SLAW

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
An art show about Love Charlie's Gallery presents SLAW
New rybonArt - by Robyn Waffle
Charlie's Gallery 112 Harbord Street Toronto On.

Mon. Feb. 25th, 2008 running is indefinite. 7:00-11:00pm Dance performance and Fashion show at 9pm.

New art collective SLAW is the only chance to catapult space off the ground before it is bought out by big business. A new group of Toronto women showcase original artwork, music, dance and fashion launching a new art collective SLAW, in hopes of prolonging an existing free loan for a space that is up for lease in Toronto.

Robyn Waffle and her artistic constituents try to exceed a two-month loan granted to them by a Toronto family business with 27 years under their belts serving Toronto on Harbord St.
Robyn Waffle's new rybonArt collection, will be exhibited with an evening of music provided by DJ's Fawn Big Canoe and Lucie Tic, a fashion show, and a dance performance by Addy Chan and Lucie Tic.

On the brink of the Charlie's Gallery opening Robyn Waffle offered her expertise and services to assist the success of the gallery in exchange for a solo show. Robyn Waffle as new Art Director/Curator of Charlie's Gallery, is uncertain about the length of time her art will be exhibited considering the space is on loan to SLAW until the building owners lease it out.

Robyn Waffle had her first solo show called Well and Good Clothing Gallery in 2006, where she experienced an incredible turn out at her first solo show called Fashion Phantom. Opening night she sold three large works (6' tall), 2 smaller framed 'sketch book' pieces, and hundreds of prints.

“I originally went into Ryerson University’s Fashion Communications Program with the intention of trying to change the industry/influence it in a positive way from my subjectivity as a woman,” says Waffle “and Charlie’s gallery is a step towards that reality.”

Inspiration derived from studying negative aspects of the fashion industry and the psyche of seeing women, Waffle’s successful theme is reflected in her artistic inspirations. Using acrylic on canvas, Waffle illustrated six-foot tall 'ideal beauties', whimsical and bright with only black and white. They stood tall, as billboards, demonstrating the idea that the 'perfect' women we see in the media 'don't actually exist', and that they should be seen as figments of our imagination. Her painted phantoms appeared 'perfect' from a distance, but were purposely flawed to symbolize that 'ideal beauty' really lies in every woman's unique little imperfections. A percentage of her earnings from the show were donated to Sheena's Place, a wonderful facility that provides counseling and care for women battling eating disorders.

Since her success at her first art show, Robyn has gone on to participate in many exciting group shows. A couple examples would be TART, put on by Scratch Gallery and RISE, a charity benefit, put on by Transmitter Studios.

Charlie’s Gallery Past Show Reference: “Art 4 ArtSake was a show put on by us, as a fundraiser, where we asked our friends/colleagues to live paint at the show. There was live jazz music, a huge turn out, money was made, art was sold, however all our expenses ate up the profits.” Owners gifted SLAW the space for two months while it's on the market to be leased, but all parties hope the success of the show will maintain the space as a gallery exceeding the two months.

Charlie's Gallery: For 27 years owners Hutoshi and Cyrus Irani’s family business gave home to the Hutoshi Hair Salon on Harbour St., on Toronto, Ontario. When the salon relocated to the back of the building, owner Charlene Irani “Charlie” placed bets on her passion and channel it through an art gallery and clothing store until it's leased. Slaw collective, the community and the Irani family have come together in effort to keep the space in the family, as a gallery.

SLAW is collective of like-minded passionate female artists who live to create and add their unique touch to the progression of the arts. Made up of the best of their respective creative disciplines, SLAW's individual artists are connected by their originality of self-expression and dedication to the arts. SLAW includes: Charlene Irani (Charlie's Gallery, Fameless Collective), Addy Chan, Lucie Tic, Fawn Big Canoe, Sarah Castle, and Robyn Waffle (rybonArt).