Scotiabank Nuit Blanche Independent Project:

Nostalgia, A Group Show, featuring works by

Beaver Hall Artists’ Co-op members

Toronto, ON - Beaver Hall Gallery is pleased to present Nostalgia, a group exhibition of art works by Beaver Hall Artists' Co-op members. The exhibition runs from October 3, 2015 - October 10, 2015. Opening on Scotiabank Nuit Blanche October 3, 2015 from 7PM-7AM.

The Beaver Hall Artists' Co-operative was founded in 1988. Located in the heart of Queen Street West's art and entertainment district, this housing co-operative was designed to meet the needs of working visual artists. Named after the Beaver Hall Hill Group — an association of artists who shared studio space at Beaver Hall Square (Montreal, circa 1920s) who sought to educate the public about Canadian art — the Toronto co-op became part of a nation-wide movement to secure live-work spaces for artists across the country.

In celebration of the tenth anniversary of Scotiabank Nuit Blanche, eleven members are exhibiting works resonating with the theme Memory Lane with a focus on nostalgia for people, places, and processes.

These artists present their unique perspectives, translating their observations across disciplines - from works on paper, canvas, photography, sound, and multimedia installations to express their interpretation of Nostalgia. Exposing the elusiveness, intricacy and fallibility of memory with versatility and skill, Isaac Applebaum, Michael Alstad, Yvonne Whelan, Camille Turner, Addi "Mindbender" Stewart, and KD Thornton explore lost or inaccessible times and places. The works of Barbara Greczny and Sharron McLeod are inspired by remembrances of personal relationships. Graham Roach, Albert Li, and Peter Brickell are influenced by their interests in historic art processes.

AN INSTALLATION BY MICHAEL ALSTAD - ONE NIGHT ONLY- SCOTIABANK NUIT BLANCHE

"THE SNAKE PIT"

Michael Alstad’s Snake Pit installation reconstructs & deconstructs the glamorous Nile Room bar that was situated in the basement of the Letros Hotel – Toronto’s only gay bar in the 1950’s that housed the famous original Halloween drag balls. The Snake Pit will feature a curated selection of short video docs on Toronto’s early gay bar history from Queerstory - a free walking tour app and interactive documentary that leads the audience through 37 intriguing sites that uncover the political, cultural and social history of Toronto’s LGBT community. Performance artist Keith Cole will be your fabulous all-night host and vintage mixologist.

http://www.queerstory.ca

Nostalgia will run through October 10, 2015. Many of the artists will be present on opening night Scotiabank Nuit Blanche Saturday, October 3rd from 7:00PM - 7:00AM. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Saturday 12-5:00PM, and by appointment.