Katzman Contemporary Opens in New Location

Guests with Jeannie Thib, Catch.

JEANNIE THIB: Imprint
Opening Reception: Saturday, February 1, 2014, 3 – 6 p.m.
Katzman Contemporary
86 Miller Street

Saturday, February 1st, 2014 marked the opening of the new location of Katzman Contemporary. Katzman Contemporary is the new iteration of the former Katzman Kamen Gallery and the original Leo Kamen Gallery.  With a critical directorial vision, refined mandate, and new location, Katzman Contemporary is growing and expanding from its original ethos and roster of artists to include new visions and international exchanges.

Marnie Fleming gave opening remarks, briefly punctuated by the cries of Marianne Katzman’s infant daughter, Isabelle. Her husband Dario Del Degan was on dad duty and comforted her.  Marnie congratulated Marianne Katzman on the opening of her newly purchased and completely renovated space at 86 Miller Street in the Junction Triangle. This area is becoming a new art hub north of Bloor Street in Toronto.

Gallery owner Marianne Katzman with Double by Jeannie Thib

Fleming spoke warmly of her friend Jeannie Thib, the late artist whose work was highlighted as the inaugural exhibition of the gallery. The opening was an opportunity for Marianne Katzman to celebrate the art work of the late artist Jeannie Thib with several of her pieces on display alongside the work of other artists who were her friends from all over the world.  Thib’s work features laser cut acrylic, plether, veneered wood and water-jet cut aluminum. 

Cluster by Jeannie Thib

Equivalents (Metropolitan Museum) by Jeannie Thib

The exhibition also included work by four new, young artists who are not on the regular gallery roster: Randy Grskovic, Shelly Miller, Meghan Price and Pete Smith.

 Artist and curator Randy Grskovic with his triple Tribute to Jeannie Thib. Each piece shows appreciation “for the physical artist herself, appreciation for nature and for art.” The negatives for the black and white chromogenic prints were sourced as found negatives purchased on the internet. The double image photographs were embellished with copper leaf.

Montreal-based artist Shelly Smith used empty metallic cosmetic containers to reflect light in geometric patterns in her response to Thib’s cutout style of art which let light through in her work Jali Study 1-5.

Meghan Prices response to Thib’s work with delicate and intricately executed wire sculptures drew much praise from guests.

Artist, critic and sometimes curator Pete Smith chose oil paint on canvas to express his impressions in BCC-512, BCC-512b, Friend 1 and Friend 2.

Marianne Katzman spoke to me of her concept of her new gallery maintaining a core of about fifteen artists.  She is happy to work with them and wishes to showcase their work internationally. She spoke of changing things at the gallery and of it being an organic organism with a flow of new artists alongside the core group. She stated that ideas come from artists so does change.

Visitors with Inlet by Jeannie Thib

Text and photo: Margaret Irving

*Exhition dates: February 1 – 18, 2014, Katzman Contemporary at 86 Miller Street. Gallery hours: Tue – Thurs 11 – 5, Fri 11 – 7, Sat 11 – 6 p.m