Symbiosis Collective

Founded in 1992 by Michael Alstad and Steve Topping, Symbiosis was a Toronto artist collective that operated on the fringes from 1992 to 1997. Rooted in the raw and culturally experimental spirit of 1990’s Toronto, they staged guerrilla-style, site-specific exhibitions in abandoned buildings — spaces like the old ornate headquarters of the Temperance Society, an abandoned cosmetic surgery clinic, and a defunct bank. The collective unearthed layered histories and reassembled them into new visual narratives. Their interventions invited audiences to engage in an active dialogue between artwork, site, and the shifting cultural and spatial landscapes of the time.

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Exhibition Gallery

The Bank of Symbiosis: Jaxon McDade 'Modern Homes for the Nuclear Family' Bank of Symbiosis: Michael Alstad - GROWTH Symbiosis - The Clinic: Veronica Verkley Symbiosis - The Clinic: Steve Topping The Bank of Symbiosis - Jhave performance Symbiosis - The Clinic: RM Vaughan Symbiosis - The Clinic: Hannah More Symbiosis - The Clinic: Harold Alegria Ortiz The Bank of Symbiosis: Harold Alegria Ortiz Symbiosis The Clinic: Harold Alegria Ortiz Symbiosis - The Clinic: Hannah More Symbiosis - The Clinic: Michael Alstad 'Beauty Bags' Symbiosis - The Clinic: Michael Alstad 'Beauty Bags' detail Symbiosis - The Clinic: Michael Alstad Symbiosis - The Clinic: Marc Hohman Symbiosis - The Clinic: Maureen Raike Bank of Symbiosis: Janet Hethrington Michael Alstad Jaxon McDade Bank of Symbiosis: Jhave Jaxon McDade Symbiosis - The Clinic: Steve Topping The Bank of Symbiosis: Veronica Verkley The Bank of Symbiosis: Steve Topping The Bank of Symbiosis: Mathieu Beausejour 'Symphony' Bank of Symbiosis: Steve Topping 'Paranoia as Private Loop' Bank of Symbiosis: Martha Eleen 'Virtual Money' The Bank of Symbiosis: Jhave 'The Book of Pain Grace & Perseverance The Bank of Symbiosis: Dara Gelman 'Hold Up' Bank of Symbiosis: Leslie Peters Jerelyn Hanrahan Mathieu Beausejour Bank of Symbiosis: Barbara Greczny Bank of Symbiosis: Harold Alegria Ortiz 'Dynasties' Bank of Symbiosis Bank of Symbiosis: Brian Wagner 'Excerpts from the Museum of Currency' Symbiosis2 - Michael Alstad 'The Grief Room' Symbiosis2 - Michael Alstad 'The Grief Room' Symbiosis2 - Shawna Gnutel 'Phone Sex Booth' Bank of Symbiosis: Susan Cosco - performance in the vault Bank of Symbiosis: Barbara Greczny 'you are being watched' Bank of Symbiosis: Michael Alstad 'Take Heart' detail Bank of Symbiosis: Michael Alstad 'Take Heart' Bank of Symbiosis: Opening - Jerelyn Hanrahan Gesture as Value Bank of Symbiosis: Jerelyn Hanrahan Interview Bank of Symbiosis: Ken Hayes 'Safety Deposit Box' Bank of Symbiosis: opening reception Bank of Symbiosis: opening reception Bank of Symbiosis: opening reception - Jerelyn Hanrahan Leslie Peters Mathieu Beauséjour Bank of Symbiosis: opening reception Bank of Symbiosis: performance - Katrin Bowen Bank of Symbiosis: Mathieu Beausejour 'La Symphonie des Portefeuilles' Bank of Symbiosis: Bart Harnett Symbiosis - 511 King: Ted Dudas & Judy Juhasz Bank of Symbiosis: performance - Katrin Bowen Bank of Symbiosis: opening reception Bank of Symbiosis: performance in the vault - Susan Cosco Bank of Symbiosis: opening - Jerelyn Hanrahan with NCR reps Bank of Symbiosis: performance - Katrin Bowen & Co. Bank of Symbiosis: opening - Mathieu Beasejour explaining his interactive installation Bank of Symbiosis: performance - Jhave 'Burn your Money'

