7/30/2019 401 Richmond Update Tenant Profile_YYZ Artists' Outlet

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tenant profle

n many ways Artists utlet (Studio 140) is a 401

ichmond institution. Founded in 1979, YYZ it is one of

the oldest artist-run centres in Toronto and was also partof the rst wave of exhibition spaces to establish a home

on the ground oor of our building. Lie many artist-run

centres in the city, YYZ was formed by a group of artists

who were looing for a non-commercial space to exhibit

their wor. s Director Ana arajas notes, their mandate

was and continues to be the artist: artists self-curate

their exhibitions they have the nal say in what is

shown, how, and who writes about it. We try to mae

our exhibitions as much about the artist as possible with

YYZ as a support mechanism for maing that happen.

More recently, YYZ has been playing with a slightly

unconventional exhibition model based on exibility

around how artwor is both conceived and shown.

On any given visit you may encounter spaces in limbo

or partially installed, artists woring on creating the wor

in situ, or fully realized installations. combination of

exhibiting artists and a residency program generates the

in ux nature of the space. s na describes, as part of

the submission process we loo at artist practices as a

whole, including past projects that have been realized,

instead of reviewing a specic project proposal. f we

decide that theyre a good overall t, we leave what they

will do in the space a bit open-ended. This exibility

includes playing with time (with two projects currently

spanning a year and evolving as the artist intervenes)

and starting to incorporate varying practices that might not

wor for a solo show in alternative, smaller scale areas.

YYZs unpredictability can be surprising for audiences

who have been trained to view wor in galleries in a

certain way a gallery is closed for installation, itopens when the show is completed, and your only

opportunity to meet the artist is usually at the opening.

People are sometimes unsure about how to interact

when they come upon an artist in process. This

opportunity for engagement is important for both the

audience and YYZ; it allows for greater interaction with

the artists while having the rare chance to watch the

artwor change and grow.

YYZ has also changed and grown since they moved to 401in 1997. Over the last decade they have been cultivating

the publishing arm of their centre releasing at least one

boo a year. They have two titles coming up this year and

as na pointed out,their resources are too little for their

ambitions. n response to the question,why publishing?

na said we thin its important to support critical writing

and a critical view of anadian art practice because we

really dont have a lot of it. ow we need to gure out how

to mae it sustainable and set the terrain for YYZBOOkS

to continue to produce something every year.

oming up, in eeping with YYZs innovative

programming, rian Groombridge will be curating his

own restrospective. The show will include some new

wors alongside two emerging artist interventions with

the intent to create a dialogue around his practice.

www.yyzartistsoutlet.org

Artists utlet Programming Assistant

Mallory ilkinson and irector Ana arajas

YYZ ARTISTS OUTlET Studio 140