President’s Letter May 2026

Tribute Event

Our recent Tribute Event was a success; the St Paul’s Bloor Street venue was very well-received (we think it’s a keeper) and everyone enjoyed our lunch together meeting and speaking to the awardees. Kudos to Suzanne Davis, who chaired the event, and the many members who contributed to the smooth running of it.

TFVA Artists continue to soar

The Venice Biennale which has just opened features several of our artists – Abbas Akhavan who represents Canada; Lotus L Kang, as inaugural artist at the Bulgari Pavillion and Alexa Hatanaka, in the special exhibition In Minor Keys. And other good news is that four of the five Ontario artists on the Sobey Award 2026 long list are our Prizewinners – Oluseye (our 2026 awardee), Alexa Kumiko Hatanaka, Nadia Belerique and Lotus L. Kang. Congratulations to our artists and our Artist Prize committees for their excellent nominations over the past years.

Planning ahead- TFVA Board calendar can help

Our Event Calendar is on our website. For those wishing to plan ahead, loginand check our Calendar on the member side of TFVA website. Once a date (which could be several months in advance) is confirmed, we will be listing upcoming events, even if no other details are available. We hope it’s helpful and used frequently.

On the calendar, you can scroll through each month, where colour-coded shapes indicate types of events. It can take a little time but, we mean it to help you and…..we are working on a more user-friendly website! More to come on that point in the fall.

The calendar doesn’t substitute for “Our Programs at a Glance” which continues to provide the most current complete information for registration and payment.

Mark Your Calendars

Tuesday, September 22 – TFVA Opening Event will take place at the Lawson Centre for Sustainability, Trinity College, University of Toronto.
Monday, December 7 – Holiday Luncheon at the Donalda Club, Toronto.

One last one favour

It seems lately we’ve had more than the usual number of members paying twice for events. We realize this happens in your enthusiasm to make sure you are registered! We don’t want you to miss events. However, a big favour, please double-check your emails to see if you have already received an Eventbrite confirmation. Eventbrite’s email will include a link to your tickets, or login to your Eventbrite account to see everything you have registered for and upcoming events. Thanks ….as that step on your part saves everyone time!

Our Gallery Walks are a delight

A member recently sent me a note about a most recent Gallery Walk, and why she enjoys these so much. “It was an extraordinary experience to see these three totally different spaces, all purpose built, utilizing an old commercial garage, each one with interesting art and to gain an insight into the lifestyle and tastes of gallery owners and artists, and of the inner workings of the photography studio. For me, these gallery walks are the essence of the Toronto Friends. We are immersed in the Toronto art scene, we are viewing the latest offerings, and hearing about the artist’s experience.”

Our next tour scheduled for May 28 to United Contemporary and Susan Hobbs Gallery has space available. You can register HERE.

ADAC has a milestone

The Art Dealers Association of Canada celebrates its 60th anniversary June 7-11 with a four-day pop-up featuring a curated exhibition, panel, tour, and catalogue with historical, modern and contemporary artworks of ADAC members.

In memoriam…

With sadness we announce the passing of two of our members, Carolyn Rothand Lynn Sigel. Both women were very active within our organization and we mourn their loss.

TFVA condolences to founding member Marjorie Lenz on the passing of her husband Don.

Introducing three new members…

Maryann Gaskin

I joined primarily for personal growth and to continue expanding my knowledge. The arts have always enriched my life and being involved offers opportunity to engage more deeply with something I genuinely enjoy. I especially enjoy visiting galleries and museums and look forward to broadening my understanding of visual arts in Toronto and beyond, while discovering both established and emerging artists.

While I do not have a formal background in the arts, my interest has always been driven by genuine curiosity and appreciation. I am interested in contributing to the Membership Committee, with the hope of helping welcome new perspectives and encouraging a younger generation of members who share a passion for experiencing and supporting the arts.

Alison Maclean

Alison Maclean is a publisher and fine arts enthusiast. Throughout her career, she has worked on illustrated books featuring reproduced works of art. Alison has joined the Website Redesign sub-committee and will also be on the broader External Communications committee. As a new member, she is interested in supporting and learning about visual arts in Canada.

“Appreciating art with greater understanding draws me to the educational lecture and tour offerings at TFVA.” Input caption text here. Use the block’s Settings tab to change the caption position and set other styles.

Deanna Wong

For years, my mother-in-law, Barbara Payne, has told me about the wonderful, unique ways to experience art in Toronto that she has experienced as a member of TFVA.

I’m an arts administrator, and am currently the executive director of the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival, a position I’ve held on and off since 2019. I also served a term as ED of the festival from 2005–08. I have served as a board member for several arts organizations (including Regent Park Film Festival, Toronto Outdoor Picture Show, and Dreamwalker Dance Company). My main area of interest is media arts, but I am also engaged with the visual arts. I am originally from Winnipeg, and take pride in and always appreciate its cultural institutions and galleries.
I studied piano, violin, and ballet as a child.

In terms of how I can support TFVA, I’ve worked professionally as an event planner and a copy editor. I experience working with spreadsheets, databases, and on websites and some training in logistics. I am also open to learning new skills to support TFVA.

Looking ahead….

June 1 is our Annual General Meeting and luncheon. Register to attend HERE.

Barbara

Barbara Lemaire, President
President@tfva.ca

Website: tfva.ca
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