The Fish explores currents of contemporary existence in a realm where the brutality of history is ever-present and the will to exist is the only thing keeping a person from fading into nothingness.

Anteism is pleased to announce the debut novel by Victoria / Montréal author Dean Garlick. The Fish is lavishly illustrated with engaging B&W illustrations by artist Erik Volet . Limited quantities of the edition contain a hand screenprinted, sign & numbered print by the artist. We are now offering the first chapter of the book as a free PDF so you can check it out. Download Free First Chapter of The Fish by Dean Garlick.

View the First Chapter:

Book Synopsis: Patrick Kaye thinks he’s taking a harmless Caribbean cruise, a well-earned escape from his day-to-day life as an addictions counsellor. What he gets instead is a near-death experience that lands him in the belly of a mythological beast—the very same creature that swallowed Jonah. Inside, he encounters a confounding world populated by a host of colourful residents: a 19th-century British gentleman, a pre-Christian Icelandic shaman, a survivor of the biblical flood, a Ukrainian prostitute, an Asian American stock market analyst, a Maori warrior and a sadistic little girl, to list a few. The Fish explores currents of contemporary existence in a realm where the brutality of history is ever-present and the will to exist is the only thing keeping a person from fading into nothingness. Can Patrick accept this new reality? Can he right the wrongs he sees around him? Or will the call of the outside world offer enough hope to send him searching for a way home?

Purchase The Fish

Eyelevel Reshelving Initiative Four and Printed Matter Residency

February Twenty-Sixth to April Third, 2010
Opening Reception: February Twenty-Fifth, 2010 at seven o’clock featuring Eyelevel Gallery’s Online Archive & 35th Anniversary Catalogue Launch.

The Eyelevel Re-shelving Initiative is an international biennial exhibition of artist books, multiples, and printed matter, refreshing Eyelevel Gallery’s Bookstore collection with works from close to 80 established and emerging artists. This fourth installment offers a chance to peruse and purchase new and unusual works from: Red Fox Press (Ireland), Perro Verlag (Mayne Island, BC), Instant Coffee (Toronto), Islands Fold (Victoria), Valerie Salez (Halifax), Anteism Publishing (Victoria), Garity Chapman (Halifax), Andrew McLaren (Halifax), Adam O’Reilly (Halifax), T.R. Ericsson (New York), Stacy Ho (Toronto), and Dustin Wilson (Montreal) and many more.

During the opening reception of this event, Eyelevel Gallery will be celebrating the launch of our Online Archive & 35th Anniversary Catalogue featuring a selection of printed matter ephemera from the vaults of our underground archive system.

We also have the dream team of Will van der Meulen and Daniel Espeset.  These two locals are collaborating in the love of forgotten print technology for Eyelevel and Roberts Street Social Centre’s Printed Matter Residency.  An open studio, lectures, workshops and a launch on March Twenty-Seventh at seven o’clock are to be expected.

In the spirit of ERI 4, The Narrows will be launching a brand new winter and spring season, hosting new work by Eyelevel’s only Chris Foster. This exhibition will run alongside the main space exhibition from February 26 – March 28, 2010. Please contact thenarrowsgallery@gmail.com for information on The Narrows.

For more information, please contact paperworks@eyelevelgallery.ca.

IMYGRATE’s 104 artists provide 391 original artworks currently on display at Olio.

As we polish off the IMYGRATE book, here are some photos and video of the opening night exhibition.

The IMYGRATE exhibition includes original artwork and photographs which document the project. A free e-book will be released in the coming days which highlights the character artwork and designs by 104 international artists.

