Friend of a Friend Episode 9: Tanya Read, artist, curator and musician

Mr Nobody, a character created by Tanya Read

I first met Tanya at our family’s annual Boxing Day gathering. She had met my cousin Scott in Italy where some of the Ontario College of Art’s students were on a year of study abroad. Tanya was so cool and sweet and interesting, and I liked her right away.  But I didn’t understand, until later, just how accomplished and productive she is.

Since Tanya graduated from OCAD in 1995 she’s been active in the Toronto art community, not just creating her own critically acclaimed work, but also founding an artist collective; running a storefront gallery with her partner in life and art, my late cousin Scott; and serving on the board of a small gauge/ 8mm film festival.
She also plays bass and in the band 'Ethel and the Mermen.'

• You can find out more about her  and her work at her website.

• The documentary about Toronto independent art collectives is called Collective City and it’s on YouTube.

There’s more music by Ethel And the Mermen on Bandcamp.

Tanya Read and Scott Carruthers in front of Scott’s work at the Katharine Mulherin Gallery.

Music Played in this episode:

Theme: Ali Berkok, “The Wolf,” from his album Never Get Lost for Long
Bandcamp

Ethel and the Mermen, “Spring Chicken,” Bandcamp.
Lyrics: Tanya Read; bass, lead vocal: Tanya Read; guitar, maracas, vocal: Danny Bowden; drums, vocal: Scott Carruthers.

Ethel and the Mermen, “Somewhere to Go,” Bandcamp
Lyrics: Danny Bowden; guitar, lead vocal: Danny Bowden; vocals and Bass: Tanya Read; Scott Carruthers, drums, vocal: Scott Carruthers.

Tanya Read, bass and Scott Carruthers, drums, performing as Ethel and the Mermen. Photo credit: Maureen Carruthers.