Sunday 4 February 2018

Ice Breakers 2018


For about three weeks in January, we had our normal winter temperatures but no snow. Then on Monday, the snow flurries returned starting in the afternoon, and ended overnight. The next morning, the weather conditions were perfect for my walk to visit the temporary winter art exhibit Ice Breakers 2018.

Ice Breakers is a fairly new outdoor public art event at the Toronto's waterfront. It started last year and was a huge success. This year, the Waterfront Business Improvement Area (BIA) hosted an international competition with the theme "Constellation". It attracted over 100 international submissions. Five designs were chosen, installed, and on display along the waterfront, from January 19 to February 25.

Here's a closer look at the creations that visitors can enter, climb, run around, look through, and use to make music:

1. Root Cabin by Liz Wreford and Peter Sampson (Winnipeg, Canada): The artists sourced 36 cedar roots from a plot of land near Georgian Bay that was being cleared to create Root Cabin. Like a constellation, Root Cabin is a mystery waiting to be discovered. Visitors enter the cabin to see pink coloured cuts of wood through gaps of weathered roots. The log cabin and tree roots reminded me of nature and mountains, as well as safe sheltering from winter elements.

Root Cabin

2. Black Bamboo by Bennett Marburger and Ji Zhang (Hanzhou Shi, China): Black Bamboo is made from 90 black painted bamboo poles, freely arranged to form a framework in an abstract cubic shape. The artists wanted viewers to use and interpret it as they please. Visitors can observe from a distance, look at it as a sculpture about constellations, walk inside and feel the space, or climb on top of it. I liked how the bamboo poles looked random yet they formed a sturdy structure.

Black Bamboo

3. Winter Fanfare by Thena Tak (Vancouver, Canada): Winter Fanfare is a series of orange rotating fan-sculptures or pinwheels. It's meant to emphasize the importance of every star in a constellation, whether it's in the centre or at the edge. The artist wanted people to be able to meander through the installation, or sit on it, or run in and around it. I liked the sense of equality of this installation, and the colour orange which is about creativity and social connections.

Winter Fanfare
 
4. Through the Eyes of the Bear by Tanya Goertzen (Calgary, Canada): Inspired by the Great Bear constellation, the artist wanted to create something inviting and playful. She used molded fibreglass covered in a red, soft, fleecy material to create this installation. Visitors can enter from the back of the bear's head to see the world "through the eyes of a bear", or to consider how humans interact with nature, or to imagine what it's like to be a bear. The bear looks so much better with some snow on it. I love that red and white are the colours of Canada's flag, plus polar bears are one of Canada's many attractions.

Through the Eyes of the Bear

5. Ensemble by Joao Araujo Sousa and Joana Correia Silva (Porto, Portugal): The artists were influenced by the constellation Lyra, said to depict a bird carrying a lyre. Ensemble is a labyrinth of 350 pipes that was installed right by Toronto Music Garden. The artists hoped to bring more life to the Music Garden and show that, even in the winter, public art can be fun and engaging. I liked the sounds made when people played with this installation, or when there was a light breeze.

Ensemble

I'm loving where I live for the sunshine, the waterfront trail, the ever changing lake view, powder fresh snow, beautiful and free public art.

How about you? What are you loving today?

45 comments:

  1. This is awesome, how long is it sticking around for? I'm actually going to Toronto in a couple of weeks! I can't wait! #LifeThisWeek

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    1. Until February 25. Hope you'll get to see the art installations. Thanks, AA in SF, for your comment.

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  2. It is always so interesting to see what you have posted from your part of our world! Thank you for joining in #lifethisweek 6/52. Next week's optional prompt is "Who's a Worrier?".

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    1. Thank you, Denyse, for your comment and for hosting the link up. I find it interesting to read what bloggers from other parts of the world are posting, too.

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  3. Hi, Natalie - Thank you for this art tour on the Toronto Waterfront. I have visited each of the cities that the artists are from, so that gave me an extra connection. What a wonderful winter display!

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    1. Thank you, Donna, for your comment. The connection when we see a name of a place that we've visited (and hopefully had a great time) is a nice extension of our travel experience. The trip is over but the experience continues. I like it :)

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  5. I LOVE art installations. Thanks for sharing this one. I wouldn't have guessed that Black Bamboo is sturdy enough to climb on. It looks so fragile, like the results of a pick-up-sticks game.

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    1. My pleasure to share this one, Karen. I touched the Black Bamboo and the structure felt strong and sturdy.

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  6. We don't have snow Natalie where I live in Brisbane, Australia. The Ice Breakers exhibition is wonderful and I enjoyed looking at your photos. In Australia we have 'Sand Sculptures' during February and they are amazing as well.

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    1. I'd love to see the sand sculptures, Sue. I like that our seasons are opposite which make our blog stories interesting. Thanks for stopping by. We'll link up again on Wednesday.

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    2. Hi Natalie, welcome to the second #MSTL link party. I hope to see the sand sculptures again this year so will definitely show you the photos. Thanks for your support with #MSTL and see you at the next link up.xx

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    3. Thank You, Sue, for hosting the link up. Look forward to your next post and the sand sculpture photos when you have them.

