Don't Look Back

Don’t Look Back is a special group exhibition celebrating the 65th anniversary of the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, the long-running open-access hub for art, culture, commerce, and social interaction held in the city’s most prominent public square.

The exhibition title is borrowed from the 1967 documentary film on Bob Dylan of the same title, and reflects the belief that while the past shapes who we are, it is our actions in the present that define who we become. At the time, the notoriously contrarian artist avoided revisiting his past as he was in the midst of a pivotal creative transition toward a more expansive sound—one that mirrored both a shifting cultural landscape and his evolving artistic vision.

Avoiding retrospection may seem irreverent in the context of a milestone anniversary, yet the exhibition’s title and concept arise from the challenge of meaningfully representing 65 years of the Fair within the scope of a single presentation. Rather than indulge in nostalgia or attempt to condense such a dynamic history into a definitive narrative, Don’t Look Back celebrates the Fair in its present moment while acknowledging the continuum between its rich past and a future full of possibility.

The exhibition brings together artists from the GTA and beyond, who have participated in the Fair in recent years. The selection is, of course, subjective and represents only a snapshot of artists at various stages of practice, and working across a diverse range of media. As a whole, the exhibition reflects the vibrancy and spirit of one of Toronto’s most significant and exciting cultural events.

Don’t Look Back is both a tribute to the Fair’s recent growth and evolution under the guidance of anahita azrahimi, Executive & Creative Director since 2016, and an acknowledgment of past directors, and the many staff, and volunteers whose contributions have shaped the organization over the decades. The exhibition also honours Murray and Marvelle Koffler, who founded the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition 65 years ago.

It is especially fitting that the exhibition takes place at Koffler Arts, in recognition of the legacy of Murray and Marvelle Koffler, who founded The Koffler Centre for the Arts in 1977. To celebrate the present is to honour the past while looking toward the future.