CRAM2010

Closure
an installation by
Alan Flint
March 12 - 30 ,2010
Opening Reception: Friday, March 12th, 8 pm

The idea of Closure is that disparate things in the world can find unity within the energies of outside factors. Once this unity of disparate things is achieved, the integrated whole becomes a self-sufficient entity. Closure is a process that establishes the relationship of disparate things, which creates the possibility for new complex realities to emerge.

Pivot. Blocker. Jammer.
Work inspired by the skaters of Toronto Roller Derby
Hayden Booth

February 26 - March 10, 2010

Having been a member of CRAM since near cramart's inception, I've only
contributed some writing – sporadically, and now quite some time back – to
the mix. After a while, Tobey kept asking me when I was going to do an
exhibition. Not being an artist, I kept playfully putting it off. Then, I
relented: I said I'd do it when I turned 45.

Well, time's up, so here we go. Since moving to Toronto a few years ago,
life has changed immeasurably. I'm having fun, which is something I never
would have predicted five years ago. And a lot of that has to do with the
wonderful world ofthe fastest-rising sport on the planet:
women's flat-track roller derby.

Since its schedule started up in May 2007, I've been the play-by-play
announcer for Toronto Roller Derby, which for a time ranked as the largest
roller derby league in North America. As a volunteer working with these
daring women on eight wheels, I've seen the beginnings and, now, the firm
hold of a sport that isn't just a novelty anymore. For all the
disagreements and difficulties along the way (this is a family, not unlike
any other), a whole new world has opened up to me. Dozens of lives have
shifted, generally for the far better – mine included.

Though I've designed a couple of posters for Toronto Roller Derby bouts
along the way, the idea to form my experience into something bigger didn't
really happen until last birthday. My girlfriend, Land Shark (a jammer for
the league's Death Track Dolls), and I had driven out to her native Nova
Scotia a few months prior, and we were goofing off at the dinner table one
evening, drawing cartoon sharks on roller skates. One doodle stuck in my
head, and I kept drawing it on every card or note I left for her. For her
birthday in February (same day as mine), I decided to turn it into a large
acrylic painting. I hadn't really painted before, but I thought it would
be fun.

And there it went... and here we are. I've included some photos I took
with Gore-Gore Rollergirls' jammer Dust Bunny's digital camera. as well
including an enlarged edition of a ToRD poster I made for an event in
the 2009 season – only this time with a look that I'm happier with.
music-video shoot in 2008 – I'm not a photographer, either – and I'm
including an enlarged edition of a ToRD poster I made for an event in
the 2009 season – only this time with a look that I'm happier with.

I have to say that I never would have taken a crack at attempting some
sort of visual art had it not been for the encouragement of the crews at
both CRAM and the Niagara Artists Centre, of which I'm also proudly a
member.

Now... let's go trackside and get ready for the jam!

Hayden Booth
Toronto
February 2010

Susurros de una ciudad
Paintings by Mauricio Reyes Aranda

February 12 - 24
Opening Reception: Friday, Feb 12th at 8 pm

Mauricio Reyes Aranda lives in Santiago de Cuba. He is a 1992 graduate of the José Joaquín Tejada Academy of Fine Art where he majored in painting and studied photography, set design, graphic design, and mural painting. In 2003 he received his teaching credentials from Pedagogical University Frank Pais Garcia. Mauricio has been exhibiting in Cuba since 1988 and internationally since 1994. His work is in public and private collections in Cuba, Canada, Columbia, United St ates, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Spain, Germany, Italy, France, Jamaica, Switzerland, Japan, England, and Finland. He recently participated in Afro'Cuba Works on Paper that travelled to the Lowe Art Museum - University of Miami, Indianapolis Museum of Art, and the International Center for the Arts in San Franciso.

The imagery of Mauricio´s paintings and prints are rooted in the tradition of Cuban Surrealism and the icons of Santeria. His images reflect the syncretism between African and Roman Catholic religions, as well as traditional European Surrealism. He often incorporates objects and image appropriation in his work. The pear, walls, women, feathers, snakes, boats and oars, and Eleguá (the messenger god) frequent his compositions and reflect Reyes´ preoccupation with universal desires and limitations.

Mauricio Reyes Aranda and Vivian Lozano are Artists-in-Residence at CRAM for the month of February and they will give Artist Talks about their work and its relationship with Cuban Syncretism.

Related CRAM - Cuba Exchange events:

Exhibition of Contemporary Cuban Surrealism
February 13 - April 4
prints by Vivian Lozano Caballero and paintings by Jorge Luis Chávez

click on image for article and video

The Cuban Supper - A Long Table Dinner
February 13th
Limited reservations


120 St. Paul Street
Downtown St. Catharines
905.687.8704

The Best of CRAM

Jan 8 - Feb 8

Celebrating four years of unbridled avant guarde success and prosperity in The Garden City...

Participating artists:  Tobey C. Anderson, Carolyn Wren, Jose Medina, Alan Flint, Melanie MacDonald, Matt Harley, Sandy Fairbairn, John B. Boyle, John Moffat, Richard Purcell, Pam Maw, Sheldon Rooney, Dennis Tourbin, Dave Gordon, Vivian Lozano, Steve Remus, Marinko Jareb, Israel Tamayo Zamora, Angel Lobaina Borgues, Mauricio Reyes, Jorge Chavez Gamez, Scott Waters, The Judy Bowyer, Kevin Richardson, Ernest Harris Jr., Barzaga, Justinio Reyes, Joaquin Bolivar.