Opportunity Knocks Poster

By Garreth Arenburg-Duchesne

Guelph Arts Council, the Art Gallery of Guelph, and the University of Guelph School of Fine Art & Music, presents Opportunity Knocks: Re-imagining your Arts Career on Thursday January 30th 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at the Art Gallery of Guelph. Guest speakers for this event include Alex Ricci, Tory Miles, and Sally Frater, all University Of Guelph grads who have taken innovative and different approaches to their arts careers. Emerging artists, students, and creatives from all disciplines are encouraged and welcome to attend this free event. Opportunity Knocks is a chance to listen, learn and ask questions with established local artists and cultural workers from Guelph.  Guest speakers will share their personal stories and lessons learnt over time. The evening will continue with a panel discussion, Q&A, followed by a chance to mix and mingle.

About the Speakers

Sally Frater is the Curator of Contemporary Art at the Art Gallery of Guelph. She holds an Honors BA in Studio Art from the University of Guelph and an MA in Contemporary Art from The University of Manchester/Sotheby’s Institute of Art. The former Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Ulrich Museum of Art, she has also organized exhibitions for the Luminato Festival, McColl Centre for Art and Innovation, Glassell School of Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Project Row Houses, Justina M. Barnicke Gallery at the University of Toronto, The Print Studio/Centre[3] for Print and Media Art, and A Space Gallery. A former Core Critical Studies Fellow at the Glassell School at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, she recently curated the exhibition Interweavings at Centre[3] for Artistic and Social Practice.

Alex Ricci is the co-founder and musician for audiovisual collective VERSA with Monika Hauck. VERSA creates powerful instrumental music written around live looping bass guitar, and pairs it with responsive projections that visualize sound. VERSA has performed at numerous Canadian music and art events including Hillside Festival, Electric Eclectics, Hold Fast Contemporary Arts Festival, Kazoo! Fest, Wavelength Music Festival, Shine On and Nuit Blanche Ottaway/Gatineau.

Tory Miles is a digital matte painter and concept artist. She has worked on films such as The Shape of Water and Hellboy. In University Tory enrolled in English Literature and several painting courses. After graduating, Tory was interested in working in a team environment and began looking for video game work. She began working in retail until she got her first job in 3D modelling.  Today, Tori is a digital matte painter, concept artist, and environmental designer for film and TV. Tory’s advice to younger artists? Be open to other people, seek out mentors, and learn soft skills and communication skills (it will take you far in everything!) And most importantly, keep at it, because it’s not always a clear path.

Take this opportunity to re-imaging your own arts career and register today!

About the author. Garreth Arenburg-Duchesne is the grade 12 co-op student at Guelph Arts Council. Currently attending Guelph C.V.I, Garreth has a deep passion for the arts!

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