60s NYC

HINT HINT

Yesterday was the beginning of yet another clean out that we are involved with. Paul went, saw, bid and acquired a large selection of goods. They are currently being processed and will be trickling into the store over the next weeks. Pictures will be posted as the pieces come to light. Rumour has it, some things Smash has acquired are as follows:

-A selection of workbenches

-Stools

-Rolling carts

Pictures to come...

Health Chair

The Ironrite Health Chair, by Herman H. Sperlich in 1938 for the Ironrite Ironer Co. in Detroit, Michigan, is made of steel and lacquered plywood and was specifically made for female workers using the company's mangle ironing machines. The chair is in the permanent collection at MoMA, and although it is no longer in production.

2 available at SMASH.

Aspen Magazine

Read about the first "Three Dimensional" Magazine

Our Silkscreens

Ontario Coat of Arms

David Altmejd

Amazing

New Items

Paul: I'm picking up some good new items on Wednesday, here for Thursday. Including some very excellent and unusual steel industrial carts. Also, some very good 30s stacking chairs.

And In an Unrelated Subject...

Here I present an amazing animated short done by Trevor Jimenez. It's Friday, procrastination happens, so feast your eyes on some 'Key Lime Pie.'

Teaser

Grand Wizzard Theodore - By Harvey Chan

See his newest work Nov. 20 at Smash

Robert Morris

Untitled; 1965-71

Przewalski's Horse

One For the Good Guys!

Mentioned previously on our blog, a petition about a fee being implemented on public billboards to be in turn rationed out to the Art community of Toronto has been fighting the man. With two days in city council pleading their case, they have gone through to the next level! This means that that the next city council meeting will be an official vote from city council to pass the by-law.

They need all the support they can get! If you haven't signed the petition, sign it!

*Photo by: David Topping*

NOW Best of Toronto

Thank you NOW magazine..ps thanks for the Rob Breszny horoscopes too

Upcoming Show

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

Opening Reception: November 20, 2009 8-12pm
Show Runs until: November 20 - December 7 2009
Location: Smash! 2880 Dundas West

Artists Showing: Harvey Chan, Johny Deluna, & Jose Ortega


Harvey Chan is an accomplished artist based in Toronto. He wears many hats, including those of illustrator, gallery artist, and teacher. He teaches Illustration at OCAD and Sheridan College, as well as a variety of courses at the Toronto School of Art. His recent work has featured poetic explorations of the human form integrating with graphic organic forms to create emotional expression and tension.

Johny Deluna recently resumed his art career after a long hiatus, during which he worked successfully as a writer, cinematographer and in new product development. Say’s Deluna “I have tried many things over the years, but my first love is visual art. I don’t have a clear goal in mind when I start a work, but if the finished piece surprises me, I keep it … if it doesn’t I get rid of it."

Jose Ortega is a painter, commercial illustrator and co-founder of Lula Lounge. He lives and works in Toronto and New York. Among his notable accomplishments, he has worked on many public commissions including a series of two mosaic murals for New York subway stations and a stained glass window for the Buckingham Hotel in NYC and designed postage stamps for the US Postal Service.

Toronto Power Company

Crane status sign at abandoned Toronto Power Company station, upstream of Niagara Falls.
Click above for more abandoned building pics from the UK and Canada.

Why can't I live in a cave-house instead of stupid, old Toronto?

Photo By: Morad Reid Affifi

Happy Travels

Over the past month and a half we have had some aid from a Texan girl named Alder. She is enthusiastic, positive and always smiling. We thought she should get a shout out to say thanks for dealing with Smash and our quirks. Hope you got home safe!

Mennonites

We're off tomorrow to Mennonite country. And a few secret locations.

Happy Friday

The Greatest Store in the World!

What is it they say about believing your own press?

Robin Red

Working on the east wall

Some Days are Better Than Others

Helmut + Ball Chair + El Camino = Awesome Morning

Eadward Muybridge Animation

Things we love - Birds!

Who doesn't love birds? Nobody, that's who. Look at this stunning puffin.

The Dream Car

Sutton Hoo Burial Ship

Mentioning Petitions

The petition for Dundas West is very important. You know what other petition that's flying around the city that is also paramount? Beautiful City Billboard Fee.

The group of people behind Beautiful City have thee best intentions in their hearts. They want to establish an additional charge on public billboards that will be collected and distributed back to the arts of Toronto. Legislation is soon, and they are busy collecting signatures of support and phoning their ward officials. Do you want to see more public art/art grants/festivals etc. within Toronto? Sign this petition and this dream may become a reality.

Here is a link to a video by Beautiful City.

