erin mackeen

Richmond

update

Winter 2014/15 Volume 21, Issue 4

The 401 Richmond Update is a community-building

initiative of Urbanspace Property Group. The newsletter
began in June 1994 and over the years has documented
the eclectic activities and fascinating people who make
a home in our historic factory in downtown Toronto.
If you would like to be added to the 401 Update
mailing list please email: update@401richmond.net

401 Richmond Ltd. Staff

Alanna Beitz, Executive Assistant
Katherine Bravo, Urban Agriculture Coordinator
Bob Chandler, Security
Nestor Diona, Maintenance
Bogale Gebreyes, Security & Maintenance
Pamela Lampkin, Janitorial Services
Erin MacKeen, Director Community
Development and Communications
Mike Moody, Property Manager
Manuel Moran, Maintenance
Cynthia Mykytyshyn, Event and Gallery Coordinator
Rodentar Paragas, Maintenance
Melanie Patenaude, Office Administrator
Dalton Rodgers, Property Manager
Vicki Rodgers, Chief Executive Officer
Ronel Ruiz, Maintenance
Luisa Scofano, Office Manager
Michael Siklos, Leasing Manager
Brian Silliphant, Maintenance
Greg Spooner, Parking Attendant & Security
Renato Villanueva, Maintenance
Margaret Zeidler, Founder

Newsletter
Erin MacKeen, Editor
Lisa Kiss Design (Studio 435)
Warrens Waterless Printing

COVER IMAGE
Northeast entrance
of 401 Richmond
Photo: Erin MacKeen

Published by:
Urbanspace Property Group
401 Richmond St. W., Studio 111
Toronto, ON Canada M5V 3A8
tel 416-595-5900 fax 416-595-5904
www.401richmond.net

Printed on Rolland Enviro 100.

Richmond

update
Winter 2014/15 Volume 21, Issue 4

MOVING IN
SPACING has opened its first bricks
and mortar store offering unique
merchandise items inspired by Toronto
and other Canadian cities. The space,
that includes their magazine publishing
office, is neighbours with Swipe in our
new east entrance retail area.
ERIN MACKEEN has moved in to
Studio 260 to begin transitioning to a
full-time art practice. Appropriately, she
will be spending the year in the Career
Launcher space.

MOVING UP

A collection of plaster faces by

Murray Laufer (see News)

news

on the cover

tenant profile

spotted &
applauded

listings

press check

THE BACK PAGE

SWIPE DESIGN | BOOKS + OBJECTS

has relocated their shop of books and
well-designed products to a light-filled
storefront space in the east entrance
hub. Come see the new space this
December on your holiday shopping
circuit.
DERIVATIVE INC, the creators of
TouchDesigner, have expanded their
third floor studio off a new corridor that
now properly connects the south side
of the building.

news
IN THEIR OWN WORDS // musideum

At Musideum, we believe in sharing the great variety of

music being created around the world. Our reputation
as an interactive museum and retail store attracts visitors
from all over who are invited to try out our rare and
unusual collection of instruments.
Almost every night, Musideum hosts intimate concerts
in one of the most unique venues in the city. We strive to
always expand our reach and open our doors to a variety
of musical artists, instruments, and community initiatives.
One of our most recent developments is our new radio
show, The Soul Of Musideum, an hour-long radio program
highlighting some of our favourite past concerts, which
can be heard every Thursday at 10 pm on CIUT 89.5 FM
and online at CIUT.FM.
Some exciting new directions await us in 2015. There is
the creation and production of our new sound sculpture
called the OM-DRUM (omdrum.com), our reality

murray laufer
A mini retrospective of Murray Laufers (Studio 391)
drawings and mixed-media sculptures have found a
home on the ground floor in Hilditch Architects (Studio
139) board room. The one-off exhibition brought many
works by the esteemed artist out of storage and has
attracted the attention of Confederation Centre for the
Arts in Charlottetown and the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Right: Murray Laufer with his sculpture,
A Descent from a Cross, 1999.

