FAAS brings 'spontaneous' art to Rainbow mall

An empty storefront in downtown Sudbury’s Rainbow Centre shopping mall will be transformed into an experimental art gallery May 6-10 during the Fair of Alternative Art in Sudbury (FAAS).

Organized by Galerie du Nouvel-Ontario (GNO), FAAS brings together more than 30 contemporary artists from across the country to Sudbury and invites them to create new works of art in public spaces.

The visual artists participating in the FAAS will set up shop in the former Benix storefront, next to the Buck or Two store near the Rainbow Centre’s food court.

The GNO and 18 partner artist-run centres and galleries have invited artists whose disciplines range from performance art to installation work. If you wander through the Rainbow Centre during the FAAS, you could very well happen upon a spontaneous work of performance art from one of our artists.

The artists will each receive an empty shopping cart, courtesy of Hart, which they’ll be encouraged to incorporate into their artworks.

BGL, a group of three Québécois artists, are bringing a working carrousel constructed with shopping carts.

This particular installation has toured similar art fairs throughout the years, including Hamilton’s SuperCrawl event. The art installation/carnival ride will be set up in the Rainbow Centre’s Marketplace parking lot.

A final reception will be held May 10 in the Rainbow Centre food court. The artists’ completed works will be on display and the evening will be capped off with a dance party featuring Organ Mood and les DJs Masqués.

The Rainbow Centre has really done everything possible to make us feel welcome. The fact that we get to have a licensed dance party, until midnight in the food court, is just so awesome.

Schedule of Events

Tuesday May 6

Galerie du Nouvel-Ontario (174 Elgin St.)
Starting at 6 p.m. – Welcome party

Wednesday May 7
FAAS Headquarters (Rainbow Centre)
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Creating artwork live;
11 a.m. to noon – Shopping for a Public : Critical Writing and Public Engagement with Earl Miller


Thursday May 8
FAAS Headquarters
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Creating and presenting artwork live;
11 a.m. – L’art visuel s’écrit – Atelier d’écriture critique avec Serge Murphy;
4 p.m. – Guided tour Salon du livre du Grand Sudbury (Radisson hotel);
2:15 p.m. - Table ronde : L’écriture critique en perspectives multiples

Friday May 9
FAAS Headquarters
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Creating and presenting artwork live;
11 a.m. - L’art visuel s’écrit – Atelier d’écriture critique avec Serge Murphy;
11 a.m. - Shopping for a Public : Critical Writing and Public Engagement with Earl Miller

Saturday May 10
FAAS Headquarters
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Creating and presenting artwork live;
11 a.m. – Breakfast discussion with the artists, hosted by Serge Murphy and Earl Miller;
1 p.m. – Guided tour; 6 p.m. to midnight +Grand Gala de la FAAS 4 • Book launch of “FAAS 3: L’art au pied carré” publication • Final tour of installations and performances • Electro-Performative Dance Party with Organ Mood and les DJs Masqués