The Gaze was a spectacular showcase of 21 photographic art tableaux (30”x40”) the premiere in a series of solo photography exhibitions the artist unveiled in Toronto. A culmination of a 20-year career, the tableaux were created and photographed with tremendous passion in 2006 and with the intent, the artist says, “to create a connection between the image and the viewer that transcends aesthetics and provokes ideas, feelings, and reveries of what a photograph means – the crystallization of a moment in time, the ephemeral made concrete.”

Arline Malakian and Northcott Communications have started collaborating on her next solo exhibit, “Impressions”–all images formed and registered subliminally rendered or infused that present themselves in different forms through our thoughts, actions and tint our intent. The exhibit will be held in early November 2012 at a gallery yet tbt. More details will be announced on this blog and on www.arlinemalakian.com.

The Gaze: Serena by Arline Malakian Giclee print on Anova Texture Archival Paper 40, large print 48’’x 35’’--printed area 40 ‘’x 27’’

The Gaze: Sandrine by Arline Malakian Giclee print on Anova Texture Archival Paper 40, large print 48’’x 35’’--printed area 40 ‘’x 27’’

I would like to thank Todd for saying YES, when I approached him in late February 2011 to do the show on April 12. Delphine Nicholls and I taught the course, which was a memorable experience for us and the student producers of the show, held at the recently renovated Palais Royale, which has a spectacular view of Lake Ontario. Below is a lasting memory of Todd’s visit at the time of his departure from Toronto Pearson InternationalAirport, the next day.

The look of chunky yarns gives a fresh modern feel.
The silhouettes are very organic with a multitude of knit designs such as cable, knitted pom-poms, rib knits etc.

Many of the knits have emphasis on the waist with over-sized hips and shoulders.
The look is cozy and funky, unique and playful.” Lucian Matis

With the re-launch of www.northcottcomm.com, I wanted to look back to key events in my professional history and Northcott Communications, in particular. Giving back to the community has always been an important part of my life. I began volunteering when I was still a student attending Ryerson. I have for nearly three decades supported a number of causes either as an event participant athlete, as a corporate supporter, through Northcott Communications; as an individual community contributor through my active membership in Fashion Group International (FGI), where I chaired several events and served on the Board under various capacities including Regional Director (2000) for well over two decades; since 2007, as a member on the Advisory Board of the Toronto Fashion Incubator (TFI) where I am now a member on the Executive Board. Included in my volunteer contributions at TFI, are consultations on PR and sponsorship for resident and outreach members of TFI; and since 2010 as a member on the Board of UN Women—Canada.

Following are images from memorable moments along my professional history and Northcott Communications as well:

Artist Photographer, Arline Malakian and I posed for a series of shots by Robert Watson at “A Groovy Kind of Love” Fundraiser (Feb. 19, 2011) organized annually by Mamone and Partners, and in support of Doctors Without Borders. Malakian contributed one of her works from her exhibit The Gaze, to the Silent Auction; it ended up drawing one of the highest bids in the auction.

To my right is artist/photographer, Arline Malakian.

In the spring of 2007, as a member of the Advisory Board of the Toronto Fashion Incubator (TFI), I was invited to represent Susan Langdon, Executive Director, TFI, to speak at Mode Future–the first International Conference on Fashion Incubation. It was held in Kent, UK, in very close proximity of Canadian fashion designer, Todd Lynn. I covered my experiences of the trip to the conference in a two-part article which ran in the TFI News—please see, below, links to the article.

Todd’s Studio in Bromley, South London: from left to right, Perry Parker, Clara Northcott, Todd Lynn and Lenka Juraskov.

Part One: http://www.fashionincubator.com/happenings/newsletter/tfi-news-april-2007.shtml

Part Two: http://www.fashionincubator.com/happenings/newsletter/tfi-news-may-june-2007.shtml

I’m holding a Veuve Clicquot press kit at the Veuve Clicquot Petanque event in New York City in 2000.

Remembering Northcott’s 10th Anniversary celebration, Decadesign, in support of the TFI. Glen Baxter of Citytv, interviews event host, Jeanne Beker and I, following a spectacular Live Auction of gowns donated by Canadian designers including TFI’s alumni. (Oct. 22, 1999, at the Design Exchange).

In February of this year, I gave myself a goal to swim 3-4 times weekly so that I could join L.O.S.T. Swimming, Lake Ontario Swim Team, in Oakville, in late spring. The goal was to participate in their annual Ironman swim distance race of 3.8km, usually held in mid. August. I began training in my condo miniature indoor pool –12.5 m length. By July, I had graduated to a public outdoor pool twice as long as my condo’s and on August 13th I successfully completed the objective of my training, which was not only to swim L.O.S.T’s 3.8km in Lake Ontario but to do it under the gun of 1:45 hrs. I did it in 1:33:52. Achieving any goal feels wonderful as you can tell by my happy face, below. With running and swimming under control, my summer 2012 goal will be to venture into cycling and a few triathlons as preparation for my first Ironman, which I hope to conquer in 2013.

L.O.S.T. (Lake Ontario Swim Team). Swimming Race Finish, Oakville Pier, August 13m, 2011 - Photo Credit: Helen Smith