TAGS Virtual Art Show
By Gail Pahwa
Come join us in celebrating spring with The Art Guild of Scarborough’s (TAGS) annual spring show, presented virtually for the first time! As of 2021, the Art Guild has been in existence for 59 years and, with active volunteers and member participation, continues to thrive in spite of ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.
This time last year and much to the disappointment of the artists and those who were planning to attend, we had to cancel our physical show – a first for TAGS. It soon became apparent that life was not going to return to usual anytime soon. Through social media and email, members were kept informed as the TAGS executive committee quickly geared up to meet this new challenge. Communication with our members continued through Facebook, emails and phone calls from the committee to the members of TAGS to see how they were doing. Since we could not meet in person, our plans were quickly modified to move TAGS activities online. The first virtual meeting on Apr. 7/20 gave member artists the opportunity to share and discuss their work with the group and to obtain suggestions on their works in progress. Members were then invited to “The Show That Never Was!” on the TAGS Facebook site with 45 images of paintings that would have been in the Spring 2020 show at the Centennial Recreation Centre – Scarborough.
This set the stage for what was to follow: a session to help members navigate the virtual environment; sketch nights, and presentations on photographing art, perspective, value and colour using various media, etc., on the Zoom platform. We were able to learn virtually from excellent presentations by accomplished artists from across Canada and to get excited about creating art with improved skill and support from fellow members.
TAGS launched our annual Arthur Show online and surprised our very active long-time member and one of the founding members of the Scarborough Arts Council by renaming this show’s award, The Joy McFadyen Arthur Award in recognition of her significant contributions to art, the art community and The Art Guild of Scarborough over the years.
April finds us celebrating the launch of our new online Spring Art Show 2021 with over 242 works. With a history of fostering an understanding and appreciation of visual arts in the community, our group of 175 local artists strive to develop their skills of visual expression with support from each other and artists in the wider community while promoting and encouraging promising artists. Our shows and exhibitions enable us to present evidence of this in the quality of the original works on display and in the accompanying colourful still life, ‘Just for You’, created by Joanne Binns, a multi-talented artist who loves to paint flowers.
Being a non-profit group enables visitors to make comparatively affordable purchase of these original pieces to enjoy in their homes and offices or to share as gifts.www.agsartsale.com . You are invited to enjoy our Annual Spring Show and Sale which will be online until May 31st, 2021. Enjoy!
For more information about TAGS, please see https://www.facebook.com/theartguildofscarborough/