Artist List: Action Tin Toy, Ala Ramildi, Alberto Cerriteno, Alexei Vella, Alicia Wagner, Andrea Innocent, Andrea Wong, Arjan Westerdiep, Ben Frey, Ben van Netten & kstyles, Bill Dunlap, Bill Thomson, Brad Simon, Brent Bouchard, Brett Farkas, Brian Donnelly, Brian Raszka, Bruna Guerreiro, Caleb Beyers, Cameron Forsley, C Huffman, Charlotte Cynthia Walton, Chico Baldini, Chika Kakazu, Chris Von Szombathy, Christian Gralingen, Christian Walden, Cristina Garcia Martin, Crystal Beard, Daniel Gonzalez, Dante Malo, Darin Bindle, DGPH, Diogo Potes, Duto Hardono, Elisa Sassi, Erik Jonssan, Erik Volet, Es Jottes, Forcefeedswede, Frank Flothmann, Gareth Gaudin, General Magic, George Ferrandi, Handiedan, Husk Mit Navn, J Shea, James Schneider, Jan Kromerak, Jessica May Hobdell, Jessie Holmes, JK Gallag, Joan Stiebel, John Casey, John Lytle Wilson, Jorn Kaspuhl, Josh Taylor, Justin Stone, Ken Gerberick, Kendra Lane Sherick, Lala Ladcani, Lee McLure, Lon Wenger, Luke Ramsey, M Shaffer, Madbox, Marc Johns, Marc Lynch, Maria Esaiasson, Matt Lee, Maxwell Paternoster, Mieke Driessen, Monster Flower, Mr Globp, Nadia Zanellato, Natalia Gianinazzi, Osmoze Graphik, Owen Plummer, P. Williams, Paul Antonson, Phil Corbett, Phoenix Perry, Randy Laybourne, Raymond Weekes, Richard Camara, Robin Van Wijk, Ryan Qunicy, Scott Radke, Scott Radnidge, Sean Brookes, Shea Moir, Slaven Kosanovic, Stephen Tompkins, Tanya Edgar, Tapetentiere (Buro Destruct), The Royal Art Lodge, Tony Ochre, Trust 36, United States of the Art, Warren Craghead, Weird Eye One, William Cowen, Yuka Yamaguchi, Ziqi

Curated by Amelia Sawin & Ryan Thompson

Print a poster at Olio for The Haiti Poster Project

In an effort to raise $1 000 000 for Doctors Without Borders, the HAITI POSTER PROJECT seek limited edition sets of posters from artists, designers and design firms from around the world to be sold online.

If you’ve yet to make a donation or aren’t able to, Olio will be donating screenprinting equipment, studio time & printing help to any Victoria artists willing to produce a print for the project – PLEASE take advantage of this, as this is a hugely worthwhile project.
The project concept is simple – As designers, we have the collective ability to do what we love, AND to create a difference. THE HAITI POSTER PROJECT has been conceived as a collective effort by the design community to unite and effect change through our work.  In order for this project to be successful, we are counting on designer participation.

Commit to having a print ready by March 5th and Olio will donate the studio time, films, screens, printing supplies and shipping costs needed to make it happen.  You need to supply your own paper & ink, though that’s it.

Time is VERY pressing – get in touch with Olio (admin@oliocooperative.ca) ASAP.  This is a very awesome opportunity and you would be foolish to sit it out.

Visit: The Haiti Poster Project site

MORE INFORMATION

Serious drawings that will make you laugh, moan or snicker.

madeinvic.ca is dedicated to documenting the people in Victoria who make things in Victoria.

Ever wondered what the world looks like through someone else’s eyes? Us too. So we’re asking 100 Victorian to show us what they see when they look at our city. Madeinvic.ca, in partnership with Street Level Espresso, is handing out 100 disposable film cameras and asking “What does made in Victoria mean to you?”

The cameras are available at Street Level Espresso February 5th starting at noon. On the camera you’ll find a number on the bottom and place for your email address on the back. Each participant will have 27 frames to interpret and photograph what “Made in Victoria” means to them. When the cameras are full they can be dropped back at Street Level Espresso. After the cameras are returned, the photos will be processed and posted here. Photos will be sorted by the number on each camera and participants will have the opportunity to comment on their photos after they are posted online. There are 100 cameras available on a first-come, first-served basis with a limit of 1 camera per person. We are encouraging everyone draw and colour on the cameras label, just be sure to leave room for your email address on them too. Please return your camera by the end of February, the sooner we get them back, the sooner we can post them.

1. First things first, get your camera from Street Level Espresso. While you’re there don’t forget to get a coffee too.
2. Start taking photos. We’re asking you to interpret and photograph “Made in Victoria”.
3. Keep taking photos until there is no room left on the camera.
4. Now that your camera is full, bring it back to Street Level Espresso.

After the cameras are returned they will be processed and the photos will be posted here on madeinvic.ca. Each camera has a number on the bottom and the photos will be posted in galleries by camera number. Write your email address on the camera (theres a space on the back), if you do, we will get in touch a couple days before the photos are posted. Once they are online you’ll have the opportunity to write something about your photos.

