods brought architectural opulence to the skyline in a different form.

A now-dying art, elaborately carved masonry details define some of Toronto's best-known landmarks. It was a common way for grand buildings to distinguish themselves as late as the early 20th century, when modern construction and design principles began to limit the demand for skilled stonemasons.

Their work lives on in buildings — and in some cases, ruins — around the city, much of it either hidden away in the details or faded into obscurity over the passing decades.

But one anonymous architecture enthusiast wants it all to be rediscovered, creating a comprehensive map with roughly 175 entries of the gargoyles and grotesques that adorn early Toronto buildings.

the map's densest concentration of gargoyles and grotesques can be found in the city centre, with isolated pockets further out in neighbourhoods like High Park, The Junction, and The Beaches.

Looking at the map will tell you where to find these carved bits of history, but it won't tell you much about them.

  • Artist Duane Linklater initiated the Don Valley Park Art Program with a striking installation of cast replicas of gargoyles adorning prominent Toronto buildings: Monsters for Beauty, Permanence and Individuality 

  • For other information on Toronto grotesques, take a look at Terry Murray's Faces on Places: A Grotesque Tour of Toronto (2007).

Tuesday 11 January 2022

Part I: Perspectives on Pre-Raphaelite Art

 

Part I: Perspectives on Pre-Raphaelite Art


Sunday January 16th, 2022 at 2:00 pm EST
Members only Zoom Event 



John Everett Millais, Ophelia (1851-2)


This lecture is by Dr. John Wolforth, Prof. Emeritus, McGill. This lecture will focus on the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the youthful ambitions of its founders.

Friday 7 January 2022

Karol Kłosowski and His Total Work of Art at the Silent Villa, Zakopane

The current exhibition at the William Morris Gallery, Young Poland. An Arts and Crafts Movement, 1890–1918 is dedicated to one of the most wide-ranging and original periods within Polish art. Characterized by the integration of fine and decorative arts, and a revival of handicrafts, Young Poland was part of the international Arts and Crafts movement originated by John Ruskin, the Pre-Raphaelites and William Morris.


A corner of Kłosowski’s studio with a display of artwork and paper cuttings, Silent Villa. Private collection, by descent from the artist. Photo courtesy of the National Museum, Krakow.