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  7. Love Toronto! The sculptures are a magnificent addition. My favorite is 'Through The Eyes Of The Bear'. Would love to have a look through the inside 😍

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    1. Curious minds think alike, Lisa...I had a look through the inside, more than once :) Thank you for dropping by.

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  8. Toronto keeps amazing me, Natalie - what a wonderful, exciting and ever-changing place to live. I love that the art work is interactive. Incredible that the bamboo structure, while "freely arranged to form a framework in an abstract cubic shape" is strong enough to climb. And, who wouldn't love the bear exhibition? I like all the meanings and intentions about that work of art.

    Right now, I am loving the climate in San Diego, and its waterfront, whenever I get to it.

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    1. San Diego climate is pretty perfect year-round, Liesbet. Hope you get to go to its waterfront often. Local news reported that in 2017 Toronto had a record 43.7 million visitors. I've greatly enjoyed living here.

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  9. I love Canada, but have never ventured west of Toronto. Someday . . .

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    1. Thanks, Michele, for visiting and commenting. I'm glad you love Canada :)

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  10. Right now I'm loving your photographs. What a wonderful event. I was hoping to see the ice castles in Midway, Utah this year, but the weather has been so warm here, they closed early. Maybe next year!

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    1. I'm glad you like my photos, Christie. The ice castles would be amazing to see. Thank you for dropping by.

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  11. I love art installations like this. The winter fanfare and the last one Ensemble. How great do they look amongst the snow? :)

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    1. They really look more striking with the fresh snow. Thanks, Alicia, for dropping by.

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  12. What a wonderful art tour. I'd love to visit Toronto. Outside art exhibitions are such fun. I love the 'ensemble' one. In Perth we have a sculptures by the sea public art exhibition each year.

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    1. Thank you, Jo, for visiting and commenting. Glad you liked the virtual art tour. The Ensemble installation is very neat as we can play music with it.

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  13. Wow, that looks so cool. Great pics.

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    1. Thank you, csuhpat1, for your visit and compliment.

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  14. They look really interesting - we have Sculptures By the Sea where international sculptors erect their artwork for public viewing on a popular beach - it's a great drawcard for locals and tourists. Thanks so much for linking up with us on #MLSTL and I hope you enjoy commenting and sharing on some of the other posts.

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    1. Thank you, Leanne, for hosting the link up. I appreciate yours and Sue's efforts. Look forward to your next post.

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  15. I love Toronto, but haven't been for many years. This looks like a great way to spend a day. Thanks for sharing :)

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    1. Thank you, Cherie, for visiting and commenting. It was wonderful to be outdoors enjoying the sunshine, walking on fresh snow, and checking out the art installations.

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  16. I am very guilty of holing up in the winter and not getting out. It is such a hassle with snow and ice and cold to contend with. Then I feel homebound. This would be a great type of activity to get out and experience some fun in the winter.

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    1. I agree with you, Michele, that these art installations are great to get us outside in the winter and have some fun. I usually check the weather and if it's not severe, I dress in layers and head out for a walk, especially on sunny days, to enjoy the blue sky and keep the "winter blues" away. Thank you for dropping by.

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  17. One thing I'm learning from your posts Natalie, is what an interesting and artistic city Toronto is. I have friends who live there, but I'd never heard of this side of the city from them. Thankyou. #TeamLovinLife

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    1. My pleasure to share, Jo. I enjoy arts so I seek them out. These art exhibits are free to the public and they're winners from an international competition so I'd like to show my support to the artists by visiting and promoting their works.

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  18. Wow - so pretty and I feel the cold just looking at the photos. So different to my part of the world, in Brisbane Australia where it is hot, hot, hot! #TeamLovinLife

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    1. Thanks, Min, for dropping by. I enjoy the season for its temporary uniqueness as it can be quite hot and humid in Toronto in the summer, too.

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  19. It's so hot in Perth right now, I would love to see some snow. Great images.

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    1. Thank you, Raychael, for visiting and leaving a comment. Sounds like it's hot all over Australia.

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  20. Oh wow, so beautiful and a world away from our summer heat. I've actually only ever seen snow once - when I was in NZ in the mid-late 1990s and there wasn't THAT much of it but I got to go out in it so that was exciting for me.

    I always say I love winter but have to admit I haven't had to survive a real winter.

    I love these installations - Black Bamboo is probably my fave! #teamlovinlife

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    1. It's fantastic that you've got to experience snow in NZ, Deb. Our opposite seasons make our blog stories and pictures interesting. Thanks for dropping by.

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  21. Wow, I love this concept Natalie! The snow adds to the magic of the sculptures :) #TeamLovinLife

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    1. Thank you, Lyndall, for your visit and comment. The fresh snow is a very nice touch, plus it's a winter art exhibit after all :)

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    1. Thank you, betty-NZ, for your visit and comment. I know some readers may have never seen snow. The fresh snow is really nice on the art installations. I'll visit your blog.

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