Mercer Union, Fly Gallery and live racoon sighting, Thursday 15th.

The racoon features at the end of the day, so you have to read this bit first, sorry.

Artwork by Liz Miller at Mercer Union

We started today with a visit to Mercer Union, one of the most established and well respected artist-led galleries in Toronto. Here we met with Dave Dyment, Elaine Gaito and Aileen Burns to chat about the history of the space and their future move to new premises. The gallery was founded in 1979 (almost as old as Canada!) to address the needs of artists who found it difficult to break into the dominant art establishment. Since then the gallery has evolved and now shows the work of international artists, as well as providing resources for emerging artists in the city, which include a programme for recent graduates. Although the gallery is having to relocate in response to the creeping gentrification of the area, the staff see this as a positive step in the development of the gallery and its role in the Toronto art scene.

Chatting with the Mercer Union team

In a freak act of karma (in response to all the hard work we've been doing these past few days), as we strolled in the sunshine on our way to another good lunch, we happened across $70, gently blowing along the street in our direction. In one swift movement the money was ours, allowing us to generously treat our hosts to a sandwich.

Apart from the squashed raccoon, one of the sights which will stick in our memories is that of the most bizarre department store any of us have ever visited - Honest Ed's. This shop is full of everything you never knew you needed, from inflatable aeroplanes to immigration services, discount haircuts to hats and maple syrup to low-cost dentistry. Needless to say, we came out with as much Canadian tat as a small Chinese child can produce in a day (and that's a lot!).

A unique shopping experience

Loaded down with our plastic goods, we arrived at Fly Gallery. Like Convenience Gallery, this is a former shop, which is now the home of 2 artists; Tanya Read and Scott Carruthers, who use their front window as a gallery space. Set up in 1999, the gallery has hosted the work of over 100 artists from Toronto and the surrounding areas, including students, emerging artists and more established practitioners. The gallery is probably the most prolific, but lo-fi venue which we have visited so far. Unfunded and without a website, Fly Gallery still manages to attract a large amount of media attention and respect from the city. Despite hosting the work of a different artist each month, the gallery has a constant stream of submissions from artists wishing to be included in their programme.

Fly Gallery

And finally, here's the grand finale that you've been waiting for.....We saw a racoon (a live one this time). It was the cutest vermin we've ever seen!

Pest's new mascot!