A preview of Good Sport's studio tour
CREDIT: NINA HEPPLEWHITEGood Sport is an artist-run gallery and studio with the goal of developing and exhibiting emerging London artists, located at 402 1/2 Richmond St., just south of Dundas St.
Good Sport is an artist-run gallery and studio with the goal of developing and exhibiting emerging London artists, located at 402 1/2 Richmond St., just south of Dundas St. The studio has been open since 2015, when it was opened by Dickson Bou and Jason Hallows, the owners of N+1 Cycle. The space was originally located at 256 Richmond St. but was moved to its new location in 2020 after issues with the rental space came up.
Artists as the studio “naturally come and go,” as Jacqueline Demendeev, one of the artists currently at Good Sport put it. “That makes it a really cool space. And we’ve kind of survived some of the more formal spaces in London,” they said. “Ultimately, we’re always looking to create and support and exhibit our own art as well as artists from the community.”
This is the fourth year the studio tour has run, running twice in the old space, before a break due to the pandemic, then once in the new space.
“We’re really excited to be able to show off the three new artists who joined us this year. So if you came last year, you’ll be able to see something new this year.”
Twelve artists will be involved in the studio tour, each with their own style of art. Demendeev said people can expect to see painters, illustrators, digital art, and sculpture. Demendeev themself is a cartoonist, and said the variety of art is representative of the variety of people in the studio.
“We all believe that art and creativity is kind of for everyone. So we invite everyone in and we have such a huge variety of people who get involved and who make art with us.”
Guests attending the tour will be able to walk through the space and meet some of the artists involve. They can also purchase art pieces and gifts and participate in some community activities.
Demendeev added that the tour was a great way to get involved in London’s art scene.
“If I wasn’t involved in the arts, I’d still be really excited to go because it’s such a behind the scenes look at not just a lovely building in our downtown core, but also a behind the scenes look at what art is in London.”
They added that students are encouraged to come out, as students are a big part of London’s community, even if some plan on leaving London once they finish their schooling.
“We love connecting with our community and this is how we do that. I really feel like art is for everyone. So opening up our space is a free way to be able to do that.
More information about the upcoming studio tours can be found on Good Sport’s Instagram @beagoodsport.
