Goodwater Ephemera at Plumb Fundraiser

From John Goodwin’s Instagram account (a few weeks ago, and today):

"Tonight my friend Anthony Cooper dropped by to pick up the goodwater ephemera starter kit, 2024. The kit is being donated to the PLUMB for their upcoming fundraising auction. It’s an archival box containing all kinds of ephemera-like stuff including business cards, exhibition invites, stickers, bookplates, small publications, distribution catalogs, bookmarks, even a complete set of goodwater mailers – there’s a total of 85 items. Anyway, it was fun to “organize” this material and stuff it all in one box with a corresponding checklist and, of course, a magnifying glass. It will be on display for their upcoming auction."

"This is an installation shot of the goodwater ephemera starter kit - an archival box containing around 85 items selected from stuff I've accumulated over the years. It's installed at the PLUMB where there's going to be a preview on December 7-8. Then the auction takes place somehow via Instagram. The kit has all kinds of things, business cards, invitations, mailers, bookmarks, bar coasters, postcards, letterhead, concert ticket stubs, bookplates, buttons, even a fax of the membership list of Cold City Gallery. And one of the items is a complete set of goodwater mailers, like about 45 of them. Anyway, if you're into Kippenberger, Gober, Nannucci, Bloom, Holzer, Shearer, Davey, Group Material, Belcher, Dion, Feldmann, Kruger, Ono, Weiner, etc etc etc, then this BOX has your name on it! Bid baby bid! Oh, and it comes with a MAGNIFYING GLASS!"

Goodwin’s Goodwater Corktown project continues his love of producing compelling ephemera to announce exhibitions and projects (previously he was the director of both Printed Matter and Art Metropole, and published multiples under the banner of Shark Editions). 

The Plumb is great artists’ initiated gallery space in Toronto, ran by a collective of artists, writers, and curators that include Amanda Boulos, Laura Carusi, Anthony Cooper, Patrick Cruz, Laura Demers, Emma Green, Warren Harper, Daniel Griffin Hunt, Nadine Maher, Avalon Mott, Dainesha Nugent-Palache, John Nyman, Ciar O'Mahony, Emerald Repard-Denniston, Claudia Rick, Miles Rufelds, Callum Schuster, Blair Swann, and Emma Welch. 

To bid, visit https://theplumb.ca/ for more information. 

New Art Metropole Director

Toronto has a bad reputation for failing to elevate dedicated staff members when a new position becomes available, often preferring an international candidate whose name will impress on a press release. I’m very pleased that - after Jonathan Middleton sadly announced earlier in the year that he was leaving to pursue independent projects - the AM board wisely chose to promote Blair Swann to the role of Executive Director. 

"Art Metropole is thrilled to announce the appointment of Blair Swann to the position of Executive Director. The Board of Directors was impressed by his holistic vision for the future of Art Metropole through the competitive hiring process and his demonstrated commitment to the organization in the last three and a half years. Swann, currently Associate Director, started at Art Metropole in November 2020, as the Assistant Director & Inventory Manager. ⁠

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Swann has years of experience working with artists at various career levels to realize exhibitions, publications, and editions; and has organized numerous book launches, talks, and readings. He is an artist and curator; and a co-founder of the plumb, a collectively-run arts space in Toronto. Swann brings a strong desire for collaboration and community-oriented programming to the role, with a deep understanding of the administrative needs of the organization.⁠

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“I’m very excited to take on the position of Executive Director of Art Metropole,” says Swann. “Art Metropole is such an essential hub for artists in Toronto – with a unique legacy of bridging the local and global, emerging and established, historic and contemporary. I’m looking forward to continuing my work with Art Metropole’s staff and board to support the development of artists’ books and multiples, and champion publication and distribution as artistic practices.”⁠

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Please join us in welcoming Blair Swann to his new role!”

- Art Metropole Press Release