Transformation AGO will soon be entering the final stages of its expansion project, estimated to finish sometime in mid-2008. But before the AGO closes its doors in order to begin reinstalling over 5,000 pieces of art into 110 galleries, they will be offering free admission to the public for its closing weekend this October 6 and 7. This will be your final opportunity to view the four exhibitions that have been on display since......

On September 4, the The Misshapes released their style book, and the trio of trend-setting, New Wave rock-producing New Yorkers are hitting Toronto on Thursday, September 6 in celebration of its release. Who are The Misshapes? Known for their weekly Saturday night parties—the "best in hipster Manhattan" since February 2004—these musicians (and cutting-edge fashion influences) have established themselves as "an intersection of music, art, and fashion." The Misshapes are Greg Krelenstein, Leigh Lezark, and......

Another spate of announcements from the Toronto International Film Festival, with in particular an entirely new programme announced, Future Projections. To feature installations, interactive film projects, and other film-related art work presented outside the cinema space and throughout the City of Toronto, it’s to work as a companion to the Wavelengths programme. Eight of the nine multimedia installations will be offered as free, non-ticketed events, with entry to the Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery......

There are three interesting happenings in the local art scene right now. This evening Mercer Union presents new compositions by Stephen Parkinson, a local musician who creates "do-it-yourself situations...with various friends as performers, reacting to a variety of methods of prescription/notation, involving toy instruments, electronics, vintage turntables, field recordings, as well as more traditional musical instruments." Tonight's various friends include Martin Arnold, Allison Cameron, Eric Chenaux, Rob Clutton, Aimée Dawn Robinson, and Doug Tielli. The......

The good news: tonight, there are three great literary events happening in our fair city. The bad news: you’re going to have to choose. Mark Truscott’s Test Reading Series presents Reg Johanson and Jordan Scott at Mercer Union, A Centre for Contemporary Art (37 Lisgar Street) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Reg Johanson has traveled from East Vancouver for tonight’s performance. His first book, Courage, My Love was published by Line Books last year. Reg’s critical......

Many artists will agree that the creative effort is as important as the final presentation. With this in mind, Noah Mintz (formerly of hHead; presently of Noah’s Arkweld and Mastering Engineer at Lacquer Channel) and Aniko (Creative Director of The Spa Suite at the Gladstone Hotel) have organized an event that foregrounds the often collaborative, spontaneous process of artistic creation: "In an industry where we all get plenty of opportunity to celebrate the finished product......

Torontoist was lucky enough to be tipped off to the opening of painter Kris Knight's solo show, Madame Deficit last night. His thoughtful, delightful, gorgeous, poingant and funny series of portraits of elfin women who wear their troubles in their hair runs until July 29th at Katherin Mulherin Contemporary Art Projects. Well worth a gander and a sigh.......

Tyler Clark Burke, host of indie kid fave Santa Cruz and art director of eye weekly, is unveiling Shimera, her first solo show in two years. Expect 3-D laser cut glass sculptures, paintings, fibre optic drawings and original musical compositions by Gonzales. If it's like everything else she does, we know it'll be fabulous. Tonight at The Katharine Mulherin Contemporary Art Projects (1086 Queen St. W.), 7-10 pm. Runs to July 1.......

Mercer Union, a non-for-profit art gallery dedicated to the existence of contemporary art, is once again bringing you the good life; by providing a forum for the production and exhibition of Canadian and international "conceptually and aesthetically engaging art and related cultural practices". This is something that Torontoist can totally get behind. They pursue their primary objectives through activities that include exhibitions, lectures, screenings, performances, publications, events and special projects. This year, the Mercer......

Toronto city councillors don’t like graffiti. So what? Torontoist doesn’t like paying $2.50 to ride our underfunded and ailing transit system and we don’t like riding our bikes over the streets’ many exposed potholes. Oh, and we especially don’t like our city councillors deciding what does and does not constitute art. A new bylaw will require store owners to remove unsolicited graffiti from buildings within 72 hours of discovery by enforcement officers. If it’s not......

This week Torontoist’s boy reporter found himself at the Museum of Canadian Contemporary Art’s new digs on Queen St. West. MOCCA made the move from North York in late fall but opened their first show, Safety Gear for Small Animals, at this space in January. Safety Gear for Small Animals (SGSA) transforms the MOCCA into a museum for a fictional company that provides knee pads, gloves, prosthetics and gas masks for our furry and......