Promotional Material

Symbiosis2: The Great Hall The Bank of Symbiosis: Press Release Symbiosis: The Clinic - Press Release Symbiosis: The Clinic - Catalogue Launch Party Squeeze Club The Bank of Symbiosis: postcard Bank of Symbiosis: poster Bank of Symbiosis Catalogue: page 2-3 Bank of Symbiosis Catalogue: page 4-5 Bank of Symbiosis Catalogue: page 1 Bank of Symbiosis Catalogue: page 14-15 Bank of Symbiosis: catalogue cover - essays by Sally McKay & Harold Alegria Ortiz 1997 Bank of Symbiosis: Catalogue Launch + Video Screening Programme Bank of Symbiosis: Catalogue Launch + Video Screening - press release Symbiosis - The Clinic: artist's book - Harold Alegria Ortiz Steve Topping Symbiosis - The Clinic: artist's book - RM Vaughan Harold Alegria Ortiz 1995 Symbiosis - The Clinic: artist's book - Ted Dudas Marc Hohman Symbiosis - The Clinic: artist's book - Janet Hethrington 1995 Symbiosis - The Clinic: artist's book - Katrin Bowen 1995 Symbiosis - The Clinic: artist's book - silkscreen type on black sandpaper cover. design by Harold Alegria Ortiz. essay by Michael Holmes 1995 Symbiosis - The Clinic: artist's book - Veronica Verkley Hannah More 1995 Symbiosis - The Clinic: poster April 21 - May 13 1995 Symbiosis - The Clinic: Catalogue Essay Michael Holmes - April 1995 Toronto Symbiosis - The Clinic: Catalogue Essay Michael Holmes - April 1995 Toronto Symbiosis 2: Artist Book - Camille Turner 1993 Symbiosis 2: Artist Book 1993 - Steve Topping 1993 Symbiosis 2: Artist Book Cover 1993 Symbiosis 2: Artist Book - Maureen Raike 1993 Symbiosis 2: Artist Book - Paola Poletto 1993 Symbiosis 2: Artist Book - Barbara Greczny 1993 Symbiosis 2: Artist Book - Shirin Mohtashi 1993 Symbiosis 2: Artist Book - Judy Juhasz 1993 Symbiosis 2: Artist Book - Bartley Harnett 1993 Symbiosis 2: exhibition card - Nov 6 - 13 1993

Press

Symbiosis - The Clinic: review Oliver Girling - Eye Magazine April 27th 1995 Symbiosis - The Clinic: review - Donna Lypchuk Xtra Magazine April 21 1995 Bank of Symbiosis: Review 'Participatory Democracy' Gillian MacKay - The Globe and Mail October 11 1997 Bank of Symbiosis: Review - Espace Sculpture John Grande Winter 1999 Bank of Symbiosis: Review - John Grande Espace Sculpture Winter 1999 Symbiosis The Clinic: Review - Virginnia MacDonnell Matriart Volume 6 Number 2 & 3 1996 Symbiosis The Clinic: Review - Virginnia MacDonnell Matriart Volume 6 Number 2 & 3 1996 Symbiosis The Clinic: Review - Virginnia MacDonnell Matriart Volume 6 Number 2 & 3 1996 Bank of Symbiosis - Mix Magazine fall 1997

