Fiona Smyth's new show The Parkdale Gyre reveals a supernatural horror whirling its' way into existence in this Toronto neighbourhood. Opposing forces of undetermined moral stance duke it out in the “Milky Way”. An abyss is threatening to swallow the district whole. Is it a construction site or a portal to another dimension?

The Parkdale Gyre continues catastrophic themes found in Smyth's recent solo shows but with a decidedly metaphysical bent. These new drawings and paintings on black grounds exemplify the sea of troubles that inspired this work. Gyres are circular flowing oceanic systems found in the great oceans. Recent news reports about The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an island of plastic refuse caught in a North Pacific gyre, informed this work. This unintentional floating garbage dump is a manifestation of our collective greed. More inspiration came from the Irish poet William Butler Yeats' ideas about the dual nature of humanity.

The Parkdale Gyre stands in opposition to change and displacement but it's vortex threatens to pull us into its' version of chaos.

Exhibition runs thru November 22, 2009