In 1993, Francesca Vivenza proposed the formation of a new collective (BVW). She approached Allison Bindner, J. Lynn Campbell, Roland Jean, Nobuo Kubota, David McClyment, Ian Rubenzahl, Yvonne Singer and W. Mark Sutherland, artist members of the Workscene Gallery (1974-1995). At the time, the Canadian government was promoting Canadian artists internationally through specific government funding programs. This coincided with the mandate of the new collective which intended to showcase site-specific Toronto art on the international and regional stage. As part of the international program, BVW included an invitation to local Italian and German artists to participate in their projects.
BVW was an itinerate collective without a permanent gallery space. The acronym BVW refers to the Toronto Broadview subway station close to Vivenza’s home where the artists met. The name BVW (Broadview Collective) reflects the diversity of the artists’ backgrounds and practices. Exhibitions included painting, works on paper, sculpture, installation and performance.