television series called Harvest Hounds featuring hosts

Donald Quan, Roger Sader, and Jim Gelcer of
Musideum as they travel the world indulging in music,
culture, and food, and Musideum Artists, an in-house
spotlight on the musical creative process. Drop by often
because theres always something new happening at the
citys most talked about music space! Concert listings
available on musideumconcerts.com
Above: Roger Sader and Donald Quan playing
OM-DRUMs in Musideum

on the cover
The northeast corner of the building has undergone a
transformation with doors and windows opened to the
sidewalk. A fully-accessible, street level entrance and
freshly restored windows now form an enticing bank
of storefront retail space along Richmond Street.
These new light-filled spaces are home to Swipe
Design | Books + Objects and the Spacing Store.
Swipe will be relocating to the east entrance area
from their current location and Spacing is opening
their first bricks and mortar city store which will
include their magazine publishing office.
These neighbouring retail spaces are combining
forces to offer a special shopping experience for the
design-savvy urban dweller. Swipe continues to offer
a selection of contemporary books on graphic

design, advertising, architecture and urbanism

alongside a thoughtful selection of well-designed
products for adults and kids. Spacing will be
carrying unique merchandise items inspired by
Toronto and other Canadian cities including a huge
selection of their famous buttons (subway station
ones included).
The two stores will have matching hours over the
holiday season and are participating in Frolic 4 and the
Artisans Marketplace.
www.swipe.com www.spacing.ca
Above (left to right): Fran Lemon (Swipe), Julie Fish
(Spacing), Kara Guatto (Swipe), Lauren Purves (Spacing),
Mike Bulko (Spacing), Matthew Blackett (Spacing), Kellie
Hadjidimitriou (Swipe)

WHERE ARE THEY NOW

Rita Vinieris bridal boutique Rivini Design
was part of the first wave of tenants to move in
to 401 Richmond. The up and coming designer
was profiled in the 1997 issue of our newsletter
just following a studio expansion to accommodate her
growing business. Her sleek designs were quickly
growing in popularity amongst modern brides
seeking an alternative to mainstream gowns. After
many years sewing her way to critical acclaim at
401, Rivini outgrew their studio and moved the
operation to a much larger workspace. Since then
the label has exploded landing Rita amongst the
most sought after couture bridal designers. It also
landed her on the runway of Mercedes-Benz
Fashion Week in New York City last year where
she debuted her line of cocktail dresses.
www.ritavinieris.com
Left: Rita Vinieris

tenant profile

Editor Lauren McKeon with

publisher Lisa Whittington-Hill

this is this: the magazine Studio 417

A profile about This Magazine (Studio 417) has the
potential to trap us in a whos on first gag, so well
start by explaining their name. The magazine, now in its
forty-eighth year of publishing, was founded by a gang
of school activists in 1966, who originally called it This
Magazine is About Schools. As the focus shifted and the
magazine matured, the last part of the title was dropped
and it became This Magazine. It has held on to its radical
roots, but now covers Canadian politics, pop culture,
and the arts with a mandate to promote talented new
artists and writers.
In an industry thats increasingly producing strictly
digital rather than printed content, This Magazine values
keeping their paper version alive. The experience of
reading a magazine still has a ritual associated with it.
As Editor Lauren McKeon points to there is something
special about being able to hold a magazine, to carry it
with you on the subway, to flip through its pages while
youre cozied up on the couch. Its a tactile experience.
That being said, This is also active on social media and has
plans to revamp their website and blog in the near future.
The magazine is responsive to the fact that the digital
age has changed media. As Lauren explains, people
can access news faster and, with the plethora of online
news options, really tailor their news streams. Social
media means many people also expect media to be
4

responsive the division between journalist and reader

is breaking down. People are communicating more.
This was recognized earlier this year with a Best New
Writer award from the National Magazine Awards. The
honour is reflective of their commitment to actively
seeking out and cultivating emerging talent. Were often
providing writers with their first big clipping for a national
magazine. Many of them have gone on to become some
of our most treasured national voices something were
immensely proud of and a great reputation builder.
Over the years, This has introduced the early work of
Margaret Atwood, Tomson Highway, Naomi Klein,
and Michael Ondaatje, to name just a few.
Coming up, the magazine starts the new year with an
issue featuring social justice all-stars from across
Canada: these are people that are making Canada a
better, more progressive place and were really excited
about the issue. While Im staying mum on who we
picked so far, I can tell you were focusing on issues of:
diversity and multiculturalism, disability and LGBTQ
rights, mental health, womens rights, youth, poverty
and income disparities, housing, and so much more.
In fact, if you happen to know a social justice all-star that
deserves some attention, you can nominate them by
contacting Lauren at editor@thismagazine.ca.
www.thismagazine.ca

spotted & applauded

the shape and form

of the future
Scotiabank Nuit Blanche
October 4, 2014

Pop-up playground

From top right (counter clockwise)

