“Like moss, my art holds time in suspension. Each painting carries the imprint of my life—work, family, joy, loss—made visible through colour and form. My hope is that viewers don’t just see the work, but feel it.”
Betty White

Join us and step into a world where time intertwines with nature in Betty White's captivating exhibition,
'Moss, Time Made Visible.'

Opening Reception: October 29th, 6-9 PM  
Exhibition Dates: October 29 - November 22  
Location: 1626 Queen Street East, Toronto  

Immerse yourself in Betty White's collection, where art transforms into a vivid tapestry of time and nature. Her work, highlighted by dynamic brushwork and intricate textures, captures the essence of organic growth and the passage of time.

We look forward to welcoming you to Dimensions Gallery for an evening of art, inspiration, and connection.

Artist Statement  

“My journey as an artist has taken me to many places and through many materials— weaving textiles in Brazil, creating woven sculptures in Montreal, and painting in Toronto. No matter the medium, what has always stayed the same is an unending curiosity and a deep connection to nature. That connection revealed itself in an unexpected way when I began noticing moss in my backyard garden. Though moss has existed on Earth for nearly 475 million years, I only recently realized how deeply it mirrors my own relationship to art. As Robin Wall Kimmerer describes, moss often doesn’t die but instead lingers in a kind of suspended animation—waiting, enduring, carrying life forward.

That image resonated with me. My art, too, feels like time made visible. Each piece carries the imprint of my life: work and family, friendship and loss, joy and sorrow. What I create is not just a record but an extension of my own feelings—undying, layered, resilient. My hope is that when someone stands before my paintings, they don’t need explanation or instruction. Instead, they simply feel. That, to me, is the true purpose of my art and of my life as an artist: to give form to emotion in a way that invites others into it—quietly, honestly, and without words."

DIMENSIONS PRESENTS:
Joi Murugavell
TODAY WATCHING YESTERDAY (family reunion)
On until June 19, 2025.

Joi’s dynamic artworks burst with life, featuring distinctive characters that balance playfulness with profound depth. With a Master’s degree in Art and Design from Auckland University and a rich portfolio showcased globally, her pieces are a delightful blend of abstract elements and bold colors. Each character she creates tells a story of human emotions—joy, struggle, and everything in between.

Don't miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in Joi's captivating universe!
Mark your calendars and come celebrate creativity with us!

Artist Statement 

When I moved from Australia to France in 2023 I found a box of drawings I’d made on old business cards in 2013. Feeling stuck and foreign in my new studio I thought visiting some drawings made 10 years ago may spark some sort of familiar comfort. 

The experience of making these drawings reminded me of my first visit to a gynaecologist where a nurse held a torch strategically and helpfully for my doctor. And then I had to ask a question about some ‘thing’ I didn’t feel was right to which my doctor replied ‘You are supposed to have that’. All the while the nurse kept whacking her malfunctioning torch. 

Fast forward a year, I’m in a new studio in Saverne France. I think I’ll be making more drawings for my show in Toronto but that never happens. I had friends come over to stay for a week, some of them slept in my studio, I have a new disco light, we are chatting, we wonder how ten years have passed since we first met and I make large paintings under the influence of disco light and memories.

I wonder what these paintings are about, someone says ‘it looks like an awakening of sorts’ and I think yes! it’s a damn constant thing isn’t it? sleeping and awakening. (whacks torch)

It’s only a month to my solo show in Toronto and I look forward to meeting my cousins. Two of them own the gallery I will be showing with and one of them I’ve had for life. Sometime last year, during a period of questioning how I conducted my ‘business of art’ I felt a huge hint of goal misalignment. I thought back to when I felt more aligned with how I felt and what I did. And two people I’ve never met but have come to call cousins popped up. Ellen and Wendy have run Dimensions Framing & Gallery for 25 years. When I asked them for a photo of them together, Wendy drew me some stick figures and Ellen said she feels her morning brain lets her know when she’s truthful—usually before her ego moves in to convince her otherwise. I asked them for a show, they said yes, I feel more aligned.

As for the other cousin, the one I’ve had for life and call Jon Jon. He walks around with a little flag that he flies (slightly above his head), sometimes shyly and other times boldly. He made this unique flag as a child and keeps fixing its tattered edges. I wish more people would fly their tattered flags with as much pride. 

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who joined us for the opening of WANGDERFUL!

The energy was electric, and your presence made it unforgettable.

We're absolutely thrilled to announce that the fabulous photography you saw at the show is available for purchase through the gallery.

Each photograph beautifully captures drag culture and would be a fantastic addition to any collection.

If you’d like to bring a piece of this vibrant celebration home, please reach out to us!