Three-dimensional, faceted hands standing three metres high; glowing, modular boxes from Denmark; and oversized, camouflaged massing models will each mark Toronto?s Waterfront in January as part of a brand new public art exhibition entitled Ice Breakers.
A collaboration between The WBIA and the founders of Winter Stations ? the popular, annual art competition held along Toronto?s East End Beaches ? Ice Breakers was conceived to inspire exploration of the urban Waterfront in the colder months.
?Design is a powerful motivator,? says Roland Rom Colthoff, principle at RAW design and a Winter Stations co-founder. ?The Waterfront is one of Toronto?s busiest communities in the summertime but, like The Beach, it can be under-appreciated as temperatures drop. Like Winter Stations, Ice Breakers is an interactive celebration of public art. We want to nudge Torontonians back outside and inspire them to keep engaging with the city.? Whereas Winter Stations is a response to the open vistas of Ashbridges Bay and Kew Beach, Ice Breakers takes its cues from the commercial history of the harbour. The name Ice Breakers is inspired by the utilitarian ships once used in Toronto?s harbour to break up frozen bodies of water, keeping commerce flowing into and out of the City. The name is also a testament to the power of design, bringing strangers together and sparking dialogue.
?Following the completion of the revitalized Promenade, we wanted to bring an interactive and design-centric event to the...