STEAM WHISTLE BREWERY’S OCTOBER ART SHOW CELEBRATES ALL THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT
“In Bruges” by Hyein Lee
Story by Kate Fane
Besides making one of Toronto’s best beers, the folks at Steam Whistle have also done fine work promoting the city’s promising new artists. With over 100 month-long shows under their belts, the brewery has helped to launch countless careers while acquiring many of the most exciting pieces for its permanent collection.
This past Wednesday, Steam Whistle premiered Black Math, their October exhibit. Fittingly, this month’s theme deals with the relationship between the natural and supernatual worlds, though the majority of the works are skewed more whimsical than spooky. The exhibit’s title is derived from what the curators believe is the replacement of magic with science in our modern world. To combat society’s gradual abandonment of fairies, spirits, and other myths, Black Math is a celebration of all things that go bump in the night.
“Family Tree” by Ilichna Morasky
Steam Whistle’s art exhibits are often pretty heavy on the illustration, and this preference was a perfect fit for the current fantastical theme. Most pieces look like the accompanying pictures for a children’s book, albeit one that may have been rejected for being a little too creepy for kids. The works definitely have a sense of humor about themselves, and coupled with the completely unprententious environment (it is, after all, a brewery), the show was a very laidback affair.
With a fantastic crop of artists including Vicki Nerino, Britt Wilson, Roben Nieuwland, Ilichna Morasky, Ty Dunitz, Ale Diaz, Alexei Vella, and Hyein Lee, and a pretty decent turnout of art aficionados, the night was a great start to the Halloween season.
If you missed the opening, there are plenty of chances to take in the Black Math exhibit. Steam Whistle is open Monday to Thursday 12-6pm, Friday and Saturday 11am-6pm, and Sunday 11am-5pm (tip: enjoying a brewery tour and art exhibit is a pretty killer date idea).
Black Math
Steam Whistle Brewery (255 Bremner Boulevard, Toronto)
Showing throughout the month of October
