Exhibit: Black Butterflies, Cityscapes & James Joyce!

The Power Plant's Black Cloud, Invention, I SEE WORDS, I SEE VOICES Exhibitions Review

I was feeling a little worn out from my hectic week so I decided to take a much decided art therapy day and visit the new fall exhibits at The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery at The Harbourfront in Toronto. I got a quick preview of the three exhibitions running now during Nuit Blanche, but because of the crowds and early morning time, I knew I wanted to go back and take my time to really enjoy them.

Black Cloud, 2007/2015 by Carlos Amorales

The three exhibitions are Carlos Amorales: Black Cloud, 2007/2015, Dora Garcia: I SEE WORDS, I HEAR VOICES and Mark Lewis: Invention.

Black Cloud, 2007/2015 by Carlos Amorales

Black Cloud, 2007/2015 by Carlos Amorales

Black Cloud, 2007/2015 by Carlos Amorales

Black Cloud, 2007/2015 by Carlos Amorales

Black Cloud, 2007/2015 by Carlos Amorales

Black Cloud, 2007/2015 by Carlos Amorales was an overwhelming installation consisting of 30,000 black paper moths covering the walls, ceiling, and doorways of the main corridor of the gallery. Once I walked into the heart of the installation and turned around and looked up, I felt almost a claustrophobic feeling staring at the contrast of the frail black moths on the stark white walls. Interpretations of this site-specific installation are apparently endless and can differ from visitor to visitor, but I felt a sense of wonder and beauty as I tried to follow the flight paths of the moths. I also didn't realize the moths were moths, to me they looked like butterflies. Black Cloud was my favourite of the three exhibitions, but to be fair I love butterflies (as the walls in my apartment can attest to:).

I SEE WORDS, I HEAR VOICES by Dora Garcia

I SEE WORDS, I HEAR VOICES is an exhibition of several works by Dora Garcia and is an ongoing multi-disciplinary project examining the relationship between artist, work, and viewer. Although it isn't my taste, it is very interesting how Garcia explores living outside the mainstream and how it affects artistic expression as well as examining James Joyce's works while in exile.

Invention by Mark Lewis

The third exhibition, Invention, features several films by Mark Lewis that gives visitors a unique opportunity to view Toronto and Sao Paulo in a new perspective. The short silent films pan around different urban architecture in the two cities and are supposed to help the viewer to reflect on the implications of moving pictures and imagine a world without them. I personally just liked watching the films.

I enjoyed all three exhibitions and left The Power Plant feeling refreshed from my afternoon of art therapy. All three exhibitions are free and open to the public and are running until January 3, 2015. Please visit The Power Plant for more information.

P.s!: The Power Plant offers free Power Tours every Saturday at 3pm. These  30 minute guided tours offer visitors an opportunity to learn more about the current exhibitions.  

P.s,

Melanie!