News & Events
The Toller Metamorphosis Show @ Interseccion Gallery Fabrica Aurora, February 4, 5-8pm
Hola queridos amigos!
I am super excited to be returning to San Miguel de Allende next week for the opening of a new show at the Interseccion Gallery at Fabrica Aurora.
It is a Toller show with a twist. While Toller is widely known as one of San Miguel’s most celebrated artists, and he is certainly one of its most iconic personalities, in this show of breath-taking photographs, the artist has become the model. The photographs by internationally renowned performance photographer, Cylla Von Tiedemann are remarkable. Although they were taken in the 1980’s, they have have never been seen or exhibited before this year. Like Toller, these photos were very much ahead of their time.
Both the photographer, Cylla Von Tiedemann, and Toronto gallerist Donna Child, will be present for the opening.
Hope to see you at Aurora on the 4th. Big hugs and all best wishes,
Phillippa
8th Annual Memorial Tribute – Remembering Toller Cranston: 1949-2015
Thanks to you all for your love and support.
Phillippa
Hi Everyone,
We are super pleased to let you know that Toller Cranston: The Ice, the Paint and the Passion has just been announced as a Finalist for the Sutherland House Book Prize. The Winner will be announced early in the new year.
We are ecstatic to be in the mix with a fabulous group of contenders. You can read more about the finalists here.
Many of you are aware that the last few years have had their share of challenges. It is very gratifying as this year winds down, to report that the future for Toller looks bright. One might say dazzling. And sparkly.
Thanks as always for your interest and support.
Season’s Best to all.
Abrazos,
Phillippa
This is how the entry is described:
3. Toller Cranston: The Ice, the Paint, the Passion, by Phillippa Cranston Baran.
“If something is worth doing, it is worth overdoing” — Toller Cranston
For millions of people worldwide, there is no need to say Cranston. He was Toller. Creative. Flamboyant. Outspoken. Whether he was winning Olympic medals, painting 20,000 paintings, judging a beauty pageant with Donald Trump, or performing for an audience that consisted only of his friend the Prime Minister of Canada, the King of Jordan, and their wives—he was a true creative force.
For decades, this Canadian icon and internationally recognized celebrity amazed, outraged, and inspired. He showed immense courage in the face of insufferable establishment negativity, stayed true and authentic, spoke up, spoke out, and did the work. He changed a sport. He changed attitudes. He changed lives. He motivated others to be brave, dream big, and chase their destiny.
Much has been written about Toller Cranston. Much has been written by Toller Cranston. Now, from the sister of an icon comes the story of a complex talent who was funny, flamboyant, and deeply human. Toller Cranston: The Ice, the Paint, and the Passion is about more than the extraordinary achievements and legendary battles: it captures the voices of those who knew Cranston, admired him, competed with him, and were inspired by him—a cohort of world and Olympic champions, curators and collectors, LGBTQ artists and performers, as well as a host of colourful characters and fans who intersected with his extraordinary life. Together they reveal the profound and lasting impact that Cranston had and continues to have on other people.
Phillippa Cranston Baran is a former university film professor and award-winning writer/producer. She has a faded scar on her left thigh acquired at age twelve when her younger brother kicked her with his skates because she refused to twirl him.
Canada’s Toller Cranston competes in the figure skating event at the 1976 Innsbruck Winter Olympics. (CP Photo/ COC) Toller Cranston du Canada participe au patinage artistique aux Jeux olympiques d’hiver d’Innsbruck de 1976. (Photo PC/AOC)
Congratulations to the 2022 Toller Cranston Award Winners!
The Canadian Olympic Foundation, along with Skate Canada has announced the 2022 Toller Cranston Memorial Fund Athlete Award winners!
“Artistry. Creativity. Passion. Those are three of the many characteristics that Toller Cranston held on and off the ice.”
“As an esteemed ice skater and passionate member of the community, Cranston urged those around him to celebrate life with the same amount of dedication. As the 1976 Olympic Bronze medallist, his legacy has continued through the creation of the Toller Cranston Memorial Fund, which provides financial support to young skaters who hold the same qualities as Cranston.”
