Signs of Sunshine
Todd Burton de Koker - Biography
Born on August 14th, 1972 in Royal Oak, Michigan Todd moved to King City, Ontario with his family in 1985. His youthful passions for skateboarding, snowboarding, biking, Hip Hop, Punk Rock and Reggae were an early introduction to the worlds of design, graphics and alternative art as forms of expression. These passions also sparked an early interest in health, wellness and the environment as well as the geographic, socio/political and economic situations that shape our world. Todd explores his passions through an enormous variety of traditional and modern media, playing with and fusing his interests in drawing, painting, collage, sculpture, printing and photography, with the skills and processes of commercial graphic design and traditional folk arts and crafts. He currently works in his downtown Toronto home/studio, where he lives with his partner Elana and their two cats. This is Todd's second public exhibition – his first show began on the Fall Equinox of 2007 in a barn/gallery in the Caledon countryside. It seems fitting that this second exhibition happens during the Spring Equinox in the heart of the city that is his home. Todd continues to draw his creative inspiration by connecting the Sun and the cycles of the seasons to the rural and urban energies/environment in which he lives.
"Sol Studios is, in many ways, a visual journal of my path of discovery to the significance of the Sun [SOL] and its many interconnected relationships to both our physical being and our spiritual being [or SOUL]. I explore this through the many literal, figurative and symbolic references to the Sun (light, spark, fire, etc.) that are present throughout the history of our collective human experience. The Sun (our Star) is truly one thing all of us on this earth have in common. Although it is a crucial necessity to our existence – it is often overlooked. My visual studies and explorations are a celebration of the divine creative energy that is our Sun, and the larger story of the Stars and the Universe. The variety of materials, media and imagery I choose to work with plays a key part in my attempts to illustrate, recreate and radiate the idea of just how intimately connected we are to the energy of the sun and the stars. Another key element in my expression of these ideas is the Sol Studios symbol. On the most simplified level this "logo" is representative of the Sun and Soul, and of the study/synthesis of the connections between the two (combining the two "S's" from Sol Studios). I visually interpret and express the basic geometry, form, meaning and history of this simple shape in a multitude of ways, playing with and exploring the layers of meaning and interconnection. It may appear to be subtle and hidden, or loud and revealed ñ moving, growing, imploding and exploding, radiating, burning and glowing. These various experiments and explorations in materials, media and imagery ñ together with the seemingly endless interpretations, permutations and repetition of the symbol – can be viewed as expressions of the Sol and the Stars as well as our individual and collective spiritual energy or So(u)ls.
My goal with Sol Studios is to radiate the love and joy you feel on a beautiful sunny day. I want to share my passion for creating, and my love and respect for all creation. Through this work/play I hope to express and share this idea of admiration and reverence for the creative energy of the Sun. Our Sun is truly one thing that we all share in common. Uniting and igniting us in our brilliant individuality and connecting us to all ages, cultures, genders, animals, minerals and vegetables that share in the creation of this planet we call home."
Todd Burton de Koker
