VISUAL ARTS
DANIEL RIOS RODRIGUEZ presents a new series of mixed-media canvas works alongside a graphite drawing. Rodriguez’s constructivist approach to image making uses a combination of found material and impasto paint application on an intimate scale. By reconstructing formal elements of art production, the work acts as an exploration of traditional painting subjects such as the still life, landscape, memento mori and autobiographical narratives. Cooper Cole Gallery (1134 Dupont St., 416-531-8000). Until Aug. 26. DAN NUTTALL: STILLED LIFE WITH CURRICULUM In Ontario, the introduction of a new sexual education curriculum has caused considerable controversy. This installation holds a mirror up to this controversy. Dan is a Toronto-based visual artist with a background in the natural sciences and design. Roadside Attractions (911 Davenport Rd., 416-538-3997). Until Sep. 12. FREE BLACK NORTH features photographs of men, women and children living in Ontario in the mid-to-late 1800s, descendants of Black refugees who escaped enslavement in the Southern United States. These portraits, drawn from collections at Brock University and the Archives of Ontario, many shown here for the first time, reveal how these chiefly unknown individuals presented themselves with style, dignity and self-assurance. Part of the Contact Photography Festival. Art Gallery of Ontario (317 Dundas St. W., 416-979-6648). Until Sunday. GHAZALEH BANIAHMAD: ONE DAY, ONE VERY SIMPLE DAY This artist experiments and works intuitively with materials and processes using drawing, painting, photo-collage, sculpture and mixed media. Baniahmad also uses photography and found images and works primarily in black and white. This palette acts as a rich metaphor for memory, as she reflects on her own, and her mother’s, personal journey. OISE (252 Bloor St. W., 416-978-0005). Until Sept. 30. THE GROUP OF SEVEN GUITAR PROJECT Eight masterwork guitars, commissioned from seven world-renowned Canadian guitar makers in homage to a particular Group of Seven member and Tom Thomson, will be presented in the round, allowing viewers to walk around and explore the various landscapes in wood and inlay hosted by the musical instrument. McMichael Canadian Art Collection (10365 Islington Ave., Kleinburg, Ont., 905-893-1121). Until Oct. 29. HERE: LOCATING CONTEMPORARY CANADIAN ARTISTS Artists featured in this exhibit suggest that Canadian identity, too, is made of many inscriptions and embedded stories. Whether Canadianborn or naturalized, permanent residents or ex-pats, these artists carry experiences from multiple geographies and generations, from neighbours old and new. Rich with questions, their works may point to a pathway for both individuals and nations. Building a future means recognizing our complex histories, finding spaces to grow and allowing conversations to continue. Aga Khan Museum (77 Wynford Dr., North York, 416-646-4677). Until Jan. 1, 2018. HUICHOLES — A PEOPLE WALKING TOWARDS THE LIGHT showcases the art and lives of the Huicholes, an Indigenous group from western Mexico whose history dates back 15,000 years. Featuring dazzling yarn paintings created using traditional techniques, this exhibition includes ceremonial objects, handmade textiles and photographs documenting a unique and threatened way of life. Textile Museum of Canada (55 Centre Ave., 416599-5321). Until Sept. 4. MAKING PEACE TORONTO is a major outdoor exhibit, gallery and performance venue. Presenting the work of more than 100 photographers and artists, it pays tribute to people all over the planet, including Toronto’s own Nobel Peace Prizewinner Lester B. Pearson, who devote their time, energy and resources to the cause of peace. Displayed along Front St. E., between Cooperage St. and Corktown Common. Making Peace Pop-up Gallery (482 Front St. E., Toronto.makingpeace. org). Until Sept. 24. MINIMAL(IST) EFFORTS features recent paintings and sculpture by Neil Harrison, Jean-Francois Lauda, Robert Taite and Simon Belleau, highlighting current minimalist approaches to art-making in Canada. Arising in New York in the ‘60s, minimalism was a reaction against the perceived excesses of abstract expressionism that had dominated mid-20th-century visual art. Angell (1444 Dupont, Unit 15, 416-530-0444). Until Aug. 26.