The cameras have a white label, while we love a minimal design and lots of whitespace that isn’t why the cameras are white. We choose to have a plain white label on all of our cameras so that you can draw, colour, sign, tag, paint, and personalize your camera how ever you would like. If you choose to colour your camera the label will be saved, photographed and posted with your photos.

We’re defining “Things” in this statement as:

• a special situation; “it is a remarkable thing”
• an action; “how could you do such a thing?”
• a special abstraction; “a thing of the spirit”; “things of the heart”
• an artifact; “how does this thing work?”
• an event; “a funny thing happened on the way to the…”
• a statement regarded as an object; “to say the same thing in other terms”
• an entity that is not named specifically; “I couldn’t tell what the thing was”
• any attribute or quality considered as having its own existence; “the thing I like about her is …”
• a special objective; “the thing is to stay in bounds”
• a persistent illogical feeling of desire or aversion; “he has a thing about seafood”; “she has a thing about him”
• a separate and self-contained entity

Artwork, zines, art residency and new solo show entitle PrETTY PROBLEMS.

Luke Ramsey of Islands Fold has been a huge contributor and supporter of Anteism since day one. His artwork, zines and artist residency has played a vital role in an art scene based around drawing and good people. Luke has a character in the IMYGRATE show, which ended it’s trip in Revelstoke, British Columbia. Visit the IMYGRATE Exhibition on February 19th to see the artwork of Luke Ramsey and 103 other International artists.

I’m also very excited about a solo exhibition Luke is having at El Kartel in Vancouver on February 6th, 2010. The show is entitled Pretty Problems.

There are also a number of other great art events happening around Vancouver during the Olympics, such as Monster at the West Vancouver Museum which will showcase the artwork of  Marcel Dzama, Shary Boyle and Howie Tsui among others. Another great exhibition / project is “Here is Now“. HERE IS NOW  is a series of “pop-up” exhibitions that features the work of contemporary Vancouver artists shown within the unconventional space. The intention of Here Is Now is to view the exhibits themselves as an overall installation, through the exploration of time and space, creating an aesthetic that varies in participation, duration and negotiates and reconfigures the use of the unconventional space. Through this approach we wish to create a movement that focuses on what Is Here Now.

Victoria artist Charlotte Cynthia Walton has been an important contributor to Anteism projects and publications since day one. Charlotte’s work spans multiple mediums from paper cut-outs, 3 dimensional paper sculpture, drawing and painting. Her work combines classical photo realist drawings, abstract decorations and simplified anime-like illustrations.

Charlotte has contributed two characters to the IMYGRATE Project. Join us for the exhibition launch on February 19th, 2010.

More Info.

Pith – {The Heart Of}{The Essence} is a zine by Charlotte AKA C.C. Walton. The zine highlights works from Charlotte’s sketchbook, scans from 3 dimensional paper sculptures and paper cut-outs. Charlotte has also published work in Manuscribbles & Abracadabra

Victoria artist Sean Brookes has three great characters in the IMYGRATE Project.

Sean Brookes skill with the pen is evident in his drawings of grimy, sweaty, heavy metal (magazine) style androids, zombies and humanoid creatures.

Below is a dropzone for one of Sean’s Characters. (Toronto)

Check the rest of Brookes artwork as well as 103 other talented international artists at the IMYGRATE Exhibition February 19th 2009.

Victoria artist Erik Volet’s graffiti roots and ink character drawings are well suited to the IMYGRATE Project.

Below is a character drawn by artist Erik Volet. Visit the IMYGRATE Exhibition on February 19th, 2010 to find out what happened to this wandering nomad.

Volet talks about his mural in the group show “Us Ones In Between”

Below is an introduction written about Erik’s artwork for his book Saturnalia.
“The drawings collected in the present volume represent a fragment of a much larger work; years of incantations and descents into the emptiness of self are here displayed in a fractured and fragile way, for that which they represent cannot be given in a singular stroke. But they serve to provide us with a glimpse of another grand attempt, another striving towards the centre, another drawing aside of the veil. In these works can be seen the manipulations of a magus born in an age when it has been decreed that such a creature shall not be. Here can be seen a desire to create and recreate another system of nature, where the dead light of fluorescent bulbs can no longer blind us in our dreaming. Here we see the hand moving in the act of tracing the transformations of point and line across the encompassing whiteness of new time, where the cartoon representation of a human face stands as the irreducible representation of that real with which all our sciences struggle. It is only in the image of the face of the other that we find the reflection of the order of the self sought by all our symbolic orders.” – Ami Joseph Brosseau, August 2007