Barbara Cook

Barbara, is an artist specializing in textile art works with mixed media components. Her work highlights the translucence of the textiles painted and materials used for custom works. Her work flows from experiences in her everyday life, especially nature spurring many plant, ecological and conservation installations; most recently her contributions to IHEART foundation events at the Toronto Zoo. She works with various artists and with groups to curate and create art for Nuit Blanche Toronto.

Monday, October 1, 2018

Nuit Blanche 2018

at Spadina MuseumSeptember 29, 2018

Sunset to Sunrise

Beyond our exterior being, skin colour, body shape, ethnicity and gender is our true selves, conscience, beliefs, and soul; our true essence. This exhibit represents what would be found in one’s closet at the end of the day without the many hats or disguises we wear each and every day.

Dress

This evening dress is created from many miniature female sculptures in various clothing, costumes, body shapes, colour, race, classes, cultures, religions and ethnicities. These labels are brought together into one item, this dress to represent women. One item of equity through fields of endeavor, accomplishments and ideals; our lives as human beings.

Head Sculpture

This barren Paper Mâché sculpture represents what we feel inside ourselves as humans. Beyond our makeup, earrings, hair colour and even our style. Who are we but our thoughts and deeds!

Masks

These MASKS represent the many faces a person may wear in their lifetime and sometimes in just one day. But like anything else, they can be removed and stowed away for another day.

Barbara Cook is a multimedia artist working out of her studio in Toronto. She has been involved in Nuit Blanche on the grounds of the Spadina Museum as artist/curator/manager from 2008 to 2018. Barbara exhibits her art in and around the Toronto area. More recently, she has made sculptural contributions to the Toronto Zoo in support of their conservation efforts.

Maryam Sadrolhefazi, is a Mosaic and Stained Glass Artist, as well as an art instructor and art lover. She is the creator of these MASKS and the other work in mosaic and stained glass in the greenhouse south of this museum house.

Photo by Terry McBurnie