With seven works sold, Ognian Zekoff’s Feedback exhibition was a success before the show even opened.
The Montreal-based artist was in attendance last night at the Thompson Landry Gallery, a stunning venue in the centre of the Distillery District that exclusively features Quebecois artists and flavours in its adjoining cafe A Taste of Quebec. The atmosphere, aided by the white Christmas lights twinkling like a solar tracker through the windows, and of course Zekoff’s highly detailed yet spiritual paintings, was one of great beauty and calm.
Born in Bulgaria, Zekoff studied in the European tradition of charcoal drawing, oil painting 
on canvas and heavy emphasis on light and dark at the National Art Academy in Sofia where he earned his MBA.
He wouldn’t say how long an average painting takes–it varies. He did say “It’s endless, when you search for details to create three-dimensional space.” But whether a piece of work took two weeks or four, these paintings evoke the grounding quality of the present, as much a result from the live models who sit for them as the artist’s earnest attention to realistic detail.
The Feedback exhibition surrounds its viewer with hands; some are grasped in communion, others, like Defense, demonstrate resistance. The artist speaks five languages but understands the unspoken messages of gesture–he instructs his models how to hold their hands, but says there’s an improvisational element that inevitably comes into play. “I can tell you something with my hands,” he says. “I can hide something, too. We can express very different states of our souls, our spirits. [Hands are] the most difficult part of the human body to paint–there are so many details, challenges. It was a big challenge for me.”
Zekoff is happy to be exhibiting Feedback in Toronto after showings in Montreal and Paris. He expressed appreciation for the Distillery District area and the Thompson Landry Gallery in particular. “Sylvain and Joanne are wonderful people and amazing professionals,” he says of the gallery’s founders, Joanne Thompson and Sylvain Landry. “Here there is a lot of heart, a lot of soul. That’s visible.”
Feedback by Ognian Zekoff runs until Dec. 11 at the Thompson Landry Gallery Cooperage Space.
There is always something worth eating on the menu here. Cafe Les Louise serves baked goods, with choices of 5 – 6 sandwiches and specials. They also offer 3 types of salads and a soup that change regularly. Everything is made from on site from scratch with the use of a lot of 
prize. I felt really proud that this gallery would show my work. I had never had any exhibition before. The Pikto curator and the gallery staff made everything at the highest level. They provided excellent printing, framing and exhibition of my pictures during one month. I came in person to the opening of my exhibition at the Pikto Gallery in Toronto and it impressed me so much that I was speechless. I met a lot of interesting people and had an unforgettable journey. After winning, I realized that I am on the right path with my photography…”
Albert Schulz and Diego Matamoros are outstanding as Oscar and Felix, two newly-divorced men hiding their loneliness behind forced personalities of Ladies Man and Mother Hen, respectively. Schulz’s Oscar is a pleasure to watch as he amiably welcomes friends to his grimy apartment, dropping potato chips as he plods about; backwards baseball cap and a boyish smirk complete his portrayal as a sports-writer living on his own. He’s even more of a pleasure to watch after he begins to share his space with Matamoros’ neurotic but self-aware Felix, a man of countless idiosyncrasies who whines with a whisk in his hand.
relationship between them were it not for some help from their very old friends, onstage and off: Vinny (Derek Boyes), Roy (Kevin Bundy), Murray (Oliver Dennis) and the sarcastic Speed (Michael Hanrahan). These pros are sly scene-stealers whose vivid portrayals of minor characters serve to shape and strengthen the surprising friendship between Felix and Oscar. The impressive set, designed by Lorenzo Savoini, is another highlight, particularly after Felix moves in and starts to tidy it up a little.
Urban Girl’s Guide
room of all things white complete with live rock band and DJ.
It was a potluck-style dinner. Everyone was in charge of bringing a dish to share with strangers or friends. I bought a bunch of different breads and headed to St. Lawrence Market for the salami, prosciutto, garlic & chive Havarti, brie, peppercorn pate, olives, sausage, grapes and peaches. Turned out pretty well, I think! Cava restaurant was also on hand and treated us to a fluffy pate mousse on crostini.
Billy Bishop Goes to War is a war story as much about Canada’s involvement in WWI as it is about its title character’s endearingly flippant attitude towards his considerable contributions to the war effort. The play is patriotic, but never corny or jingoistic, as war productions sometimes go. Instead, Bishop’s Canadian heritage is explored best through song when he, at war, sings simply and sincerely of his hope to die in Canada, not in a trench. It is at moments like these that the audience gets it–how fortunate we are to live in Canada, in peace.
Scott McKay is one man with many hammers He’s the artist, blacksmith and sculptor behind the 
Ruta’s horse statue (Kacey?) is made from all manner of early industrial machine parts. Here’s a perfect example of how the components of the statue each tell a different part of the story, which I perceive to be ‘the horse’s final triumph over the machine’. Indeed the legs are heavy industrial wrenches welded into claw feet from a bathtub. The chest is the grill from an old tractor and the ribs are barrel hoops. Two or more tractor seats compose the hind quarters and a mysterious metal mane shimmers on top of the horse’s neck.
Mariclaro is a Toronto based sustainable design company that focuses on fashion and accessories. From bags made of car upholstery to jackets made from exploded airbags, Mariclaro designs are all one of a kind pieces handmade in Toronto from recycled materials. The Workshop & Boutique is located at 457 Roncesvalles Ave, 
