Winter Stations Exhibition

As there were snow flurries over the weekend (FREAKIN' WHAT?! IT'S MAY!) I thought it was appropriate time to revisit my trip to The Beaches in Toronto in early spring to explore the Winter Stations.

I arrived on a weird weather day as I switched from my sunglasses, to hood up, to umbrella, to sunglasses in the span of an hour as I walked the 3km shoreline. But this was the final days of the short run art installation and I was determined to see it, having missed out last year. (Laziness. Pure laziness)

'What are Winter Stations?' I hear you ask. Winter Stations is an outdoor exhibition to celebrate Toronto's winter waterfront landscape. Located from Balmy, Kew, and Ashbridges Bay beaches along Lake Ontario in a Toronto neighbourhood known simply as The Beaches, the artists have used the life guard stations as the armature for many of the installations.
It ran for roughly a month; Feb 15-Mar 20, 2016.

The theme for the 2nd annual exhibition was Freeze/Thaw, inspired by last year's wicked temperatures at the same time and how the weather didn't stop Torontonians from getting out there.

This is an open competition and the winners are invited to build their proposals for the exhibition period.

No damage is allowed to come to the life guard stations themselves and artists must be aware of the limited security to the pieces and the possibility of vandalism or general ''wear and tear from the curious'' (favourite line from the website!)

#steamcanoe by OCAD University Found here 

#inthebellyofabearby Caitlind Brown, Wayne Garrett, and Lane Shordee found here

 #flow by Calvin Fung and Victor Huynh found here

 #floatingropes by MUDO (Elodie Doukhan and Nicolas Mussche) found here

 #lithoform by Ryerson University found here

#auroraborealis by Laurentian University found here

Winter Stations is certainly a way to celebrate this Canadian landscape that usually only gets noticed in the warm months (unless you are a dog walker).

I was glad to have been there on such a moody day too, just look at those angry clouds. I couldn't stop photographing them, but I did have to finally give up when the off and on rain showers turned into hail.

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Lumiere London 2016

While I was visiting England, I was lucky enough to be in London the same weekend as Lumiere. So with a downloaded map and a vague notion of where I was heading and what I was going to see I hit the streets of central London.

If you've never heard of Lumiere before, that's okay (no judgement here. That would be a weird thing to judge you on, really if I was going to judge you, it would more likely be on what your wearing right now. I mean, pjs at this hour?) Started in Durham in 2009 it's the world's largest light festival and this year, London took part and according to the website there were 1 million visitors to the free event! (It did seem to be a bit crowded!) 

Spread over the neighbourhoods of King's Cross, Leicester Square, Piccadilly, Regent Street, St. James' and Carnaby, when the sun set, the lights turn on and you were free to explore the 30 artists outdoor (mostly) light installations. It ranged from simple light displays to timed light shows. 

It did remind me of Nuit Blanche which I attended last year. My favourite part of the Toronto event where the ones outside, where there were no queues. Since almost all of these were out of doors there was very little waiting despite the throngs and we managed to see 22 of the 30 installations. We didn't manage to get to them all because they don't keep the lights on very late. 

Enjoy this photo essay of my tour, but you must go yourself next year as my static, camera phone, images just don't dazzle the way they did IRL.

Les Voyageurs (The Travellers)by Cédric Le Borgne

Sanctuaryby Sarah Blood

Brothers & Sistersby Ron Haselden

Lightbenchesby Bernd Spiecker for LBO LichtBankObjekte

Spinning Night in Living Colourby Elaine Buckholtz

I Haven't Changed My Mind in a Thousand Yearsby Beth J Ross

195 Piccadillyby NOVAK

Luminéolesby Porté par le vent

Eléphantastic

Garden of Lightby TILT

Centre Point Lights

Neon Dogsby Deepa Mann-Kler

Plastic Islandsby Luzinterruptus

IFO (Identified Flying Object)by Jacques Rival

Dressesby Tae gon KIM

Litre of Lightby Mick Stephenson, Central Saint Martins, UAL, MyShelter Foundation

Shaida Walking. 2015by Julian Opie

1.8 Londonby Janet Echelman / Studio Echelman

Aquariumby Benedetto Bufalino & Benoit Deseille

Keyframesby Groupe LAPS

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