This walking tour invites you to take a closer look at three installations on display in the Yonge + St. Clair neighbourhood. With firsthand insight from the artists and designers behind the projects, delve deeper into the installations, their stories and how they came to be.

The tour starts at ‘Santuario’ (with Oliviana Cinco) located at 45 St. Clair Avenue West, followed by ‘At what point does irrational thought become rational?’ (with Eric Lachance), and ‘Golden Beauty Supply’ (with Ehiko Odeh), all within a short walking distance of each other.

Following the tour, participants are encouraged to visit the other installations showcased in the neighbourhood, including ‘BoomBoom’ (40 St. Clair Avenue West), ‘Nature’s Child’ (2 St. Clair Avenue West), and ‘Could you take a picture?’ (30 St. Clair Avenue West).

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‘DesignTO Tours: Space & Sanctuary’ is organized by DesignTO, and supported by the Yonge + St. Clair BIA, the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund and the Government of Ontario.

DesignTO is a non-profit arts organization that brings people together to design a better future, one that is more sustainable, just, and joyful. We curate exhibitions, presentations and educational programming to increase the public’s knowledge and appreciation of design.

SPEAKERS

Oliviana Cinco is an interdisciplinary artist and creative director based in Toronto. Currently, her work explores the processes of personal development in relation to the interconnectedness of media, communication and the environment. Combining mixed media techniques and principles of ecology, she uses her research to translate the parallels between man and nature, interpreting subject matter to distinguish between the organic and technological self. Cinco earned a double-major Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts and Communication Media and Film from the University of Windsor (2019).

Eric Lachance is based in Toronto and operates within mediums spanning spatial, furniture, and product design. After graduating from the Toronto Metropolitan University with a Bachelor of Architectural Science, he delved into visual arts. His work questions the intersection of human activity and the built environment, as well as the historical significance of objects and iconography. Instead of seeking definitive solutions, Lachance operates as an investigator, employing series, permutations, and chance to explore his ideas and concepts.

Born in Lagos, Nigeria and now residing in Toronto, Ehiko Odeh is a multidisciplinary artist deeply rooted in mysticism and playfulness. Graduating from OCAD University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Creative Writing minor, she has facilitated workshops with Toronto’s Poet Laureate, Lillian Allen, and debuted solo exhibitions “Ochu’lu O’oya – CelebratingCeremony” (2019) and “Our Hair Holds Memories” (2023) at BAND Gallery. Her paintings have been exhibited at The Gladstone House, LagosStreetSouk Festival, Kolkata’s Academy of Fine Art, India, Xpace Cultural Centre, and Nicholas Metivier Gallery, among others. Noteworthy involvements include working with HERMÉS Canada, HAVANA CLUB Artist In Residence, and commendable commissions such as “Realised, Re-imagined: Art as Activism” for Foodshare Toronto. Currently, Ehiko is an artist in residence at the Living Arts Centre, Mississauga and earned recognition from the Member of Parliament for Richmond Hill.