June 10th - 27th, 1205 Queen Street West (corner of Dufferin), Opening Reception Saturday the 12th, 5-11pm. www.culturshoc.com

Curated by Christopher Healey @ culturshoc gallery

group exhibit of paintings, drawings and sculptures by Cher Merlo, Dani Nash, Stu Playdead, Alison Snowball, Iner Sousta, Mike Thompson and Jen Walton.

Parkdale Village in west Toronto has been undergoing rapid and significant
change over the last few years. Previously known as a “sketchy hood” where drugs, prostitution and homelessness defined the area and its problems, Parkdale is no stranger to the processes of gentrification. Trendy nightclubs, cafes and hipster culture have asserted themselves as part of the public persona of this lively stretch of Queen Street West, and continue to creep westward towards Roncesvalles and High Park. The result is a unique mix of multiculturalism, mental health and addiction street culture, surrounded by soaring real estate prices and young, hip professionals.

The underlying story of this transformation is the creative class that has lived and worked in Parkdale for decades – as is usual with lower economic class communities that are close to urban cores, and that are accessible by public transit and bicycle. When I moved into Parkdale from Montreal over a year ago, I was struck by how “blue-collar artist” the area is. There is a significantly high concentration of artists and arts workers here that serve the theatres, music halls and trendy galleries throughout the rest of Toronto. This community did not move here because Parkdale is trendy and fashionable – they have always been here, and are the reason this area is now perceived as so desirable to many.

The artists I chose for this exhibit represent folks who were here when rents and real estate prices were low, and this was an area to be avoided at night - seen only while en route to the exhibition. They built careers, businesses and communities where the faint and fickle of heart feared to tread, and represent a core of community members who could arguably be defined as the “real Parkdalians”.

Special to this exhibit is the “Art Map of Parkdale”, hand drawn on the front window of the gallery, marking significant galleries, businesses and areas of our community.