New arts magazine hosts Halloween concert and market at U of G

ELENI KOPSAFTIS

As a diverse and new Guelph-based collective, the staff from Exhibitionist Magazine were eager to spotlight art and culture and support local initiatives. This past October offered a great opportunity to do just that. With a myriad of musical talent, unique vendors, and vibrant community members, Exhibitionist Magazine launched its Halloween Concert and Market event right here at the University of Guelph.

The event took place in Peter Clark Hall (PCH) on Oct. 27, and other organizations that helped support the concert and market included the Ontario Public Interest Research Group, the Central Student Association, and the Outdoors Club. All proceeds from their pay-what-you-can entry fee went towards either the Guelph Student FoodBank or fundraising for the magazine.

The Exhibitionist officially started in late August of this year following an Instagram post from the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Zo Ross, who wrote "Guelph needs a new art and culture publication. Let's make one."

Ross told The Ontarion that they wanted to lift up the incredible art and culture scene and talented artists of Guelph, and the idea was quickly met with support.

“Art, music, and culture can all create bonds that break down barriers,” said Ross.

“For a long time there has been an invisible barrier between campus and the wider Guelph community that prevents a fulsome exchange of art and culture. The City of Guelph has long wanted students to encourage more students to live here after they graduate and to create a deeper sense of pride in the community for off-campus students”

As such, the Halloween Concert and Market was a chance to bring the Guelph and U of G community together and celebrate some of its bands and artisans. And so, the Exhibitionist welcomed local artists Kat Steeves, Kale, Megan Arnold, and Not a Band with Bodice as a headline to the event. With guitar-heavy punk songs to rock out to and electronic existentialism to vibe to, each artist’s performance fit the spooky fun theme of the event perfectly.

While attendees sat or danced near the stage, the other half of PCH was reserved for the market. Vendors offered a variety of artistic and macabre goods, including bug-eyed plushies, glasswork crafts, graphic prints, tarot readings, and plenty more. Just some of the participating businesses and artists included Dead Things Boutique, Too Old Too Cold Oddities, Liam Reynolds, Soft Squad, Hooper Housewares, and FutureProof Visuals.

At one of the booths, self-published author and Exhibitionsit writer Tristan Dineen was selling signed copies of his Falhorne series, a dark fantasy about facing the past and conquering evil. Dineen also ran twice as candidate for Guelph’s communist party–once in 2015 and again in 2021–and advocates for expanded health services, Indigenous sovereignty, and general human need, according to GuelphToday.

“I was [a University of Guelph student] but it wasn’t when I was in university that I started writing,” said Dineen to The Ontarion. “I was actually working overseas, doing an ESL job in China, and nobody was coming to office hours.”

To fill in the extra time and keep himself sane from boredom, Dineen came up with the prologue to Falhorne: The World is Burning back in 2016.

“You got to be in the right place at the right time. I didn’t know what the hell I was doing and I didn’t have a process, and I do now but that was after years.”

With two books released for the Falhorne series, Dineen now attends the occasional book bash and vendor market, not limiting himself from signing book copies at events hosted by the very magazine he now writes for.

To truly get into the spirit of Halloween, the Exhibitionist also hosted a costume contest. Wandering between the performance stage and market were not only a handful of uncostumed Guelphites, but also Waldo, Wednesday Addams, Thomas the Tank Engine, a literal tech wizard, and lots of witches and pirates.

Digital designer Bobby Raffin won the Best Costume award, receiving a PS5 and a disc version of Horizon: Forbidden West. The Exhibitionist also gave away the new self-titled Bodice EP, one decorative cat skull from Dead Things Boutique, a U of G honey bee necklace from Too Old Too Cold Oddities, a t-shirt from Kat Steeves, and a CD from Meghan Arnold to the runner up.

Ross said that while they would have loved to see more folks in attendance, they’re sure that their events and the magazine will continue to grow.

“We are so thrilled that those who could come out did so. We had people from campus and the community in attendance,” they said. “Many of our team members are undergraduate students, grad students, or recent alumni. We are also proud to have U of G Professor, Dr. Ruth Neustifter on the team as a columnist.”

The Exhibitionist plans on hosting a similar event during the upcoming semester and will be led by the U of G chapter of the magazine as Ross plans to have it become a registered club on campus.

Those interested in getting involved with Exhibitionist Magazine or sharing their art and events to the broader Guelph public can reach out to their Instgram at exhibitionistmagazine or email them at hello@exhibitionistmagazine.com.

You can find issues of The Exhibionist all over Guelph’s downtown core and throughout the city. CREDIT: THE EXHIBITIONIST