Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1979-1989 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
0.84 m of textual records and photographs
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
Mercer Union was created by former members of A.C.T. in 1979 to operate as an artist-run, non-profit cooperative gallery. Twelve founders contributed financially to the rental of a ground floor space at 29 Mercer Street and planned to mix local, regional, national and international exhibits, collaborating with other artist-run programs. Its mandate was to exhibit new work in the most advanced forms of painting and sculpture that was not receiving exposure in the commercial and public galleries. Performance art, installations and music were incorporated into the programming, which has continued to represent innovative and sometimes controversial material. Twelve board members are elected by dues-paying members and serve on the various committees (programming, curatorial, etc), with the help of a small paid staff. The gallery moved to 333 Adelaide Street West, 5th floor in 1981 and 439 King Street West in 1994. Their present location is 37 Lisgar Street; current information about the gallery can be obtained at www.mercerunion.org.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Series consists of the contents of binders maintained by the Programming Committee, transferred to file folders and boxes. Material includes photographs, printed pamphlets, announcements, press releases and posters published by Mercer Union, and reviews, both photocopied and original. Arrangement is by year, with two large exhibits occupying their own binders: “The New City of Sculpture” exhibit of 1984, a major collaborative effort involving five other Toronto art galleries, and the outdoor installation by Tadashi Kawamata in 1989. Also included are spiral-bound books used 1987 to 1990, compiled from photocopied material, and an early arrangement of 2 files with programming notes and lists (1979 to 1984), including an index. Arrangement follows the original order.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
- English