This photo-based work plays up nostalgic memories of the small shops that dot the downtown cores of cities. Many such shops, dedicated to chance, antiques, toys, comics and collectables, have come and gone along the Simcoe Street corridor of the years.
These miniatures usually act as props in Tremeer’s painting practice. Painting from miniature props entertains the scrutiny of spaces, both real and fantastic. By staging this view with dollhouse miniatures, Playmobil and other toys, he has melded nostalgia for youth with imagined spaces. This project provided Tremeer with the opportunity to explore macro photography and Photoshop. Both skills are important tools in his studio practice, but have not previously been the basis for a finished work.
During the Spring of 2016, the RMG, in collaboration with CORE21, held an open call for proposals of art, illustration, design or photography for the Window Space at CORE21 in Downtown Oshawa. Tremeer’s submission was selected to be output in vinyl and applied to the window for display during the fall of 2016.
Artist Statement:
“As a kid I liked history and its stories. I had a train set and built model kits. Ultimately the train outgrew its table, wrapped itself around the room and was overrun by Hot Wheels cars and small soldiers. Today I continue to think about model building―albeit dioramas associated with museums, train sets, dollhouses and pop-up books.” (excerpt: Artist Statement).
Todd Tremeer is a painter and printmaker living in Bowmanville. He is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art and completed his MFA at Western University. His paintings of miniature war dioramas, model train landscapes and dollhouse interiors have been exhibited across Canada and in the United States. He has been awarded two Canada Council grants and several Ontario Arts Council grants for his work. Most notably in 2007, the Joseph Plaskett Award for painting. For more information visit www.toddtremeer.com