What a Year!

Come to the Museum of Bad Gifts, plus a look back at 2025

Museum of Bad Gifts is Open

The year started with the Museum of Bad Gifts and it’s ending with it too.

I’ll personally be at the museum every day it’s open at Northern Contemporary Gallery (420 Roncesvalles Ave.) until January 4, from 12 to 3 p.m. The gallery itself is open until 6 p.m., and if you swing by later in the afternoon, Stephanie Avery will be there to greet you.

FYI: We’re closed today and on January 1.

For our inaugural exhibit: our museum showed up everywhere from Smithsonian Magazine to a publication in Poland, alongside coverage in the Toronto Star, CBC, Global, and more.

This time around: a videographer from Agence France-Presse came by on opening night, and since they syndicate internationally, museum coverage appeared all over the place. The clip that was published on AFP also appeared in Barron’s and the National Post.

And the footage was reworked for India Abroad.

And Asia One News.

And Myanmar International.

Thanks to Jorge Uzon for shooting the footage for AFP on our opening day.

Yesterday, Lexy Benedict from Global News returned, after covering the show last year. The same videographer showed up, too. It was fun to have them back, and to see the museum appear on last night’s broadcast.

I also came across an article about the museum published this past July in Creative Thailand, a publication through the Thailand Creative & Design Center.

A Year in Review

Before December disappears entirely, here’s a look back at what else happened this year.

The Beach

There was a Bloordale Beach event with bands performing songs they’d written about the beach, a writer reading her beach-related work, and a screening of the beach films. Following that was a three-month exhibition at Urbanspace Gallery and the release of my photobook, Welcome to Bloordale Beach. I also wrote an essay about the beach project for the anthology Messy Cities.

Josh Mover performing at the Bloordale Beach party, a photo of books, and Bloordale Beach exhibit photos

Gallery 1065

This is where I had a small window display in the summer, which was a sort of extension of my ongoing outdoor projects.

Plus, I led weaving, collage, mini bookbinding, tassel and pom-pom, and crochet and yarnbombing workshops there in the second half of the year—Gallery 1065 is truly the best.

Stay tuned for future workshops.

An Upgraded Abandoned Motorcycle

The College–St. Clarens Motorcycle Garden Pocket was another highlight. Thanks to Geoff Bercarich for the inspiration and Eva Nitsch for the help making it happen. Though a little less colourful than before, it’s still there, despite a reporter contacting the city about it for comment (rookie mistake, apparently!).

Other Stuff

I hosted bingo and gossip, led a ghost walk, hosted a quiz show, and talked to students at OCAD and Bloor C.I. about my projects. I also made time to teach a few piano students. Plus, two weeks spent in New York? The absolute best.

Also, my Unofficial Toronto Landmarks zine and Letters to Spielberg! Those came out too.

The Thing I Haven’t Mentioned

There’s this thing I’ve been working on over the past five or so months. It’s a book related to AI, but probably not in the way you’d imagine. I’ve been busy with this! More on that next year.

Until Next Time

It’s been an interesting year, full of odd projects and unexpected surprises. I don’t doubt there’ll be more in 2026.

Happy New Year!

Yours truly,

Shari K.