Toronto/IBNS: Gary Crawford, artist and former City Councillor will be showing his works of art ‘Water, Land, Sky – Paintings and Pastels’ at The Masterpiece Gallery, in Toronto from Oct 19 – 25, as part of his first solo art exhibit since entering political life over 13 years ago.

The artist’s creative journey in northern Ontario and Quebec over the last three years and with his use of dynamic and explosive splashes of colour, and line and light are reflected in the collection of more than 30 colourful and evocative paintings and pastels.

“Many people know me as an artist but may not have viewed much of my actual work unless you visited my office at City Hall,” says Crawford.  “This art show will reveal my passion and vocation that I hope will introduce my creative side that continues beyond my political life.”

As Toronto’s City Councillor, as a Budget Chair and a member of the Mayor’s Executive Committee, his painting career was not as prominent during this period but he brought a unique perspective to the important role the arts and artists play in a creative world class city like Toronto.

“His passion for artists and the arts, as an artist himself, and as a politician and decision maker, will be hard to duplicate again…champion for the arts in Toronto and abroad,” Claire Hopkinson, the former CEO of the Toronto Arts Council, comments.

After retiring from Toronto City Council in 2023, Gary has started pursuing his art full time which can be viewed at https://garycrawford.ca

Being instrumental in the amalgamation of the City’s three civic theatres into TOLive, a place to ”amplify the role of performance space as a force for social engagement, cultural exchange and creative innovation,” Gary successfully brought forward recommendations to support historic increases to arts funding over many years.

(Reporting ny Asha Bajaj)