Exhibit: Par Amour + Over the Rainbow at MOCCA!

Two Toronto Culture + Art Exhibition Reviews

Heya! I always love visiting the Museum of Canadian Contemporary Art in Toronto. They always have some very interesting and unique art exhibits like Misled By Nature and Material Self. A few weeks ago I enjoyed MOCCA's latest two exhibits: Over the Rainbow: Identity and Seduction and Par Amour / Paramour. Both exhibitions were very interesting and are presented in partnership with World Pride Toronto.

Over the Rainbow is a selection of artwork taken from the private collection of Torontoian Salah Bachir and Jacob Yerex. The pieces assembled broadly represent the themes of seduction and identity. And "the thematic approach is meant to consider commonalities of human experience over opposition and difference." The collection consists mostly of paintings, drawings, and photographs by such artists as Annie Leibovitz, Andy Warhol, Betty Goodwin, and Stephen Andrews, and many more.

The exhibition, held in the main gallery, was quite large with many pieces to see, so schedule at least 45 minutes to really enjoy it. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing some great artwork by some amazing artists and I highly recommend this exhibit! I would love to view Bachir's and Yerex's entire collection. Over the Rainbow runs until August 17, 2014.

Ascent, from Empowerment series, 1990-91 by Robert Flack

Paramour, 2012 and Morte Fae, 2012 by Jean-Luc Verna

Par Amour / Paramour exhibit took its name from Jean-Luc Verna's work Paramour and is displayed in the back smaller gallery. Four different gay artists' works are represented and the exhibit is a sort of testimonial and memorial to Queer culture and the tragedy of the AIDS epidemic. From Robert Flack's Empowerment series prints to Stephen Andrews' drawings of men who have died from AIDS, and their names immortalized on a piano paper roll, with the beautiful eerie soundtrack, composed by Andrew Zealley playing in the background, I was very moved by this exhibit. Par Amour / Paramour runs until August 17, 2014.

Facsimile, Part 1, 1991 by Stephen Andrews

Facsimile, Part 1, 1991 (detail) by Stephen Andrews

And P.s!: There are free artists talks presented throughout the run of Over The Rainbow. Please visit MOCCA's website for more information. And as always, both of these exhibits are FREE!

P.s,

Melanie!