Established in 1999, AWOL Gallery and Studios was one of the first galleries to open in what is now a hot Toronto Queen West Gallery District. AWOL Gallery and Studios continues to be run by its founding members Nurit Basin, Ross Bonfanti, edmund law, Pamela Rosales, Sandra Tarantino, Dale Thompson and Paul R. Turner. Along with the dozen or so exhibits a year they host an annual non-juried exhibit featuring hundreds of local and international artists called Square Foot (each artist has to limit their work to a 12x12 inch format).