Markham circular hub gives exhibition art materials a second life

By Gene Pereira, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

One person’s castoffs are officially a creator’s treasure in Markham.

Embracing a true “waste not, want not” spirit, the newly opened Artist Material Fund (AMF) is giving discarded supplies a vibrant second life by turning leftover exhibition materials into free art supplies for the whole community.

Presented by the Art Gallery of Burlington (AGB) in partnership with Industrial Arts’ Steelcase Art Projects (SAP) and the City of Markham Public Art Program, this creative depot keeps loads of reusable goods out of landfills and places them into the hands of local makers, artists, and dreamers.

For more than a decade, the AMF has diverted tonnes of reusable materials from waste while supporting artists through free access to production resources. This expanded initiative establishes the first dedicated public space for this work, creating a living depot for material reuse, ecological thinking, and collaborative making.”

“You could put a sign outside of any gallery or a depot with a big free sign, but I think that part of it is the education, and what we do best at the Art Gallery of Burlington (AGB), and every art gallery, is using art as a vehicle for conversation,” said AGB  Artistic Director and Curator Suzanne Carte. “If we can use this material as a vehicle for conversation around waste management, then that’s an ideal forum.

“Also, it gives people an opportunity to learn from artists and have projects that are artist-led. Then they can speak specifically as to how it is that they incorporate waste into the work that they do.”

Tucked away behind 7441 Victoria Park Ave (Unit 8, Markham), the hub welcomes everyone to come by, scoop up free treasures, and discover the joy of sustainable making.

Whether you’re an artist, educator, student, community organization, home renovator, or maker, you’ll find an ever-changing selection of exhibition materials, lumber, hardware, display components, textiles, plastics, packaging, and unexpected creative resources waiting for a second life.

The marker of the project’s success, Carte emphasizes, is an empty room.

“I have stuff coming in on a weekly basis from galleries, so I don’t want people to feel shy about coming and taking,” she said. “That’s the one thing that I found that I was really surprised with this project. Sometimes people will come into the space, and they’ll pick up one or two items, and I’ll say, you know, I saw you eyeing that chair over there, and they’re like, ‘Oh no, someone else might need it.’ It was like, yeah, but you also need it, want it, have ideas for it, space for it. So, I tell people don’t be shy.”

The idea of the art material fund coming to Markham is, in large part, thanks to Andrea Carson Barker, who manages Industrial Arts in Markham. Barker, who approached Carte, had attended some of the events in Burlington.

“She was just very generous with space, and the more that she started to talk about what it was that she was building with the Industrial Arts companies through their steel case projects, I really wanted to be in that location,” said Carte. “I wanted to be part of that vision of what the potential and the possibilities are.

“And, because it’s industrial, it’s actually ideal. There is a full garage door and easy access to it, and lots of different industry in the neighbourhood to be able to be collecting waste from. All of them have been really excellent neighbours, but Andrea Carson Baker was really the key person. She was the one who had the vision of being able to bring it to work successfully, and I’m so grateful for her.”

This fall, budding artists can drop by the Markham hub to browse and pick up free materials on the second and last Friday of the month, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Regular open access days will be held on September 11 and 25, October 9 and 30, November 13 and 27, and on December 4 (final day).

The Markham circular hub will also host a trio of special Saturday open houses and artist-led workshops over the next three months. Free materials can be picked up from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., while the “fun, hands-on workshops,” led by local artists, will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (registration required).

The dates are as follows:

• October 31: Portrait Photography Workshop with Anthony Gebrehiwot. He will demonstrate how to transform reclaimed items into set designs and visual backdrops. Featuring a live model and stylist, participants will explore lighting, staging, composition, and creative direction. Attendees should bring their own cameras.
• November 28: Eco-culture communicator and remaker Norwin Anne draws on their From Here to Wear initiative to teach participants how to weave surplus textiles and unconventional discarded resources into original woven forms while exploring sustainable fashion practices.
• December 5: Everything Must Go Season Finale.  Visitors, schools, and community groups are encouraged to bring vehicles to load up on remaining free supplies while enjoying artist demonstrations, giveaways, and refreshments.

Carte believes this won’t be the last event like this in Markham. She explained that the strong connections they’ve built in the city and with the City of Markham will lead them to collaborate on further events.

“Their public art stream has also been very generous with their time and their energy, and their connections at the Varley Art Gallery, as well, have been very supportive,” explained Carte.

Carte noted the thriving art scene in Markham.

“There’s so many artists who are utilizing that space, and who are in need of industrial space for studios, to be able to build at larger scale, to be able to have cost-efficient spaces,” she said. “So, definitely, I see the relationship exceeding the small amount of time. I kind of see this more as a pilot.

“With the Art Gallery of Burlington, we definitely do love to collaborate with sister organizations, and public art galleries across the province, as well.”

Carte doesn’t want the title of the event to mislead anyone. This is open to everyone and not just artists.

“People think, ‘Oh, I’m not an artist, so I shouldn’t be coming and taking.’ It’s for everyone,” she emphasized. “Yes, it’s waste predominantly from artist markets, but it’s really for everyone to come and access. It’s a free-for-all.”

Photo: The Artist Material Fund opens in Markham at 7441 Victoria Park Ave, with free materials, workshops, and community events for local artists. (Art Gallery of Burlington photo)