Collective Goes to the Island

FINALLY the 7 Works Collective gets to go to the Island!!!

It was a relief to finally feel comfortable enough to go to Artscape Gibraltar Point this past October. Still exercising strict covid protocols and staying completely on the island. Certainly we missed our usual mainland gallery trip and visit to the ROM but being safe was more important. And it gave us the opportunity to concentrate 100% on our residency work. We managed to get six of our seven members to the residency in person but still connected with our seventh member via Facetime.

Each artist was assigned to their own large studio space where we created with extreme focus while still popping in and out of other studios throughout the day checking in with each persons progress, giving feedback and support.

Since Toronto Island is a car-free island, we rented "vintage" bikes to get around enabling us to dine out most nights and that means really OUT as in outside. Fortunately our weather was ideal for this.

On the day of the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, as a group, we met on the beach near the residence to remember and recognize the Indigenous Peoples and Communities across Canada. As we thought and talked about these events of the past and the ongoing impacts of wrong doings, we created a meditative stone spiral on the beach.  

We will return next year to continue our creative work in a peaceful, inspiring environment.

Kathryn Bossy

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Mario Cerroni

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Lynn Dubinsky

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Catherine Gutsche

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Karen Wynne Mackay

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Judi Miller