Discover four exciting installations in the Yonge + St. Clair neighbourhood that explore ideas of connectedness. On this walking tour with DesignTO, hear from installation creators artist Lauren Pirie, art and design collective Interspatial, artists and designers Chris Foster and Layne Hinton, and global architecture firm Gensler.

In her soft-sculpture and lighting installation ‘A Long Story II’, artist Lauren Pirie illuminates humanity’s inherent interconnectedness and simultaneous yearning for connection. Natalia Bakaeva and Mark Francis of art and design collective Interspatial explore the opportunities within interstitial urban spaces in their project ‘Inverted Valleys’. Repurposing takeout container lids, Chris Foster and Layne Hinton’s ‘Front of House’ plays with natural light and interior architecture, causing visitors to see the space through shifting perspectives. Gensler similarly repurposes materials, using manufacturing off-cuts to form a colourful forest in their installation ‘Arborescent’. Through this project, the firm aims to make visible the connection between our own use and reuse of everyday materials and a sustainable future.

Gensler is the world’s largest architecture and design practice, with offices in 47 locations around the globe. With a focus on bespoke, community-centric design, Gensler’s Toronto office has been lucky enough to work on several projects around the St. Clair intersection, including 2 St. Clair East, the current work at 2 St. Clair West, and several public benches and podium installations along the street.

Environmental urbanists Natalia Bakaeva and Mark Francis are Toronto-based designers, installation artists, and the founders of Interspatial. Their art and architectural design are focused on animating interstitial urban environments, and facilitating autonomy in the making of personal and public spaces.

Chris Foster is a multidisciplinary visual artist and designer based in Toronto. His artwork takes many forms including public installation, sculpture, design, printmaking, and collaborative projects. Working across disciplines, his work engages conversations about material culture, architecture, and the built environment.

Layne Hinton is a multidisciplinary artist and independent curator based in Toronto. Through analog projection, sculpture, installation, video, drawing, and printmaking, her artwork examines architectural forms, geometric structures, and the way in which line, light, and shadow play with these spaces. Continuing her exploration of space, Layne is a curator for Art Spin, an organization that presents site-specific projects and exhibitions in unique spaces in transition.

Lauren Pirie is a multidisciplinary artist, art director, and curator with an interest in environment, immersive experience, and socially-engaged art. She’s curated collaborative art experiences, large community events, and intimate gallery shows. Her work includes a range of media and scale exploring environment in relation to connection, desire, and healing.

The walking tour starts at 1pm in the lobby of 55 St. Clair Avenue West.

‘DesignTO Tours: Connection Points’ is generously supported by the Yonge + St. Clair BIA.

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