Brain Project artist puts mind to good cause
Street-art initiative acts as awareness campaign for brain health
Several brains are currently scattered across Toronto for an art project and one of them belongs to Adam Colangelo.
A Pelham-based artist who relocated from the big city about three years ago, he is one of nearly 50 creative minds participating in the third annual street-art initiative, which is also an awareness campaign for brain health, sponsored by Yogen Fruz and Pinkberry, raising funds for the Baycrest Foundation.
Artists have their craniums placed around Toronto and Colangelo’s is on display in the pool at Nathan Phillips Square.
A full-time artist for almost 10 years, Colangelo said the exposure the widespread exhibit will bring his way comes second to the opportunity to be involved with a worthy cause.
“I get to do this every day and I’m really thankful for it. If I get to help out at the same time, that’s my drive,” he said in a recent interview at his home studio in Pelham.
He spent five years in Niagara while he was a student at Brock University, pursuing a career to become a teacher.
In his final year, he decided to take classes from the university’s satellite campus in Hamilton, which led to him regularly visiting the Art Gallery of Hamilton.
That’s when the shift started, and he knew he’d rather create artwork than oversee classrooms full of students.
Already having a knack for welding and working with his hands through fixing go-karts and dirt bikes at a young age, his current passion started when he found a roll of unused copper while cleaning out his grandfather’s garage.
His brother Dave already had contacts in Toronto’s art community, which helped him book an exhibit that ended up being pretty successful, shortly after focusing on copper work.
“I sold a few pieces at the show and it really opened my eyes,” said Colangelo, who has also displayed his pieces in New York City and Vancouver, outside of his frequent shows in Toronto.
Estimating he completes 80 pieces per year, Colangelo’s process starts with crude, unfinished pieces of copper.
He applies different forms of chemical oxidization to get unique colours, and also applies extreme heat to get a variety of tones.
His brain has been displayed since July 4 and will be until Aug. 31, where it will then be taken to Yorkdale Mall in Toronto for an exhibit and sale.
For more information about Colangelo, you can visit www.adamcolangelo.com.
The Brain Project’s website is www.brainproject.ca.