Toronto has been all about combining food and drink with other fun activities as of late, and now it’s time for a bit of artistic inspiration. The Vancouver-based art and social lounge Raw Canvas is set to open its first Toronto location by summer 2012.
Eat, drink and make art. Those are the principles behind founder Steve Merkley’s concept, which combines a lounge and wine bar with a painting pit, where patrons can buy a canvas and get to work with provided paint and brushes.
Prior to his foray into Raw Canvas, Merkley spent time as a yoga instructor in Hong Kong. He had no experience in art (grade school art classes aside) when a friend took him to an art studio known as ART JAM.
“I just kind of fell in love with it,” Merkley says. “It was a spiritual moment where I forgot about life and social roles. It kind of locked me into the moment for a few hours.”
That moment made him want to bring the experience back to Canada and craft a venue that would loosen inhibitions and inspire creativity. Vancouver was the natural starting point — Merkley was born and raised there — but he won’t let his personal mission end there.
“I want to reach out to as many people as possible, to get as many people as possible into some kind of awakening, some kind of moment.”
Vancouver’s Raw Canvas boasts a modest menu of ecologically conscious charcuteries, cheeses, desserts and wines, but the focus on art is equally as important. Toronto can expect similar inspirations for the menu, but of course, there will be a local influence.
The look and feel of Toronto’s Raw Canvas won’t be an exact replica of Vancouver’s, but the general concept will be the same. A specific location is still in the works, and while Merkley expects to be in town for several weeks prior to the opening and after, his Toronto partners will oversee the day-to-day operations.
Merkley hopes Toronto patrons will be inspired by displayed works of local artists, along with the general atmosphere and more importantly, the painting pit. Who knows? It could even bring about a moment of spirituality.
