Experience Winter Art at Toronto’s Woodbine Beach

TORONTO – Now in its 12th year, the Winter Stations public art exhibition adds some colour to what can be called a white, chilly Canadian winter.

This year’s theme, Mirage, encouraged artists and designers from across the globe to submit ideas for installations that challenge the line between what is visible and what is real in our AI-driven age, as well as to explore public art as an essential part of infrastructure, according to a release.

Three winning designs were chosen from Canada, the U. S., and Germany-Ukraine out of 300 entries worldwide, along with two installations created by local universities.

Since 2015, Winter Stations has provided winners with all materials needed, fabrication support, and a $2,000 honorarium to assist with what often marks their first public art project.

This competition relies on sponsorship from various organizations such as RAW Design, kg& a, Northcrest Developments, the City of Toronto, Mechanical Contractors Association of Ontario, Ontario Association of Architects, Micro Pro Sienna, Feeley Group, Sali Tabacchi Brand & Design and Meevo Digital.

This year’s exhibit on Woodbine Beach kicked off on Family Day and will remain open until March 30.

Here are your winners:

CHIMERA by Denys Horodnyak (Ukraine) & Enzo Zak Lux (Germany)

Horodnyak and Lux operate a creative practice based in Berlin. Horodnyak is an emerging architect whose background spans architectural design and installation work along with spatial research and urban planning.

Lux functions as a multidisciplinary architectural designer.

Their art piece was developed in collaboration with the Mechanical Contractors Association of Ontario.

Fabrication was managed by Courtney Chard, a pipe welder at Multi Tech Trades Corp and member of UA Local 46. She is also a metal artist who creates unique pieces out of her workshop in Georgetown, Ont.

Embrace – Will Cuthbert (Canada)

Cuthbert is an art director and 3D artist currently living in Saskatoon but has roots as a lifelong east-ender from Toronto. He serves as the art director at Wealthsimple.

Cuthbert previously won Winter Stations in 2022 for The Hive alongside Kathleen Dogantzis.

JOEL GALE – Embrace is an invitation to behold and to be held. A prismatic reflection of the warmth and light of the day.

His installation was created in partnership with Northcrest Developments along with their programming director Alana Mercury.

“Will’s art embodies the playful and uplifting warm embrace that people crave during the winter months,” says Mercury. “We were delighted to premiere his piece at YZD as part of our annual Hangar Skate event so thousands could enjoy this optical illusion while skating around the vibrant hands.”

SPECULARIA – TORNADO SOUP: Andrew Clark (USA)

Clark is an interdisciplinary designer based in Portland, Maine who creates site-specific projects under his brand TORNADO SOUP.

JOEL GALE – SPECULARIA houses five framed openings facing the lake each revealing a blend of “deception and reality.” One opening depicts truth while others show parts of surroundings stripped away from context causing confusion about distance and direction.

His installation will be constructed using Micro Pro Sienna treated lumber which has been sponsored for six consecutive years now.

“This showcases our wood uniquely while also demonstrating its durability,” says Jana Proctor marketing manager timber specialties.

University Installations

Crest – University of Waterloo: Clay te Bokkel Isabella Ieraci Matthew Lam Sasha Rao Simon Huang Oskar Peng David Shen (Canada)

The students at University of Waterloo designed this installation to look like just another pile of driftwood washed ashore when viewed from afar. As you get closer though the geometry turns into waves gradually revealing itself according to their release statement.
JOEL GALE – Crest emerges from sand snow appearing like sweeping wave positioned moments before breaking it invites visitors gathering pausing sharing fleeting reality akin crashing waves against shoreline.

Glaciate – Toronto Metropolitan University Department of Architectural Science (Canada) together with Ming Chuan University School of Design (Taiwan): Finn Ferrall Nicholas Kisil Marko Sikic Vincent Hui

The students faculty supervisors collaborated designing Glaciate creating corridor vertical polycarbonate panels filled lake water nearby forming ice lenses.
JOEL GALE – Glaciate employs aspects local landscape producing visual illusions manifesting both within outside structure.

As water freezes thaws these panels transition through phases visibility shifting opacity clarity appearance overall transformation taking place.
“From outside red lifeguard stand never fully revealed or concealed,” states release note.“It appears fragmentarily outlines fleeting flashes red beach surroundings conjuring mirage effect.”

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