Centre for City Ecology, How Does Your
Neighbourhood Grow?; Cinecycle Scopitone
screening; SAVAC's goddess entrance;
Jacquie Green's, Make Your Mark video project;
Contemporary Textile Studio Co-op

Lisa Kiss Design

henry chan

received tremendous recognition from the Ontario Association

of Art Galleries (Studio 395) awards for the exhibition
catalogue Will Munro: History, Glamour, Magic published by the
Art Gallery of York University to accompany a retrospective of
Munros work. The book received awards for art writing, art
publication of the year, and a design award for Lisa's studio
(Studio 435) which is also responsible for the design of our
own Update Newsletter. www.lisakissdesign.com
Left: Lisa Kiss with Terry Lau of Beehive Design (Studio 399),
one of the juror's for this year's OAAG Awards.

listings

December 2014 to February 2015

The Listings Board is your opportunity to communicate

with other tenants and keep them informed about what is
happening in your organization. If you are having a sale,
exhibition, or event you would like advertised, email details
to update@401richmond.net. Listings are open to all tenants.
DEADLINEFORNEXTISSUE: Friday January 16, 2015

GALLERY DIRECTORY
A Space Gallery (Studio 110)
Contact 416-979-9633 www.aspacegallery.org
Abbozzo Gallery (Studio 128)
Contact 416-260-2220 www.abbozzogallery.com
Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography (Studio 120)
Contact 416-979-3941 www.gallery44.org
Open Studio (Studio 104)
Contact 416-504-8238 www.openstudio.on.ca
Prefix Institute of Contemporary Art (Studio 124)
Contact 416-591-0357 www.prefix.ca
Red Head Gallery (Studio 115)
Contact 416-504-5654 www.redheadgallery.org
Trinity Square Video (Studio 376)
Contact 416-593-1332 www.trinitysquarevideo.com
Urbanspace Gallery (Studio 117)
Contact 416-595-5900 www.urbanspacegallery.ca
Vtape Video Gallery (Studio 452)
Contact 416-351-1317 www.vtape.org
WARC Gallery/Womens Art Resource Centre (Studio 122)
Contact 416-977-0097 www.warc.net

JANUARY 16 FEBRUARY 21
Gallery 44
Tatiana Grigorenko, Zo Heyn-Jones: The Disappeared
Igor Omulecki: Waveherd
Opening: Friday January 16, 68 pm
Brunch Talk: Saturday January 17, Noon2 pm
Open Studio
Joani Tremblay: Open Spaces
Tobias Williams
Group Exhibition: Selected Artwork from the Print Sales Gallery
Opening: Friday January 16, 6:308:30 pm
JANUARY 23 MARCH 28
Urbanspace Gallery
Mapped Ground: Representing the Urban Imaginary
Curated by Dr. Shelagh McCartney, Ryerson University,
and +city
Academic Partners : Ryerson University and Carleton University

FEBRUARY 4 28
The Red Head Gallery
Gabrielle de Montmollin: Imaginary Friends
Opening: Saturday February 7, 25 pm
FEBRUARY 5 MARCH 28
Prefix Institute of Contemporary Art
Myriam Yates: Racetrack Superstar Ghost
Opening (Artist in attendance): Thursday February 5, 710 pm
FEBRUARY 27 APRIL 4
Open Studio
Alanis Obomsawin
Shawn Reynar:Vestiges
Anne Abbass:Moments in Time
Opening: Friday February 27, 6:308:30 pm

YYZ Artists Outlet (Studio 140)

