Ontario Culture Days 2021
Since 2017, Claire Tallarico and Tonia Di Risio have led Alchemy, an artist’s residency in Hillier that fosters community engagement by sharing art, food, and conversation. Last year, in response to COVID 19, Alchemy’s programming shifted to Table Settings, a small group of volunteer cooks and artists who made twice-weekly suppers for seasonal farm and vineyard workers during the harvest season. The project recognized the vital contribution of local labourers, most of whom come from outside of Canada. In 2021, Alchemy continued its Table Settings initiative and following all COVID safety protocols, invited artists to came to Hillier to both assist in the kitchen and create site-specific installations in seven vineyards. With a Creative in Residence Grant, Alchemy collected and shared stories from PEC, while providing a window into our collaborative process. During the month long Ontario Culture Days Festival, Alchemy shared an online and self guided in person tour of community, culinary, and creative work. Culture Days Stories & More Blog:
News and Gatherings 2021
The Wellington Times
The Wellington Times
The Wellington Times
Table Settings: The art of feeding seasonal agricultural workers
Article by Sharon Harrison
November 24, 2021
Photograph of Lisa Woods drawing in her Picton Studio in August.
Photo by Kirstyn Mayers
The Wellington Times
The Wellington Times
The Wellington Times
Alchemists: Giving back to community through art and food
Article by Sharon Harrison
November 24, 2021
Photo of Redtail workers having supper.
Photo by Kirstyn Mayers
The Wellington Times
The Wellington Times
The Bellville Intelligencer
Field Notes
Eight artists, seven wineries, one hall
Article by Sharon Harrison
October 7, 2021
Photo L-R: Erin MacInnis (Alchemy), Tonia Di Risio (Alchemy), poet Jane Macdonald, Claire Tallarico (Alchemy) and Peggy Burris (Hillier Women’s Institute).
The Bellville Intelligencer
The Bellville Intelligencer
The Bellville Intelligencer
PEC artists and vineyards join in Culture Days
Mary MacDonald, co-owner of Stanners Vineyard and local artist sits at a table in front of her found-object art installation Friday in Prince Edward County.
Article by Alex Filipe, October 11, 2021
Redtail Vineyards
The Bellville Intelligencer
Redtail Vineyards
"The third in a series of piquettes celebrating the everyday heroes in our lives..." April 23, 2021
This piquette is named after the Alchemy Artist Residency. It’s Redtail's tribute to all the artists putting love into the world during dark times. Alchemy Artist Residency will be using the proceeds from the sale of this product to directly benefit their Table Settings initiative.
News and Gatherings 2020
CBC Radio 1 Fresh Air
CBC Radio 1 Fresh Air
CBC Radio 1 Fresh Air
"A group of artists meet up twice a week to create locally inspired meals for vineyard and farm workers... We talk to some of the workers and the artists who started the program which is supported by Storehouse Foodbank."
Interview with Jason D'Souza, host CBC Fresh Air, Radio 1,
October 10, 2020
The Wellington Times
CBC Radio 1 Fresh Air
CBC Radio 1 Fresh Air
Partiendo el pan - breaking bread Article by Conrad Beaubien
October 21, 2020
The Globe and Mail
CBC Radio 1 Fresh Air
The Globe and Mail
As harvest season closes, thanks is given in the garden county of Canada, story by Brad Wheeler,
photos by Kirstyn Mayers
October 10, 2020
Gorge: a mid-day meal 2019
Sunday 17 March
Alchemy Artist Residency Coordinators and visual artists Tonia Di Risio and Claire M. Tallarico will facilitate a conversation inspired by Di Risio's installation “Gorge” during a mid-day meal prepared and served in the gallery.
Invitation is by lottery. Fill out a ballot. If you have a winning ballot, you will hear from us by March 12th.
Open Studio: Alchemy Artists 2019
Saturday 17 August
The local community centre will serve as our artist studio for the duration of the residency. We are excited to open the doors to the public. Drop by and say hello! Meet the artists who are part of Alchemy 2019 and view artwork inspired by this residency.
Aralia Maxwell
Claire M. Tallarico
Deborah Margo
Jenny Keyser
Laura Bucci
Moira Clark
Suzanne Evans
Tanja Rohn
Tonia Di Risio
Open Studio: Alchemy Artists 2018
Saturday 18 August
The local community centre will serve as our artist studio for the duration of the residency. We are excited to open the doors to the public. Drop by and say hello! Meet the artists who are part of Alchemy 2018 and view artwork inspired by this residency.
Natural Dying Workshop 2018
Saturday 18 August
Alchemists Claire M. Tallarico and Deborah Margo received an Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Grant to support their collaborative participation in Alchemy 2018’s Hillier Hall Open House event.
Many thanks to the Ontario Arts Council. for their invaluable help.
Photo of guest artist presentation by Deborah Margo in Hillier Hall.
Table Talk at the Depanneur
Tuesday 6 February 2018
FOOD + ART = MAGIC
Claire and Tonia will talk about how food sharing and art making can be a powerful vehicle for community building. Alchemy explores the relationships between artistic practice and the growing, cooking and sharing of locally cultivated food in a community setting. Originally founded at Artscape Gibraltar Point on Toronto Island, Alchemy is now held each summer in Prince Edward County.
On the first Tuesday of every month, The Depanneur invites a local food personality to talk about something that interests them.
DINNER AT THE DEP
Celeriac, Leek & Potato Vichyssoise with toasted hazelnuts (#vegan)
Creamy yellow corn mamaliga (soft polenta, Romanian-style), served with roasted vegetable ratatouille (#vegan). Sour cream, feta cheese and mititei (small, skinless Romanian sausages) served optionally alongside, as well as cucumber and dill salad.
An Alchemy-inspired dessert prepared by Tonia and shared with the tables, along with tea or coffee
Table Talks take place around the dinner table while Dep founder Len Senater prepares a dinner inspired by the topic of the day.
Vegetarian, vegan and/or gluten free options available.
THE DEPANNEUR
1033 College Street, Toronto ON
Talk by Claire M. Tallarico and Tonia Di Risio.
Dinner prepared by Len Senator.
Doors Open at 6pm
Talk starts at 7pm
Alchemy Artists Residency 1st Group Exhibition
BENDING SPOONS GALLERY
11 January to 4 February 2018
Tonia Di Risio Toronto
Ilze Egle Latvia
Frida Foberg New York
Donna Greenstein King City
Lynn Hubbs Toronto
Deborah Margo Ottawa
Sarah Malekzadeh New York/Toronto
Ngoc Nguyen Vietnam
Sydney Pine Montreal
Piera Pugliese Toronto
Peggy Taylor Reid Caledon
Warren Sulatycky Toronto
Claire M. Tallarico Toronto
Vanessa Rotando Ottawa
All works are by past participants of Alchemy 2015, 2016 and 2017. Works include textile, painting, collage, printmaking, photography and installation.
Bending Spoons Gallery is located at 3010 Dundas St West, Toronto, inside the Junction’s iconic Vesuvio Pizzeria and Spaghetti House.
Reception Thursday January 11, 2018
6-8 pm
Artist in attendance.
Image by Gnoc Nguyen
Alchemy 2016 video by artist and filmmaker Warren Sulatycky (Alchemy 2017)
Fond memories of past participants and friends