SYMBIOSIS COLLECTIVE EXHIBITION CHRONOLOGY

SYMBIOSIS – 511 King Street West, Toronto
December 12-20, 1992

The opus exhibition took place in the crypt – a basement in an old office building which once housed Saturday Night Magazine. Narrow hallways, vaulted rooms and dark cubby holes and niches served to exhibit artwork dealing with notions of displacement, shelter, underground aesthetics and animality.
Artists:
Michael Alstad, Steve Banks, Jeffrey Burns, Ted Dudas, Erosia, Mitchell Fenton, Barbara Greczny, Bartley Harnett, Jhave, David James Johnson, Judy Juhasz, Larissa Kostoff, Steve Manning, Jerry Mar, X. Mark, Neil Mercer, Hannah More, Steve Topping, Veronica Verkley, Liza Vespi, Brian Wagner, Sasha Wentges

SYMBIOSIS 2 – 1087 Queen Street West, Toronto
November 6 – 13, 1993

For the second exhibition the collective took over two floors of the Great Hall – a nineteenth century building that once housed the Royal Templars of Temperance and The YMCA. During the three week run twenty five rooms, including hallways and washrooms, were used for installations and artworks. The opening reception performances and fundraiser for the People With Aids Foundation featured Wind May do Damage, Darinka Blagaj, Sky Gilbert and Mongolia.

Artists:
Michael Alstad, Phil Anderson, Ted Dudas, Steve Banks, Shawna Gnutel, Erosia, Steve Manning, Maxine Tyndall, RM Vaughan, Veronica Verkley, Maureen Raike, Prevert Rosenquist, Steve Topping, Liza Vespi, Brian Wagner, Camille Turner, Barbara Greczny, Paolo Poletto, Jerry Mar, Bartley Harnett, Janet Hethrington, Judy Juhasz, Shirin Mohtashami

SYMBIOSIS – The Clinic 215 Victoria Street, Toronto
April 21 – May 13, 1995

Symbiosis took over a site that had previously been occupied by The Institute for Restorative, Cosmetic & Liposuction Surgery, whose owners saw the urgency to relocate following the negative publicity and subsequent inquest into the death of their patient Toni Sullivan.

The Clinic was the first opportunity for Symbiosis to present a unified perspective on themes of the body and medical ‘health’ industry. The space was turned into a virtual clinic with most of the abandoned surgical equipment and some patient files incorporated into the artist’s works. Limited edition hand silkscreened artist books were created and distributed by Printed Matter and ICA Bookshop and Artexte. Opening night performances by Katrin Bowen & RM Vaughan.

Artists:
Michael Alstad, Katrin Bowen, Steve Banks, Ted Dudas, Barbara Greczny, Bartley Harnett, Janet Hethrington, Marc Hohman, Jhave, Judy Juhasz, Hannah More, Maureen Raike, Charles Taylor, Steve Topping, RM Vaughan, Brian Wagner, Veronica Verkley

THE BANK OF SYMBIOSIS
Ontario Hydro Building, Oct.2 – 25th, 1997

The Symbiosis Collective and four guest artists collaborated in a project that explored the complex economic and emotional relationship between bank and client, institution and individual. Launched at a former Royal Bank Branch, The Bank of Symbiosis became a repository of ideas about ‘economy’ and surplus. Artists’ working in video, sculpture, bookworks, websites, photo based art, installation, performance and guerilla pamphletering explore the social and psychological dynamic of banking and the architectural presence of banks and bank interior design. True to the Symbiosis Collective’s mandate, the actual bank space itself is, in business rhetoric, “a team player” in the exhibit. Opening night performances by Katrin Bowen & RM Vaughan.

Artists
Michael Alstad, Katrin Bowen, Martha Eleen, Dara Gellman, Barbara Greczny, Martha Eleen, Bartley Harnett, Janet Hethington, Jhave, Jaxon Mcdade, Harold Alegria Ortiz, Leslie Peters, Paola Poletto, Maureen Raike, Steve Topping, RM Vaughan, Veronica Verkley, Brian Wagner

Guest Artists:
Mathieu Beausejour
Ken Hayes
Jerelyn Hanrahan
Victoria Stanton