The Canadian Olympic Foundation
Toller Cranston: The Ice, the Paint, and the Passion
NEW BOOK IN THE WORKS !
With his death in 2015 at age 65, Figure skating lost a trailblazer. Canada lost an icon. The creative world lost a creative force. He became a legend. His name is Toller Cranston.
From the sister of a figure skating icon comes the stories of a creative genius who was funny, outspoken, and a fierce advocate for young talent. This book is a celebration of his life, a tribute to the values by which he lived, and a road map for living fearlessly.
PRESS RELEASE – June 12, 2022 Toller Cranston: Metamorphosis
Victoria, British Columbia — The Truth Gym Gallery in conjunction with Donna Child Fine Art Gallery is pleased to present Toller Cranston: Metamorphosis a series of never-before exhibited photographs by Cylla von Tiedemann, one of Canada’s most sought-after performance photographers. The images, recently part ofthe Scotiabank CONTACT International Photography Festival, explore Toller Cranston (1949-2015)—artist, skater, visionary, genius—as the subject, the muse, and the model.
Exhibition Dates: June 15th to July 13th, 2022
Exhibition Opening: Saturday, June 18th from 1-2pm PST (4-5 EDT)
Remarks by:
- Cesar Forero, Gallery Director
- Donna Child, Exhibition Director
- Cylla von Tiedemann, Photographer
- Phillippa Cranston Baran, Special Guest
In the mid 1980’s, at the time of this photoshoot, Toller Cranston was already a Canadian icon. His innovative theatrical style had transformed men’s figure skating into a performance art form that revolutionized the sport and remains relevant today. With his paintings actively sought for public and private collections internationally, Toller had achieved extraordinary success—both athletic and artistic. He was at a pinnacle—preparing to embrace the destiny that would take him in new directions. It was a time of great transformation: a metamorphosis.
Photographer Cylla von Tiedemann, in the early days of her long and successful career, was already a great admirer of Toller. She had agreed to join him in the studio for a photoshoot that became an incredible performance. The spirit and beauty Toller expressed with his body portrayed his moment of metamorphosis.
“Toller was an incredible performer and I could not stop shooting him…I must have shot 15 rolls of film…bang, bang, bang. He’s truly a dancer. His spirit and his beauty are in his body. It’s in every muscle. He has such an understanding of presenting; of bringing that out and performing. He gave me a lot to work with.”
Cylla had arrived in Canada from Germany in the early eighties. As a photographer, she realized that it was the arts that attracted and engaged her—especially the Performing Arts: dance, theatre, and music. She is renowned worldwide for her dance portraiture and live theatre photography and she remains a respected visual designer for the stage.
Her photographs have been exhibited internationally and are part of prestigious private and corporate collections. She has collaborated with artists from Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, and the USA. She has worked with the leading dance and theatre companies in Canada including the National Ballet of Canada, the Stratford Festival, Mirvish Productions, Danny Grossman, and the Toronto Dance Theatre. She teaches photography and has presented creative workshops at multiple universities across Canada. A publication from the National Arts Centrecalled The Dance Photographs of Cylla von Tiedemann, recognizes her contribution to dance photography.
Over the years, she has been represented by the Jane Corkin Gallery, Elaine Fleck Gallery, and the Green Gallery, and she has now joined the Donna Child Fine Art Gallery.
The extraordinary images that comprise Toller Cranston: Metamorphosis, are being exhibited for the first time.
