Craft Toronto: wildflower on rutile/green by krystal speck

Photo by krystal speck

Does anything say midsummer quite as well as this large and lovely vase by Krystal Speck? If so, all these items should be collected into the perfect picnic or backyard barbecue. We are going to need to remember these times come February.

The Craft Toronto photo pool is a rolling stream of craft projects being made in the city (and thereabouts). It is an initiative hosted by City of Craft and reflects more makers than any of our real-world events ever could. What's more? You can join!

Come Run Away with the Craft Fair! (or a Call For Submissions for Our New Midway)

Photo by sweetie pie press

Step right up! Step right up!

As a new experimental initiative, City of Craft is transforming the bulk of the Theatre Centre's upstairs balcony into a strange and wild midway of interactive art and craft, and the call for submissions has just been opened!

Do you give tattoos? Perform puppet shows? Embroider on demand? Do something spectacular and wild that we've never even thought of before? If so, we want to hear from you!

Just sidle your way through the internet and get on over to the call for submissions. Be sure to read our tips, needs and contraints carefully and then sock it to us! Computers be foiled; the world needs more person to person contact - the stranger the better.

Be all that you can be!

Peas in a pod merit badges photo by lee.meszaros

...by sponsoring City of Craft!

Do you run a business that fits with the City of Craft outlook? An online shop of handmade goodness? A supplier of the things that crafters need to keep making? A media outlet with advertising space to offer? A local business with goodies to offer our shoppers? Food or drink to fill the bellies of vendors, volunteers staff and attendees? If so, we want to hear from you!

Sponsorship at City of Craft is not as daunting as it may seem. We need and can use everything from cold hard cash to string and paper. We need stuff to stuff swag bags, gifts for our volunteers and vendors and raffle prizes. We even find uses for things we never knew we needed so badly (can you say ethical floral sponsor?)

In return you get things like web ads, print ads, gifts, blogly attention and table space (well, you only get table space for cold hard cash). Obviously, you also get our undying love and affection. And you get to sleep with the knowledge that you are supporting small scale economics, the Toronto community and a raft of amazing art and craft makers. What could be better?

For a look at our sponsorship package, or to discuss options (there are nearly endless options), please email cityofcraft at gmail dot com. We will hook you up.

Let's be peas in a pod together.

Call for Submissions: Love and Money Group Show at the Ontario Craft Council Gallery

Photo by sweetie pie press

Those of you who know City of Craft well know that our annual installation and exhibition programming is one of the most unique things our event brings to the indie craft world. You may, then, also notice that this programming fluctuates wildly from year to year. It is a space in which we get to play, work with partners who come and go and explore new avenues on an annual basis.

For the 2010 season, we are very happy to announce the first in a string of curated programs running concurrently with City of Craft 2010 - Love and Money a group show at the Ontario Craft Council curated by the lovely Tara Bursey.

Tackling themes of commerce vs. craft (and all points surrounding this tension), Ms. Bursey is hacking her way through some dense and timely territory in the current indie craft climate.

And what's more? The submission call is now open and will stay that way for a month and a half. You can read more (in Tara's more succinct words) and submit proposals here.

This shows marks a new partnership with the OCC that we could not be more enthusiastic about. Big thanks to everyone at the Council, especially Janna Hiemstra, for making us all come together around this first show.