By James Rayner
Every two years, Toronto hosts the Toronto Biennial of Art in various locations around the city, open this year until June 5th. Its theme is “Water knows, the Land Remembers” a theme based on the relationship between Toronto’s many streams, Lake Ontario, and the land bordering these bodies of water. Several locations for the exhibits were centered around Perth Ave. and Stirling Road, just east of the Bloor St. W. and Dundas St. W. intersection.
We took the subway to the Dundas West station, crossed over to the GO station and walked through it up to the West Toronto Rail Path, a route for walkers and cyclists that runs beside the railway tracks.
We then headed north on the trail toward Dupont St. On the way, there are some examples of graffiti to admire.
At Dupont St., we took the stairs from the trail and walked east to Perth Ave., continuing south on Perth to 45 Ernest Ave. – The Arsenal Contemporary Art Centre. Here are some of the exhibits on display there. Unfortunately, there isn’t room to show them all or to describe them but these are a good representation; perhaps they will awaken your curiosity and you will want to see them in person.
Walking back to Perth Ave., we turned south toward Bloor St. where we crossed over at the traffic lights at Symington Ave. South of Bloor, you can see the next gallery to visit at 72 Perth Ave. It used to be an evangelical church but is now slated for demolition as huge residential developments are taking place in the area.
This is an “encarnacion” sculpture, popular in the Philippines, modeled after Justin Bieber(!)
Below is a mural called “Cast A Shadow”.
The barrels represent how goods travel around the world.
Our last stop was the Museum of Contemporary Art in the recently restored factory building at 158 Stirling Rd., a couple of blocks from Perth.
The main exhibit shown below was by Jeffrey Gibson, a multi-media artist.
I am sorry that I can’t show any more of the exhibits, but those shown might encourage you to go and visit the Toronto Biennial of Art Public Programs which end on June 5th. Admission is free.
To learn more about the exhibits available:
Probus Club of Kingsway-Islington 