DesignTO Tours: Material Memory

This walking tour invites you to explore artworks that reflect ongoing dialogues between artist, object, and environment. Moving through the neighbourhood, you’ll encounter works that have been added to and layered over time and across generations, highlighting how material practice becomes a vessel for memory, care, and interconnection.

The tour starts at ‘Hope and Healing Canada – A Journey Towards Decolonization and Reconciliation’ (with Tracey-Mae Chambers) located at 40 St. Clair Avenue West, followed by  ‘Connections’ (with Cherie Leung) located at 55 St. Clair Avenue West, and ‘Close Your Eyes, Heal in a Parallel World’ (with Firouzeh Saremifar) located at 95 St Clair Avenue West, all within a short walking distance of each other. 

Following the tour, attendees are encouraged to visit the other artworks in the neighbourhood, including ‘Beneath One Sky’ (2. St Clair Avenue West), ‘Nature’s Frequency’ (30 St. Clair West),  ‘Many Colours, One Sky’ (1521 Yonge Street), and  ‘STRATA’ (1521 Yonge Street). 

SPEAKERS

Tracey-Mae Chambers

“I grew up as a stranger to my own story; adopted and re-named, grafted into a new family tree. The discovery in adulthood of my Metis heritage was a revelation that set me on a path of discovery. I work in the powerful tradition of the vessel as a metaphor for individuals; we fill and re-fill ourselves throughout life to create our own story. My developing story is an indigenous heritage woman and her quest for harmony with the natural world. Nature not only inspires my forms but provides the substance of my sculptures. Working in beeswax as a sculptural medium is a concept I have developed based on the tradition of encaustic painting. This special medium is wonderfully pliable and responsive when heated and results in a finished object with a delicate scent and a soft, magical, tactile quality.”

Cherie Leung is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Toronto. She is currently completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts from OCAD University, after achieving previous degrees in Psychology and Criminology (Hons. BSc.) and Legal Studies (MA). Cherie’s work builds on her life experience, and she uses her practice as a means of self-discovery.  Intertwining elements of traditional craft is prominent in her work, especially after a recent residency in Oaxaca, Mexico. Cherie’s work has been featured in numerous exhibitions in the Greater Toronto Area.  Her academic achievements have been recognized in the form of scholarships from OCAD University and the Government of Canada.

Firouzeh Saremi Far is a visual artist based in Toronto, Canada. Her artistic practice is an ongoing exploration of the intersections between human experience and environmental influences, reflecting different themes of identity, transformation, and resilience. Drawing inspiration from the emotional intensity of Expressionism and the limitless forms of Abstract Art, her works seek to invoke a dialogue on human matters. 

___

‘DesignTO Tours: Material Memory’ is organized by DesignTO, and supported by the Yonge + St. Clair BIA. The DesignTO Festival is supported by the Government of Ontario and the City of Toronto.

About DesignTO

DesignTO is a charitable arts organization celebrating 16 years of designing a sustainable, just, and joyful future. From January 23-February 1, 2026, the DesignTO Festival features 100+ free events and exhibitions across Toronto, showcasing hundreds of artists and designers. As Canada’s largest annual design festival, DesignTO has welcomed over 1 million attendees, reached 2.6 billion people through media, supported 7,000+ artists and designers, and generated $159 million in tourism impact since 2011.