For further information or interviews:
Donna Child – donna@donnachildfineart.com or 416-620-0500
Phillippa Cranston Baran – phillippabaran@gmail.com or 343-540-5910
Exhibition Preview
https://donnachildfineart.com/artists/tiedemann-cylla-von/#toggle-id-2
10% of all exhibition sales will be donated to the Toller Cranston Memorial Fund through the Canadian Olympic Foundation
Truth Gym Gallery
1035 Alston Street
Victoria, BCV9A 3S6
info@truthgymgallery.com
Truth Gym Gallery is a limited membership health club with a commercial art gallery celebrating the body + motion. This is an innovative idea to combine two worlds. https://truthgymgallery.com/art-gallery
PRESS RELEASE – April 14, 2022 Toller Cranston: Metamorphosis
The Artist as Subject, Muse, and Model “Toller was an incredible performer and I could not stop shooting him.” Cylla von Tiedemann, Photographer
Toronto, ON – Donna Child Fine Art Gallery, in conjunction with the Scotiabank 2022 CONTACT Photography Festival, is pleased to present Toller Cranston: Metamorphosis, a series of never-before exhibited photographs by Cylla von Tiedemann, one of Canada’s most sought-after performance photographers. The exhibition explores Toller Cranston (1949-2015)—artist, skater, visionary, genius—as the subject, the muse, and the model.
Exhibition Dates: May 3-31, 2022
Exhibition Opening: Saturday, May 7 from 4-7pm
Remarks at 5pm by:
- Donna Child, Gallery Director
- Cylla von Tiedemann, Photographer
- Phillippa Cranston Baran, Special Guest
In the mid 1980’s, at the time of this photoshoot, Toller Cranston was already a Canadian icon. His innovative theatrical style had transformed men’s figure skating into a performance art form that revolutionized the sport and remains relevant today. With his paintings actively sought for public and private collections internationally, Toller had achieved extraordinary success—both athletic and artistic. He was at a pinnacle—preparing to embrace the destiny that would take him in new directions. It was a time of great transformation: a metamorphosis.
Photographer Cylla von Tiedemann, in the early days of her long and successful career, was already a great admirer of Toller. She had agreed to join him in the studio for a photoshoot that became an incredible performance. The spirit and beauty Toller expressed with his body portrayed his moment of metamorphosis.
“Toller was an incredible performer and I could not stop shooting him…I must have shot 15 rolls of film…bang, bang, bang. He’s truly a dancer. His spirit and his beauty are in his body. It’s in every muscle. He has such an understanding of presenting; of bringing that out and performing. He gave me a lot to work with.”
Cylla had arrived in Canada from Germany in the early eighties. As a photographer, she realized that it was the arts that attracted and engaged her—especially the Performing Arts: dance, theatre, and music. She is renowned worldwide for her dance portraiture and live theatre photography and she remains a respected visual designer for the stage.
Her photographs have been exhibited internationally and are part of prestigious private and corporate collections. She has collaborated with artists from Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, and the USA. She has worked with the leading dance and theatre companies in Canada including the National Ballet of Canada, the Stratford Festival, Mirvish Productions, Danny Grossman, and the Toronto Dance Theatre. She teaches photography and has presented creative workshops at multiple universities across Canada. A publication from the National Arts Centrecalled The Dance Photographs of Cylla von Tiedemann, recognizes her contribution to dance photography.
Over the years, she has been represented by the Jane Corkin Gallery, Elaine Fleck Gallery, and the Green Gallery, and she has now joined the Donna Child Fine Art Gallery.
The extraordinary images that comprise Toller Cranston: Metamorphosis, are being exhibited for the first time.