Contact 416-598-4546 www.yyzartistsoutlet.org

EXHIBITIONS
continues to december 12
Trinity Square Video
Will Kwan: If All You Have is a Hammer, Everything
Looks Like a Nail
Co-presented with Gendai and the Reel Asian Film Festival

continues to december 13
Abbozzo Gallery
Jennifer Walton: New Work
continues to JANUARY 3
Urbanspace Gallery
How Does Your Neighbourhood Grow?
Presented by the Centre for City Ecology

continues to JANUARY 16
The Roastery Coffee House
Janine Lindgren: Stories in Woodcuts
JANUARY 7 31
The Red Head Gallery
Xiaojing Yan
JANUARY 10 MARCH 7
YYZ Artists Outlet
Scott Rogers
Jade Rude
Artist Talk & Opening: Friday January 9, 6:157 pm & 79 pm

Suzanne Nacha at Open Studio (January 16 February 21)

Top to bottom: Tatiana Grigorenko at Gallery 44 (January 16

February 21), Jade Rude at YYZ (January 10 March 7)

HOLIDAY SPECIALS
DECEMBER 3 20
The Red Head Gallery
Get Noticed: 20 New Artists
Curated by Powell MacDougall and Erin Stump
Opening: Friday December 12, 711 pm
Extended Frolic hours: December 4, 69 pm
DECEMBER 4 13
Gallery 44
Wall to Wall
Opening: Thursday December 4, 610 pm
DECEMBER 4 20
Abbozzo Gallery
Stan Olthuis
Camie Geary-Martin
Elaine Clarfield Gitalis
Extended Frolic hours: December 4, 69 pm
+ open during Marketplace
Open Studio
Artist Proof Sale
Opening: Thursday December 4, 69 pm
DECEMBER 4 7
401 Richmond
Frolic 4 + Artisans Marketplace
401 Richmond celebrates the season with a festive open house
event where youll find a unique selection of contemporary
art and gifts from galleries, shops, artists, and local makers.
Featuring the 22nd annual Artisans Marketplace, that runs from
December 4 to 7.
Opening: Thursday December 4, 69 pm
Marketplace: Thursday 11 am9 pm / Friday 11 am8 pm
Saturday 11 am6 pm / Sunday 11 am4 pm
www.401richmond.net

EVENTS
JANUARY22 & February 19
Prefix Institute of Contemporary Art
Urban Field Speakers Series:
Trevor Paglen with Charles Stankievech
Rebecca Solint with Anne Michaels
Tickets: www.prefix.ca
JANUARY 28 & FEBRUARY 25
401 Richmond
Last Wednesdays
Come by after work to visit the current gallery exhibitions and
our independent shops, join a guided tour, and have a cocktail.
Time: 58 pm, Free Admission

press check

toronto
park people's
impressive contributions
to a park renaissance
were celebrated in a
special insert for Toronto
Life Magazine. We also
spotted Park Peoples
Park Toolkit getting some
well-deserved praise
on Torontoist.

John Scott
talked art and inspiration
with Studio Beat for his
show Dark Commander:
The Art of John Scott on at
the Faulconer Gallery in
Iowa until December 14.

KRIS KNIGHT
appeared on the cover of
The Globe and Mails
Style Advisor insert
looking hauntingly like
one of his own paintings,
to advertise the artists
recent collaboration with
fashion icon Gucci.

watsonsoule
collaborators Janna Watson and Nico Soule must
be floored by all the press theyve been receiving
for their artist-inspired, hand-crafted rugs. This time,
Kingwest Magazine featured them alongside four
other Toronto rug designers.

THE back page

Janine lindgren
Handprinted lithograph of 401 Richmond. You can see Janine's
work on display in the caf until January 16, 2015.

If youd like to be onTHEBACKPAGE, please submit your drawing, painting, illustration, photograph or architectural plans at
300 dpi as a photoshop or illustrator file on cd or dvd disk. Please include a word file with your name, the title of the project, your
website, your studio address and a brief description of 50 words (maximum) on the disk. The best entry will be chosen for each
issue. Disks will not be returned. This space is to showcase the talent in the building. It is not for advertising an event or sale.

Richmond

401 Richmond Street West, Studio 111

Toronto, ON Canada M5V 3A8
www.401richmond.net

update