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Canada’s leading contemporary outdoor and online art fair

TOAF will take place July 12 – 14, 2024.

Come Rain Or Come Shine

Today, we pay homage to the beginnings of Toronto Outdoor Art Fair and share the history of this beloved art event founded by philanthropists Murray and Marvelle Koffler as we embark on the Diamond Jubilee anniversary.

In this series of blogs, we have put together excerpts from our history book, The Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition: Its History from 1961 to 2007, and tales from the TOAF founders, early organizers and artists. It is with great pride that we continue the legacy of TOAF with unwavering commitment from supporters, public funders, fellow arts organizations and the community of artists.

 

Come Rain Or Come Shine

Still experiencing growing pains, the organizers faced two challenging exhibitions, not because of inadequate administration, but because of Mother Nature.

Wet weather.

After coping successfully with two washouts, the organizers decide to provide canvas roofing for the artists'  booths and adopted the mandate that the show must go on regardless of weather conditions.

Photo: Secretary of State John Roberts and Mayor David Crombie look on as Murray Koffler opens the 9th Annual Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, 1970.

 

Photo: A.Y. Jackson, the surviving member of the original Group of Seven at the time, was an honorary Judge of the Show, 1970. Photo courtesy City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 74, File 2.

 

Join Us at TOAF60

Sixty years ago, Toronto Outdoor Art Fair (previously Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition) started as a humble and small gathering at the parking lot of the Four Seasons Motor Hotel on Jarvis Stree. This year, our main showcase of 400+ artists from Toronto, across Canada and beyond, will be primarily online, with a small sampling of artists at stackt market. Artworks will be available for purchase starting on July 2, 2021 at 11:00 AM at TOAF.ca.

Join us at TOAF60 

 

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