Exhibit: Vanitas is a Marvel For The Senses!

Toronto Art Exhibition Review

Heya! Two weeks ago I visited the Koffler Gallery at Artscape Youngplace to enjoy a most unusual and unique art installation called Vanitas by Toronto based Canadian artist Penelope Stewart. Created from over 2500 pounds of beeswax, Vanitas is a must see!

Upon entering the gallery, wax-cast bee skeps, led me into a large room with a square beeswax tiled wall with a door. When I opened and walked through the door, I was surrounded by the sweet scent of beeswax and enclosed in a beautiful 3 sided room covered with intricate flowers and beautiful designs, molded out of beeswax. Spilling out the open wall is a multitude of beeswax-cast objects strewn across the floor and vines of wax-cast keys and leaves that were hand sewn together, hanging from the ceiling. Taking its name from the term to describe symbolic art works, mostly of still life paintings, and includes themes of death and 'the meaninglessness of earthly life and the transient nature of all earthly goods', Vanitas is quite an appropriate name. During my visit, I felt like I happened upon an archeological dig, with all the artifacts covered in beeswax. Everywhere I looked I saw some new detail or object to marvel at.

I loved this exhibit; it is definitely one of the most unique installations I have seen in Toronto in a while. I also loved the Eco-friendliness of it. 90% of the beeswax was re-purposed, and will probably be melted done again for upcoming projects. Vanitas is running until September 1, 2014. For more information please visit the Koffler Gallery website. And don't forget to take a look around Artscape Youngplace for more great art works hanging in the hallways or painted in the stairways!

And P.s!: Artscape Youngplace has several art exhibitions running at various times. When I visited, there was a really cool exhibit running called Manifesto, that included street art works and portraits made from Rubix Cubes. And all exhibitions are free including Vanitas! There is also an artist led tour and panel discussion on August 6, 2014, that is also free!

P.s,

Melanie!