Alchemy signs off on 2023 with Gratitude

In 2023, Alchemy artists returned to the County for our 7th Season.  Our artists pushed the limits of their practice in new projects in Hillier, Carrying Place and Milford for our Field Notes exhibitions. Those same artists formed our Table Settings kitchen brigade to provide weekly suppers for 35 farm and vineyard workers using fresh, locally raised, and farmed protein and produce. This season marked our fourth Table Settings with a final count of 3000 meals served since 2020. None of this would have been possible without Linda Downey and the Storehouse Foodbank, Dominque Jones and the team at the Prince Edward County Foundation. This year, we also gratefully acknowledge the participation of our visiting artists and the kind and financial generosity of Closson Chase Winery, Broken Stone, The Grange, Casa Dea, Stanners, RoseHall Run, Thyme Again Farms and Lighthall to our artistic and community engagement efforts in Prince Edward County. 

Alchemy is alive and well in a world filled with uncertainty because of the interest, support, and acts of kindness from you, your friends, colleagues, and neighbours. 

With gratitude and all good wishes for a safe and healthy new year. We look forward to sharing our 2024 plans with you very soon. Claire, Tonia and Erin.

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.

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

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. 

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.  

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

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

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 2021 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: 

• WHEN ART MEETS FOOD 
• TABLE SETTINGS: ALCHEMY IN CONVERSATION WITH JANE MACDONALD
• FIELD NOTES: ALCHEMY IN CONVERSATION WITH BARBARA BROWN

Alchemy Artists Residency acknowledges that we are on the traditional territory of Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe, and Haudenosaunee peoples. These peoples agreed to mutual sharing obligations and responsibilities as stewards of the land and water. We recognize that these are now our shared obligations in partnership, to continue to protect the land and water. As we talk about the land, we honour the Indigenous ancestors who came before us and who continue to be present in lands which we occupy. We acknowledge and honour the First Nations who despite attempts of colonialism, continue to hold and share their rich history, traditions, and cultures that are proud, modern and vibrant. As we move forward, we hope that every time we get together we acknowledge all those that have come before us.

Approved by Troy Maracle, Indigenous Education Lead for the HPEDSB