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Dinner by Design shines a light on local art scene by Abigail Cukier Special to the Beaver 25 | Thursday, December 26, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Local developer Tariq Adi thinks Oakville's arts scene needs more attention -- so he added to that element in the preview of his latest condos. "There are a ton of artists in Halton Region, but they are not being nurtured or highlighted for their talents. They need to move to Hamilton or Toronto to get that. So, we were trying to do that," said Tariq Adi, CEO and president of Adi Development Group Inc. His Dinner by Design, held recently at a local restaurant, was a pop-up contemporary art and food event in support of the Diabetes Association of Canada. It also served as a preview for Adi's second condominium project in partnership with Fortress Real Developments called Link Condos + Towns. Located on the southeast corner of Sutton Drive and Dundas Street, the development will overlook the Bronte Creek Provincial Park. The design includes four buildings, including commercial space and parking. Adi painted when he was younger and his work was showcased in the Middle East, where he grew up. "I am very in tune with all of this. I connect it to architecture, which is art. We try to do that with our developments. We make our designs Artists Sanjay Patel and Selina Eckersall were at Dinner by Design, a pop-up contemporary art and food event, held recently at a local restaurant, in support of the Diabetes Association of Canada. The evening was presented by No Vacancy, a local organization that holds pop-up installations at locations not typically used for art events. | photo by Inger MacKenzie ­ special to the Beaver aesthetically pleasing and pay attention to every detail, colours, landscapes, choice of materials. So, to me, marrying the two is natural," he said. Artists Kyle Tonken and Sanjay Patel were at the recent event, creating new paintings using Bronte Creek Provincial Park as inspiration, as guests watched. Their paintings were part of a silent auction in support of the Canadian Diabetes Association. "I like to spread art at events that aren't typically associated with art," said Tonken. His 100 Billion Sons & Daughters is an ongo- ing series of paintings designed to pay tribute to every person who has ever lived, by expressing the choices they make as works of art. Tonken got involved in the event through No Vacancy, a local arts organization that holds pop-up installations at locations that aren't being used or that aren't typically used for art events. He and Patel both participated in a No Vacancy event at the Waterfront Hotel in Burlington, where each artist transformed a room into an installation. The public was invited to view the rooms at the fundraiser for Halton Women's Place. "I feel the arts community, especially in the suburbs, is in its own world and not associated with daily events," Tonken said. "If the painting goes unseen or the music goes unheard, that is a shame. Participating in these events, especially for charity, makes a statement that the arts community is involved in the larger community." Patel has drawn and painted since he was a child. He studied art at Sheridan College and took business management at Georgian College. He says painting at live events changes the way he paints. "There are so many things I am not in control of -- the noise, the people," he said. "In the studio it can become too contrived. I try to do something different with every painting but in the studio I have to really try do to that. At an event, the differences come about on their own." E L A S Y A D G N BOXI AY ONLY 1 D ER 26TH! B M E C E D GIVEAWAYS ALL DAY INCLUDING.. IPAD MINI'S SPECIAL PRICING THIS ONE DAY! DON'T 1 R O F Y A P YEAR! *on selected m odels. ONLY AT HYUNDAI OF OAKVILLE CUSTOMER DRIVEN Presidents Award of Merit for 12 years *While supplies last. See dealer for details. OAKVILLE FOR OVER PROUDLY SERVING 25 YEARS! 2 5 0 0 S o u t h S e r v i c e R d . W. · 905.845.7791 · www.hyunaiofoakville.ca