Fonds LA.SC149 - ChromaZone/Chromatique fonds

Identity area

Reference code

LA.SC149

Title

ChromaZone/Chromatique fonds

Date(s)

  • [195-] - 2004 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

116 cm of textual records
ca. 840 photographs
28 optical discs
25 video cassettes (3/4", VHS, Mini DV and 8mm)
15 prints
15 posters
12 audio cassettes
3 paintings
1 audio reel
1 film reel

Context area

Name of creator

(1981-1985)

Administrative history

The ChromaZone/Chromatique Collective was a collaborative group of emerging Canadian artists that created and exhibited art in Toronto between 1981 and 1985. The Collective was founded in 1981 and consisted of six members: Andy Fabo, Sybil Goldstein, Oliver Girling, Tony Wilson, H.P. Marti and Rae Johnson.

Between September 1981 and May 1983, the collective operated out of their gallery space ChromaZone/ Chromatique, located at 320 Spadina Ave, Toronto. Their inaugural exhibition Mondo Chroma opened in September 1981. Between 1981 and May 1983, the Collective mounted 45 varying cultural events including exhibitions, poetry readings, banquets and fashion shows. In 1982, the Collective published their first publication ChromaZone/Chromatique (Prototype), and participated in Monumenta, a collaboration among four galleries, including ChromaZone/Chromatique, which showcased current representational art in Toronto through the work of 75 artists. In December 1982, the Collective curated and participated in OKROMAZONE - Die Anderen Von Kanada held at the Institut Unzeit in West Berlin as a direct reaction to the Canadian Government’s OKanada cultural festival in Berlin. This exhibition featured the work of 22 contemporary Toronto artists.

In May 1983, the Collective closed their gallery space to give the members more time to focus on their own work and larger collective projects. In October, the Collective exhibited together at the Norman MacKenzie Art Gallery in Regina and later that month opened Chromaliving, a month-long exhibition of 150 artists in the vacant 10,000 square feet space at 131 Bloor St. W, Toronto, recently vacated by the Harridges Department store. This exhibition, co-curated by Tim Jocelyn and Andy Fabo, sought to showcase the merging of art and lifestyle and featured furniture, fashion and painting. In 1984, the group continued to present exhibitions including Kromalaffin, a show of comic book art (Grunwald Gallery, Toronto); ChromaZone/Chromatique, a traveling exhibition of members’ work (Concordia University and other venues across Quebec); Cross OT: Seven From Berlin, Berlin Super 8 and Berlin Video (several venues in Toronto); and Painting Beyond the Zone, a group exhibition of 30 emerging artists (Artists Resource Centre, Toronto).

In 1985, members of the Collective largely moved away from Toronto with Andy Fabo, Tim Jocelyn and Sybil Goldstein relocating to New York City, and H.P. Marti moving to Zurich. ChromaZone’s final exhibition Fire + Ice was an exchange of Toronto and Zurich artists held at Galerie Walcheturm in Zurich. The Collective officially disbanded in 1986, after the death of Tim Jocelyn from AIDS in December of that year. Sybil Goldstein founded and chaired the Tim Jocelyn Art Foundation after his death.

Archival history

The materials now constituting the ChromaZone Collective fonds were gathered mainly by Sybil Goldstein over the course of the Collective’s existence, and were maintained by her until her death. Rae Johnson subsequently took custody of the materials until their transfer to the Art Gallery of Ontario.

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

AGO Credit Line: Gift of ChromaZone/Chromatique, 2017

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Fonds consists of documentation of the work and activities of members of the ChromaZone Collective; records of the group’s exhibition activity, including posters; and photographs of group members. Fonds also includes records related to the establishment and administration of the Tim Jocelyn Art Foundation, and records of Sibyl Goldstein’s art-related activity following the disbandment of ChromaZone.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

No further accruals are expected.

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open. Access to Special Collections is by appointment only. Please contact the reference desk for more information.

Conditions governing reproduction

Various copyright holders. It is the researcher’s responsibility to obtain permission to publish any part of the fonds.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

Language and script notes

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

A draft finding aid is available. Contact the reference desk for further information.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

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Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

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Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Final

Level of detail

Partial

Dates of creation revision deletion

Originally prepared 2017; uploaded 22 January 2019

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

Sources

Archivist's note

Description prepared by Danielle Van Wagner

Accession area

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