Please sign this Petition

Our friends at Lula Lounge, and several other businesses on Dundas Street West, have been actively fighting proposals that would see a number of parking spots removed and -effectively - turn a vibrant multi-use, shared street into a 4 lane no-stop throughfare. Small businesses, pedestrians, and cyclists all lose when cars do nothing but speed in a straight line.

Burma

Coalbrookdale by Night

Philip James de Loutherbourg; 1801. Depicts the Madeley Wood (or Bedlam) Furnaces, which belonged to the Coalbrookdale Company from 1776 to 1796

Tired and dirty, but the place is starting to look good for friday! Come one come all!

Siberian Interior

Kamchatka chic!

Labour Day

Ain't gonna work tomorrow

Last Meal

What would your last meal be? You could clog your arteries with 24 tacos, 2 cheeseburgers, 2 whole onions, 5 jalapeno peppers, 6 enchiladas, 6 tostadas, one quart of milk and one chocolate milkshake, like David Castillo. You could make it a healthy one like Goss Cornelius who asked for 1 apple, 1 orange, 1 banana, coconut, and peaches Or you could just keep it simple like Jeffery Barney and request two boxes of Frosted Flakes and a pint of milk.

Personally, I would go with Justice, equality, and world peace, of course. Thats what Odell Barnes Jr. requested before he was put to death. Is that cheating? I'd probably go with a couple gallons of chocolate ice cream then. Death by ice cream would be a pretty good way to go.

Wonder how many last meals where eaten on these. Prison Trays $15 ea.

-Alder, its a tree. (Guest Blogger and temporary resident at Smash)

Message to the World

Over the past month, we have been getting loads of items from Cannon Knitting Mills, which is being closed down in Hamilton. Some of the items that have come back are sewing tables, step ladders, workbenches, filing drawers and cabinets. One item that broke everyones back to get here was this fantastic safe that has thee nicest detailing. Check it out on our flickr account.

Jackie DeShannon

Muddy York

Someone has gone and posted themed vintage photos of Toronto on Youtube. Most are accompanied by insipid and distracting soundtracks. This one, at least, has a more or less enjoyable oldtimey nasal tune ala Mother's Restaurant. And lots of pictures of carriages stuck in ridiculously muddy roads.

Pretty

Our Flickr site buzzes with people who are adding us, tagging their favourites and commenting on items in the store. This is all appreciated and sometimes we go creeping to other people's profiles to see what kind of people like our stuff. In this case, Vegas Kent has some pretty pictures that spread all around the world. Through their camera, I have seen Toronto in a new light.

John O'Regan

Junction represent

Believe

Headlines

Smash has graced some more headlines this week, including a mention in this week's issue of Eye Weekly. Yes, we print and sell Keep Calm Carry On Posters.

We also have been a part of Globe and Mail's fashion shoot for fall trends, which, thanks to the photographer, our furnishings look great with beautiful people on them.

Lantern Geeks

There is always someone collecting somethingorother

In heavy rotation around here

Expo67 Home Movies

Ritchies Auctions - Stephen Ranger's Blog

We have attached a link here to Stephen Ranger's blog. He is the past-president of Ritchies Auctions in Toronto. So far, there are only a few rudimentary postings on the blog, but I hope he will be encouraged to keep it up and give us some antidote to the daily rumours and schadenfreude that has surrounded the sudden turmoil that has followed in the split with Sotheby's.


I always admired the environment that Stephen had created at Ritchies. The company hired ambitious young people and seemed really to want to give them the opportunity to learn and thrive. And the upper management - but most especially Stephen -consistently maintained a down-to-earth ability to work the sales floor and make every customer, no matter how low in the pecking order they may have been, feel important and welcome.

Thank you Stephen, and good luck. Please keep up the blog.

Polykleitos

Click on title for your art historical primer on this giant of Ancient Greek art

Fuddy Duddy Fridays

Hats off to our neighbour. He's always real and a character that is cut from a different mold. The kind of mold that was used once then burned from the factory floor in fear of what this character would unleash into the world. That's why he's a good one.

BiblioOdyssey Blog

Table made by: Mathew Birtch

Made out of: Reclaimed Douglas Fir

This A frame harvest table can be made in various sizes and finished according to taste.

Happy Birthday to Us!

New stuff is here, just in time for our Birthday! Smash is one and we don't care who knows. In fact, if your wanting to come check out the new stuff we just got in from a factory, (impressive things, I do say so myself), you should drop by on Thursday. Starting at around 8pm we are having a nice shin dig that is going to celebrate our year of success. Come on by. 

As for the new things, I am currently cleaning, pricing and photographing them. Hopefully by the end of the week, we will have our blog updated with all the new things.