{"id":5112,"date":"2026-09-07T14:32:54","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T14:32:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dartmagazine.com\/?p=5112"},"modified":"2026-09-07T14:32:54","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T14:32:54","slug":"the-modern-toronto-reopens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dartmagazine.com\/?p=5112","title":{"rendered":"The Modern Toronto Reopens"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

by Roy Bernardi<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"modern.toronto
The modern.toronto front doors at 230 Niagara Street<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The modern.toronto: The Ben Woolfitt Foundation Reopens With a Fresh Look and a Bold Celebration of Abstraction<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After undergoing a complete renovation, the modern.toronto is preparing to reopen its doors at 230 Niagara Street<\/a> with a grand reopening celebration on\u00a0September 12th at 2:00 p.m.\u00a0The newly transformed interior features more wall space and a clean, refocused aesthetic designed to put the artwork\u2014and the experience of viewing it\u2014front and centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"the
A thorough transformation of the museum’s interior<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The work of\u00a0<\/strong>Ron Shuebrook\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Steve Rockwell will be showcased, two artists whose work reflects the spirit of experimentation, energy and visual exploration at the heart of the modern.toronto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a museum devoted to non-objective abstract art, the transformation of the space is more than cosmetic. More wall space means more room for art to command attention, while the newly refined interior creates an uncluttered environment in which visitors can spend time with the work. It is a fresh setting for a long-standing artistic mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A New Look for an Unconventional Art Experience<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The modern.toronto is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating the public and increasing the public\u2019s understanding and appreciation of the arts. Its focus is distinctive: the museum exhibits and promotes modern visual art in the form of non-objective abstract art, presenting works by Canadian artists whose practices are innovative and influential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The newly renovated space reflects that philosophy. Clean lines, additional wall space and a more focused interior allow the artwork to take centre stage. Visitors can move through the gallery without visual distractions, giving each work the opportunity to make its own impression. And with abstract art, that impression can be remarkably personal. There may be no recognizable landscape, portrait or object to explain what a viewer is supposed to see. Instead, colour, line, shape, texture, movement and gesture become the vocabulary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The question is no longer simply What is it? It becomes What does it make you feel?<\/em>“<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking Beyond the Familiar<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Non-objective abstract art\u2014or abstract expressionism\u2014is a post-World War II genre of art that is nonrepresentational and improvisational. The style characteristically depicts non-organic images in an unstructured space, emphasizing emotional expression and technique. For audiences unfamiliar with abstraction, the experience can initially be challenging. But that uncertainty is also part of its appeal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The toronto.modern exhibition view before its renovation <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A single work can evoke movement, tension, calm, energy or emotion without depicting anything recognizable. Brushwork can become a record of physical action. Colour can establish mood. Layers and textures can reveal the process behind the finished piece. Rather than providing a single interpretation, abstract art leaves room for the viewer. That openness is central to the experience the modern.toronto seeks to create.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The grand reopening will showcase the works of Ron Shuebrook in the main gallery and Steve Rockwell in the front gallery, providing visitors with the chance to experience two artists within the museum’s revitalized setting. Shuebrook is an abstract artist, a distinguished educator, and a writer whose works are included in the collections of the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Art Gallery of Hamilton, the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, and the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, among others. Rockwell, a long-established artist, writer, and publisher of dArt International magazine, views his publication as an extension of his artistic expression. Rockwell is a significant figure recognized throughout the art community and will be showcasing his newly created abstract forms. Their work provides an ideal introduction to the kind of artistic dialogue the modern.toronto is committed to encouraging: art that asks audiences to look closely, consider technique and engage with the emotional and visual possibilities of abstraction. With the renovated gallery offering more space to display the work, visitors will have an opportunity to experience the exhibition in an environment designed to allow the artwork to breathe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Different Kind of Museum Visit<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Artist
Artist Katie Pretti delivering an artist talk regarding her showcased works. The modern.toronto hosts weekend afternoon artist discussions, where the currently exhibited artist discusses their work in the presence of an audience, elaborating on their creative process, medium and more. Attendees have the opportunity to engage in an intimate setting with the artist<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The modern.toronto occupies an interesting place in Toronto’s cultural landscape. It is not simply a place to walk through, glance at a painting and move on. Abstract art rewards attention. The longer a viewer spends with a work, the more details can emerge. A seemingly simple composition can reveal layers of colour. A spontaneous-looking gesture can expose extraordinary control. An arrangement of forms can shift depending on where the viewer stands. That makes a visit to the modern.toronto an active experience. By increasing public understanding and appreciation of the arts, the organization hopes to encourage audiences to engage with modern art rather than feel intimidated by it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“You don’t need to be an art historian to have a response to a painting. You simply need to look<\/em>.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Opening
An opening at The modern.toronto before its renovation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A Not-for-Profit Powered by Community Support. The modern.toronto is also committed to maintaining its work as a not-for-profit cultural organization. The museum gratefully accepts monetary donations and will issue a Charitable Donation receipt in return. Community support helps the organization continue its mission of exhibiting innovative and influential modern art while educating and engaging the public. As the museum enters this new chapter, that support becomes particularly meaningful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Located at 230 Niagara Street<\/a> in Toronto, the museum will be open to the public every Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. For longtime supporters, the reopening offers a chance to see a familiar institution in a completely new environment. For first-time visitors, it is an opportunity to discover a museum with a distinctive point of view. The walls may have changed. The space may be cleaner, brighter and more focused. But the invitation remains the same: Come in. Slow down. Look closely. And experience modern abstract art for yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On September 12th the modern.toronto opens a new chapter\u2014one with more space, a renewed sense of purpose and the work of Ron Shuebrook and Steve Rockwell waiting to be discovered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Roy Bernardi The modern.toronto: The Ben Woolfitt Foundation Reopens With a Fresh Look and a Bold Celebration of Abstraction After undergoing a complete renovation, the modern.toronto is preparing to reopen its doors at 230 Niagara Street with a grand reopening celebration on\u00a0September 12th at 2:00 p.m.\u00a0The newly transformed interior features more wall space and … <\/p>\n

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