For further information or interviews:
Donna Child – donna@donnachildfineart.com or 416-620-0500
Phillippa Cranston Baran – phillippabaran@gmail.com or 343-540-5910
Exhibition Preview
https://donnachildfineart.com/artists/tiedemann-cylla-von/#toggle-id-2
10% of all exhibition sales will be donated to the Toller Cranston Memorial Fund through the Canadian Olympic Foundation
2023
- 2023 Galeria Intersección Arte Contemporaneo, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
- 2023 Sub Solo Gallery, Sao Paulo, Brazil
2022
- 2022 Metamorphosis Photography Exhibition, Truth Gym Gallery, Victoria BC
- 2022 Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival, Donna Child Fine Art Gallery, Toronto
- 2022 Donation in Support of Patronato Pro Ninos, San Miguel de Allende, Mx
- 2022 Donation in Support of San Miguel Literary Sala, San Miguel de Allende, Mx
- 2022 7th Annual Birthday, April 20, 1949
- 2022 7th Annual Memorial, January 23, 2015
- 2022 Donation in support of Arts Programming, Biblioteca Pública San Miguel de Allende, Mx
- 2022 Podcast #3Turn3 with Pj Kwong and Haig Oundjian. Skate Ontario YouTube: https://youtu.be/NHubhRcsEW8
- 2022 Canadian Olympic Foundation Toller Award Scholarships Presented
2021
- 2021 Inauguration of the Toller Collection at Biblioteca Pública, San Miguel de Allende, Mx
- 2021 Turkey With Toller, Thanksgiving Fundraiser, Biblioteca Pública, San Miguel de Allende, Mx
- 2021 6th Annual Birthday, April 20, 1949
- 2021 Launch of Yo Inc Entrepreneurship Program, San Miguel de Allende, Mx
- 2021 Podcast, Whistler Rotary Club: Toller: Life and Times, Whistler, BC
- 2021 6th Annual Memorial, January 23, 2015
- 2021 Canadian Olympic Foundation Toller Award Scholarships Presented
2020
- 2020 Donation in support of Children’s Art Foundation Art Auction, Rosewood Hotel, San Miguel de Allende, Mx
- 2020 Canadian Olympic Foundation Toller Award Scholarships Presented
- 2020 5th Annual Birthday, April 20, 1949
- 2020 5th Annual Memorial, January 23, 2015
2019
- 2019 Toller Exhibition, Museum of Northern History, Kirkland Lake, ON
- 2019 Toller Exhibition, Temiskaming Gallery, Temiskaming, ON
- 2019 Stories from the Notebooks: Life and Times, Temiskaming Gallery, Temiskaming, ON
- 2019 Toller Exhibition, Fabulous Florals Exhibition, Artworld Fine Art Gallery, Toronto, ON
- 2019 Canadian Olympic Foundation Toller Award Scholarships Presented
- 2019 4th Annual Birthday, April 20, 1949
- 2019 4th Annual Memorial, January 23, 2015
2018
- 2018 Art Recognition Award, Contemporary Arts Committee, Northern Ontario
- 2018 Toller Exhibition, Prints and Line Drawings, Artworld Fine Art, Toronto, ON
- 2018 Toller Exhibition, Mario Oliva Gallery, Fabrica la Aurora, San Miguel de Allende, Mx
- 2018 Canadian Olympic Foundation Toller Award Scholarships Presented
- 2018 3rd Annual Birthday, April 20, 1949
- 2018 3rd Annual Memorial, January 23, 2015
2017
- 2017 Canadian Olympic Foundation Toller Award Scholarships Presented
- 2017Donation in support of Manitoba Figure Skating Association
- 2017 2nd Annual Birthday April 20, 1949
- 2017 2nd Annual Memorial January 23, 2015
2016
- 2016 World Figure Hall of Fame Inductee, Lake Placid, NY
- 2016 1st Annual Memorial January 23, 2015
- 2016 Toller Open House, Arnprior, ON
- 2016 A Terrifying Obsession Exhibition, Art Evolution Gallery, Calgary, AB
- 2016 1st Annual Birthday April 20, 1949
- 2016 Toller Exhibition, Artworld Fine Art, Toronto, ON
2015
- 2015 Celebration of Life, Art Gallery of Ontario
- 2015 Ice Theatre of New York 30th Anniversary Gala Award, NYC, NY
- 2015 Donation to Ice Theatre of New York, 30th Anniversary Gala
- 2015 Donation to Lindt & Sprüngli (CA) Ltd., 30th Anniversary Gala
- 2015 Children’s Art Foundation Award, San Miguel de Allende, Mx
- 2015 Art Auction in support of Children’s Art Foundation, Rosewood Hotel, San Miguel de Allende, Mx