Klaas Hart's new paintings bring a more personal narrative to his genre of work. Tableau Vivant explores moments in life played out by the familiar people and surroundings of the artist's environment. Hart stays true to his technical style with carefully thought out compositions and a quality of paint handling that the artist is well known for. At the Loch Gallery from September 29-October 11, 16 Hazelton Avenue, Toronto, 416-964-9050.

Phil Irish's work has been shortlisted for The Kingston Prize, Canada's National Portrait Competition. From 209 entries from across Canada, 30 works have been selected for an exhibition at The Firehall Theatre, Gananoque, Ontario, October 5-27, 2007. A winner and two honourable mentions will be selected at the gala on Oct. 5th.

Passages, Anna Yuschuck, Ingram Gallery, 49 Avenue Road Toronto, beginning October 4 and running until October 25. Opening reception on Saturday, October 6 from 2-5 pm, 416-929-2220.

Don't miss out on your favourite class or the class you've always wanted to take! Spaces are still available in some Fall programs. Consider registering for all three terms and use our payment plan.

Call 416-961-1502 today, or check out the 2007-08 programs online.

Sports classes tax exempt! Why not arts classes?

The Federal government has allowed for a tax exemption for children's sports classes of up to $400 per year. If you feel this should be extended to arts classes, please email Lola Rasminksy.

What happens when Stratford's 'Gigi' bumps into a noted, published author in the halls of the Avenue Road Arts School? Magic! And that's just what happened when star musical performer Jennifer Gould got together with writer and illustrator, Irene Luxbacher. It was surely magic, as both of these artists have been thrilling their students at the school for many years.

Irene Luxbacher (left) & Jennifer Gould (right)

In late 2006, Jen, who teaches Let's Make Music, and Irene, who teaches visual art classes (Mixed Media and Cartooning), came together to collaborate on an exciting project. Jennifer's CD, Music Soup, which has been selling like hotcakes, includes a song entitled There's a Monster in my Closet. She envisioned it as an animated video and teamed up with Irene and animator Sean Cochrane to create a piece, sure to enthrall kids of all ages.

Jen Gould's recording of Music Soup and Irene Luxbacher's The Jumbo Book of Art and The Jumbo Book of Outdoor Art, published by Kids Can Press, have met with critical acclaim and are widely available in bookstores across Canada and the US. The books and the CD are on sale at the school office & in our online store. The Jumbo Book of Art, created in collaboration with Avenue Road Arts School teachers, was translated into Chinese, Dutch and Danish. The first printing of 35,000 copies sold out within a year of publication. Music Soup has been described as "the most exciting kids' CD to have come out in years, full of original songs that children can't get enough of."

Jennifer began teaching preschool at ARAS in 1994 and subsequently pursued a successful acting career in some of Canada's finest theatres. These include The Stratford Festival, The Soulpepper Theatre Company, the National Arts Centre and The New York City Centre on Broadway. Irene began teaching at the school in the same year. An accomplished fine artist herself, she has taught drawing and painting as well as mixed media to hundreds of children and has developed a successful career as a children's book illustrator. Irene's Monster character will be revealed on the ARAS website this fall - get ready!! And watch for Music Soup and There's a Monster in my Closet on the roster of Juno Award nominees.

In 1968, Louis Rasminsky, then Governor of the Bank of Canada, was appointed a Companion to the Order of Canada. Thirty-nine years later, his daughter Lola Rasminsky, the Founding Director of the Avenue Road Arts School, has been named a Member of the Order of Canada. She joins 71 other notable appointees including former Prime Minister Jean Chretien, Reform party founder Preston Manning, golfer Mike Weir and broadcaster Pamela Wallin.

The Order of Canada is this country's highest civilian award, and acknowledges a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. Rasminsky is being recognized for her contributions to education.

"I'm proud and honoured to receive this award," said Rasminsky. "As an arts educator, I have always tried to inspire students of all ages to think with imagination. I'm a bit of a dreamer - and I would like them to know that there are more possibilities open to them than they might think."

In the past 28 years, she's gone from opening a Fine Arts Kindergarten in the basement of her Forest Hill home for six neighbourhood children, to heading three very successful organizations: The Avenue Road Arts School - serving 1,200 students of all ages under its roof; Arts for Children of Toronto - a registered charity which reaches 8,000 inner city children per year; and, Beyond the Box™ the corporate spin-off enterprise, which has provided creativity workshops and team-building training to more than 2,000 executives since its inception nine years ago.

"With a paint brush in my hand,
And a dirty, smudged face,
My apprehension subsiding,
And my confidence blossoming,
I began to put my
Creative thoughts on paper..."

An educator from Sunnybrook School participates in a workshop conducted by ARAS

The last school year marked the beginning of the Avenue Road Arts School's Outreach program. With this program, the School was able to broaden its reach and bring quality arts instruction to hundreds of students and educators across the GTA. In each workshop, students received instruction from professional artists and were able to work with materials that would not have been readily available in the classroom. SK students at The Country Day School welcomed spring by creating flower pot puppets with Instructor, Susie Whaley, while Instructor, Julie Galloway brought the fantasy of plaster mask making to campers at Allenby Daycare.

Workshops are planned for both children and educators. Teachers and parent volunteers participating in a recent workshop at Sunnybrook School received study guides, which included curriculum links, project extensions and additional activities, in an introduction to a drawing and painting techniques class. Workshops in the visual and performing arts are also available for camps, community organizations, seniors' groups and businesses.

The School looks forward to bringing the joy and creativity of art making to even more school groups and organizations in the coming year. Whether it be mask-making, painting, clowning or an idea of your own, the School would love to help your group explore, discover and create! Call 416-961-1502 or email workshops@avenueroadartsschool.com for more information.

"I resist the eraser,
And fill the white void... With my imagination!"

– Excerpts from a collaborative poem written by workshop participants at Sunnybrook School.