Work In Progress v6.2

Cindy came by the gallery today to take shots of the exhibition.

From top to bottom: A sandwich board on the main avenue of the Distillery District; The hallway leading to the Labo space; Doorway to the gallery; The wall dividing the space (2009). Photos by Cindy Blazevic.

Paul McCarthy

Here are a few works by Los Angeles-based artist Paul McCarthy. I've been wanting to post about his work and as no coincidence, doing it today, the timing couldn't be better. Sometimes you have to go further than yourself and your thoughts to get a greater perspective on what you're doing. More on that later, but for now, let's focus on this Master and his work. Find more on McCarthy here and here.

From top to bottom: Santa Clause with Plug (2007); The Saloon (1995-96); The Garden (1992); Bossy Burger (1991-92). Images taken from various sources.

Work In Progress v6.1

Here are progress shots of the Labo installation. I'm almost finished, the show opens Friday!

From top to bottom: Structure frame for the hoarding wall closing the gallery; Julie and I put up the frame and cut all the panels to size (23 total). The next day they were primed; Painting the green strips; Ron dropped by and helped to hang the panels to seal the space.

À l'écoute

Celebration, Celebration (4AD)
A great record from this Baltimore-based group. A few friends told me about this one a while back and I finally got my hands on it. I suggest you do the same.

Jean Leclerc, Mexico (Roi Ponpon)
This is where Montréal's Jean Leloup has been hiding. Not only has he returned to his birth name—and his birth right: poetry—he also returned to the guitar jams I used to sway back in forth within large crowds at his concerts. Perhaps not an entry point (if he's news to you), but a damn fine record. Worth breaking out those note books from your French classes. His writing is brilliant.

Amy Bennett

Here's the work of Brooklyn-based artist Amy Bennett. More here. This is my new obsession.

From top to bottom: Coming To Grips (2007); On Thin Ice (2007); Losing It (2007); From Now On (2007). All from the series Neighbors.

Euan Macdonald

Here are a few works by Los Angeles-based artist Euan Macdonald on the subject of palm trees. Why should we look at these right now? Because obsessions are mystical and magical, and it finally feels like Spring in Toronto! The other work, the one with the red beemer is a looped video called Breakstand. That one's a toast to the summer coming. Nuf said. Read more, see more.

From top to bottom: Interval (1997); Untitled, Truck with Palm and Shadow (1998); Untitled, Interval Proposal (2008); Breakstand (1997).

Brand New Heavy

Ryan just finished redesigning my website, Cindy took most of the photos and I just have to be happy. Is all. Here: www.pascalpaquette.com

Drew Simpson

I passed by Drew's place a few days ago to catch up with him. I was privy to his usual hard worked paintings that he's producing for multiple international exhibitions he's having in the next few months, but also to this here shown series of sculptures. Simpson had exhibited these back in 2008 at Fountain Gallery in Toronto.

Shown above: Sculptures from the series Epitaphs to the Pleistocene Epoch. Photos by Jeff Bierk.

On View (in Toronto)

Fabrice is presently exhibiting works on paper from his personal collection. On show are two works of mine from my Commodity Over Culture series (2003-ongoing). Also in the main gallery space are works by Ryan Schneider. More info on that or directions to the gallery can be found here. Both shows are on until April 26.

From top to bottom: Starbucks, Coming Soon (ed. of 3) 2003; Krispy Kreme, Here Soon (installation view at Mind Control Gallery, Toronto) 2003.

Work In Progress v6.0

I'm exhibiting at Le Labo in Toronto for Contact this May. I will be showing a major installation that continues my Commodity Over Culture series. This time, I will transform the gallery space into a construction site for an upcoming design and home furnishing store.

From top to bottom: $800 of purchases from Crate & Barrel; A few sets—Cindy helped greatly; A product scenario study.

Damián Ortega

Last year, I posted a picture of a work by the Mexican artist Damián Ortega entitled Master of the Universe. At the time, I did not know who he was, all I had was a jpeg of an amazing work that I had to share. Go here for more about Ortega and his work.

From top to bottom: Master of the Universe (2007) installation view at PS1 (NY, USA); Master of the Universe (2007) installation view at Centre G. Pompidou (Paris, France).

Work In Progress v3.3

Cindy was working in the studio a few weeks ago and while there, took pictures of the shelling series with a 35mm tilt-shift lens.

I now have to start working towards a major site-specific exhibit happening in May so will put these paintings aside for now.

Wesley Meuris

Here are drawings by Belgian artist Wesley Meuris. Although very good with the paper and watercolour medium, he is mostly know for his sculptural work. See it all here.

From top to bottom: The White Knight Hotel, 2008; Aviary for Tropical Parrots—the Canopy of the Forest, 2006; Cage for Water Buffalo, 2005; Playing Field, 2004. (All from www.wesleymeuris.be)

À l'écoute

A great cover of Radiohead's Reckoner by Gnarls Barkley. No dressing up required.

Marc Quinn

Shown above are sculptures from British artist Marc Quinn. If you are familiar with the London art scene, then you have seen his pristine work. More here.

From top to bottom: Planet, 2008; Sphinx (Road to Enlightenment), 2007; Beauty and the Beast, 2005; Peter Hull, 1999. (Planet photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)