Our Nuit Blanche Pre-Party OCT 4 from 2-8PM HOME AGAIN Oct 1-11

OCT 15- OCT 31, 2025

Mirror Mirror is a series of intricate collage-based mind maps that the artist delves into the paradox of tolerance. The paradox questions whether a society's openness can endure unlimited tolerance. When a tolerant society allows intolerance to thrive, it risks its own collapse under intolerance’s brutality. The paradox argues that to preserve an openness to difference, a tolerant society must defend tolerance by actively suppressing the intolerant. The works are born from digital images — scaled, printed, and meticulously cut and pasted — creating complex neural maps of opposition to intolerance. These compositions reflect the artist's engagement with remix culture, choosing from thousands of visual artifacts from disparate sources gathered over the last decade. The sampled imagery forms a living archive of solidarity and resistance. The works preserve this cultural heritage of opposition to injustice before it is lost under the vastness of social media content. The concept of neuroplasticity serves as the exhibit's central metaphor. Our brains form and reform neural networks throughout our lives. Obsolete pathways are eliminated, while new ones are created and strengthened. On a macro level, Mirror Mirror is an exploration of the idea of neuralsocioplasticity. It questions whether collective resistance to intolerance can encourage a societal shift towards increased tolerance? And can the participation in active resistance alter an individual's neural network toward increased solidarity and greater tolerance? Mirror Mirror invites introspection by forcing the audience to look into the mirror and ask themselves: Am I the most tolerant of them all? “Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them. We should therefore claim, in the name of tolerance, the right not to tolerate the intolerant and claim the right to suppress them if necessary even by force.” — Karl Raimond Popper, “The Open Society and its Enemies”, 1947

Mirror Mirror on the Wall imposes introspection on the viewer, forcing them to ask: What do I choose to tolerate and what do I actively refuse... and what will it take me to change my mind? These mind maps compel self-reflection on questions that require answers in a world where intolerance of difference is on the rise.

 FRIDAY OCT 17th 

5-10 PM 

RSVP TICKET BELOW

BRING NON PERISHABLE FOR LOCAL FOOD BANK

MUSIC- ART-FOOD

ABOUT DAVID

David "widge" Widgington (he/him/they) is a queer undisciplinary artivist and settler, based in Tiohtiá:ke (Montréal) on traditional territory of the Kanien’kehà:ka (Mohawk). Widge practices a sort of archeology of the present by collecting then remixing ephemeral artefacts before they are buried under the weight of time. Collage (digital + analog) is a recurring technique. He often retells recent history by sampling imagery created by protest movements adding to a vast cultural heritage of opposition to injustice. His works can be viewed at burningbillboard.art, IG: @david_widge.

SAT OCT 18th 1-4 PM 

RSVP BELOW

BRING NON PERISHABLE FOR LOCAL FOOD BANK

COLLAGE WORKSHOP :

Creative Collage as expression of collective refusal

Beverages/snacks 

Join the artist at 183 Gallery to create a collective collage about what you refuse to accept in your neighbourhood, in region or around the world : gentrification, homelessness, homophobia, gender inequalities, racism, billionaires, etc. Bring magazines, images, a pair of scissors anything that may be useful for you or others to cut and paste into the collage. Cut-out material, scissors and glue will be available to share.

COME SIT AT MY TABLE is an open invitation of friendship. By inviting people to sit at your table, they learn about your culture, and you about theirs. “By breaking bread together” all cultures signify an open extension of being accepted and welcomed. Toronto has a history of immigration that shares its culture through food. My process was initiated with memories and oral stories dating back to my great-grandfather and grandfather who fled China due to famine and political unrest to seek fortunes and to send money back home, much like today’s political immigration stories. 

We shared food as an extended family growing up in my grandfather’s rooming house populated by single men stranded in Canada, due to Canada’s Exclusion Act barring Chinese immigration and permanently separating families. 

Our food history is shaped by immigration and even more so in the present with over 140 languages being spoken in Toronto. 

Food is a common factor that makes each culture unique and binds us together with one- tool for dialogue and meeting place. 

Food is central to the sharing of culture and a way to communicate acceptance. 

"If you really want to make a  friend, go to someone's house and eat with him… the people who give you  their food give you their heart." -Cesar Chavez

COME SIT AT MY TABLE is an invitation of friendship to people who may be very different than you are. By sitting together over food- It Signifies an open extension of being accepted and welcomed. Toronto has a history of immigration that shares its cultures through food. 

COMING SOON

Mad Men & Mocktail Martinis & Hors d'oeuvres

listen -mingle to tales Mad Men Ad Executive Brian Hawkins sharing his wit of ad executive in the heyday 60's and 70's. 

Entry non perishable item- food bank donation. 

Ongoing pop up Tea, Cake & The Art of Conversation posted on eventbrite

STAY TUNED FOR MORE UPDATES

Imagine the days of an atelier where art students drew from live models to better understand the body and to work from the actual form and how light/shadow interplay on each other.

We are entranced by the free forms of the great masters like Michelangelo and other Renaissance artists-

Launch a safe learning environment max 15 students to explore the basics of figure drawing, and to allow for artistic freedom with short and long poses.

Beginner friendly with a short one hour class or a 2 hour class for those wanting to explore classical life drawing.

All participants feel welcome and supported, regardless of their prior experience in art. It is an inclusive space for anyone looking to embark on their artistic journey. It serves as an excellent sustained class for artists interested in exploring the world of figure drawing.

ARTIST BRING OWN SUPPLIES- DESK EASEL PROVIDED

FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO TRY CLASS- newsprint 

AVAILABLE sketchbook $12 sold on site