Along a stretch of St. Clair W. with not enough interesting destinations or commercial venues, and virtually no public space, residents and business owners are constantly looking for ways to revitalize our streetscape.   Here, on an unlovely corner, a unique new gallery has been created.    Locals have transformed an unappealing structure, unused and inaccessible for years, into a delightful surprise and a neighbourhood focus for the community.

Side Space Gallery is a window gallery.  That is to say, there is no access to its interior.  It is a glassed-in canopy attached to the side of a corner building, and the art is viewed from outside, through the windows.  This concept is an invention born of necessity, since there is no functioning street door. The walls are almost entirely glass, and there are skylights in the roof, so the light and the view are exceptional.  Gallery track lights make it a stand-out sight at night.  It’s a pleasant place to linger as you stroll by, as well as a destination itself.

Access for the artists, exhibition space and occasional event space (after business hours) is donated by Mr. Ron Horst, owner of Liberty Tax.

This new local gallery is a completely unique and not-for-profit arrangement – a volunteer collaboration of the tenant business, local landlord, local artists and local residents who have come together in the interest of enhancing the streetscape and our community.   More artists live here than in any other part of Toronto, and it is also the most diverse area of the city, so a gallery featuring local work has rich resources on which to draw.

Liberty Tax has contributed space in its off-season for several art events during the past year, leading to the creation of Art @ Liberty, a collective of artists Schuster Gindin, Alex Moyle and Elizabeth Cinello which uses this local venue for art exhibition and performance. Art @ Liberty aims to connect and integrate art with life along St. Clair West and contribute to shaping and defining the community and expressing its voices.

Use of the exhibition space itself is donated to local artists by building owner Mr. Joe Lo Curto in an effort to improve the St. Clair W. streetscape, and because, as he says, “I like art.”  The Art @ Liberty exhibit in the Liberty Tax office inspired him to ask Schuster Gindin to program the side space.  In the spirit of liberty, he has placed no constraints on the exhibition space.  “Art is art – I like everything,” says Joe.    Labour to turn the space into a gallery has been donated by the artists brought together and curated by Schuster Gindin, who likes art, but not everything.

For further information or for submission guidelines, email: 
curatorsidespacegallery.com.