Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition 2011

Up front, Elizabeth Elkin. 

Fibre artist Amanda McCavour. 

I always meet the most interesting people at the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition.  Fewer exhibitors this year, surprising since it's the event's 50th anniversary but half of Nathan Phillips Square being fenced off for construction may have had something to do with that.  As always, though, quality at this juried show was high.
The TOAE gives out thousands of dollars in awards every year and it's fun to see when my picks align with the judges'.  My first stop is always the TOAE information booth to pick up a brochure that lists all artists by medium and maps booths.  Art Walks (Sat. and Sun. p.m.) also originate at the booth.
Grabbing my attention this year: Annyen Lam (printmaker turned paper cutter), Susan Gale (bright paintings of Toronto), Ian Mcmurrich (digital portraits with candy-coloured auras), Kevin Roach (folk art with cottage country finds), Gordon Leverton (still, Hopper-esque houses), Jorgen Lauritzen (Dali-like digital images of Toronto's lonelier outbacks).

Splashing water, seagulls, ice cream. 

It was easy to spend several hours browsing the booths, taking an espresso break inside City Hall at the Cafe by the Square, having a cone by the fountain, chatting with the artists and getting an impromptu lesson on how to work my new camera (thanks Jorgen!).
Canada's largest juried outdoor art show is a great opportunity to meet and talk with artists and buy work directly from them at reasonable prices.
The 50th annual Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition will be up at Nathan Phillips Square, Queen and Bay, Toronto, until Sunday, July 10, 2011.

Annyen Lam's incredible paper cutting.

Jorgen Lauritzen & his Dali-esque digital media.

Ontario-inspired folk art by Kevin Roach.