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Canadian Art Social, Toronto

Toronto’s Evergreen Brickworks was the backdrop for the annual Canadian Art Social, an evening that raises funds for the Canadian Art Foundation, which among other initiatives, produces Canadian Art Magazine, Canada’s principal publication for art and culture journalism and criticism. The Sept. 26 event was equal parts party and contemporary art auction, with works on offer from both emerging and established Canadian creators. The works are assembled for the cause annually by an art advisory committee, which this year was lead by Claire Christie and Juliana Zalucky. The offering, was, as always, a meaty array of medium and boundary pushing pieces by artists including Sky Glabush and Laurie Kang. There was sculpture too, in the form of Vancouver-based Charlene Vickers’s Performance Mocs 2018 and even a piece that needs to be plugged in – an inkjet print and light box by Montreal artist Nicolas Baier.

This latest Canadian Art Social felt younger than in years past, a reflection of the foundation’s concerted effort to include the next generation in their happenings. This year a $250 ticket for the under-35 set was offered – a quarter of the going rate for a regular ticket. My host, Tanner Kidd, a recent addition to the organization’s board of directors, was among them hosting tables of gen-next enthusiasts. Art collectors and patrons including Emmanuelle Gattuso, Gerry Sheff and Shanitha Kachan, David and Kate Daniels, architects Marianne McKenna, Bruce Kuwabara and Josh Josephson, and a plethora of gallerists including Devan Patel and Daniel Faria were at nearby tables of 10, each of which were dotted with a sculpture by artist Jeremy Laing.

After the dinner Stephen Ranger of Waddington’s led the live auction, which included some bigger ticket works, notably a sculpture by Nep Sidhu, a gelatin silver print by Lynne Cohen, a work by Shuvinai Ashoona and a couple luxe experiences thrown in for good measure, including a Fogo Island sojourn and pair of front-of-the-plane seats anywhere Air Canada flies. Proceeds from the auction and dinner, which totalled north of $500,000 (up from last year) will be directed to Canadian Art Foundation’s myriad initiatives. The eve was chaired once again by Canadian Art board of directors co-chair Debra Campbell and PR whiz Amanda Alvaro (she’s on the board too) and Canadian Art publisher Debra Rother, was on hand, as was presenting sponsor RBC’s senior art curator Corrie Jackson.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story misspelled Debra Campbell's name. This version has been corrected.

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Meghan Yuri Young.Nolan Bryant

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Devin Connell.Nolan Bryant

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Tanner Kidd.Nolan Bryant

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Rochelle de Goias.Nolan Bryant/The Globe and Mail

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Artist Laurie Kang.Nolan Bryant

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Artist Patrick Cruz.Nolan Bryant

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Artist Stephanie Comilang.Nolan Bryant

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Gallerist Daniel Faria.Nolan Bryant

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