Benner Leif Designer Goldsmith, Toronto, ON

When considering the debate of nature vs. nurture I would say I'm a product of both. The visual arts it would seem are in my blood. Growing up in a family of artists made for an interesting childhood and I was encouraged as a maker at a very early age. Working alongside my father while he made his sculpture, I enjoyed creating my own objects from the scrap wood I found on the studio floor. In pursuit to continue my artistic endeavors, I discovered the Jewellery Arts program at George Brown College. Within the first few days of the program I knew that metal was going to prove to be an exciting, challenging and rewarding medium. After graduating from George Brown's three-year program as an award-winning honours student, I was accepted as an Artist in Residence in the metal studio at the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto. In my three years in the Harbourfront studio I grew as an artist and was able to refine my technical skills, participating in several group shows at the Centre's galleries, as well as the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition at Nathan Phillips Square and Christmas craft show and sale at Scotia Plaza. I also began to exhibit and sell my work through galleries and shops across Ontario and in the U. As my custom designed jewellery began to take off, the next step was to move to my own studio space. After some research I learned that Artscape, a non-profit organization that creates space for the arts while building communities and revitalizing neighbourhoods, was beginning to renovate space in The Distillery Historic District. I applied and was accepted to take one of the working/retail studios on the main floor of the Case Goods Warehouse. The Distillery is proving to be a good move. The energy and excitement onsite is contagious as the artist community here pulls together to make it a must-see Toronto destination.