Harbourfront Centre presents a series of exhibitions exploring intersections between making, material and culture.

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Objects for Adaptation and Resilience
East Vitrines
Curated by Kate Tessier

A collaborative exhibition between curator and current artists-in-residence at Harbourfront, presenting work responding to the ideas of adaptation and resilience.

Kate Tessier is a graduate of OCAD University with a penchant for lighting, material reclamation and developing new work as part of a collaborative curatorial practice under the name Kilowatt Kate.

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Salvage
BIG Vitrine
Coolican & Company with Calla Haynes

‘Salvage’ tells the story of a collaboration between Coolican & Company and textile designer Calla Haynes. Part material biography, part lesson in furniture anatomy, it communicates a shared commitment to sustainable design.

Founded by Peter Coolican in 2015, and joined by partners Nathan Clarke and Stephen Dalrymple in 2018, Coolican & Company is Toronto’s first small-batch furniture design and fabrication studio. In addition to their growing direct-to-consumer furniture collection, Coolican & Company designs custom furnishings for hospitality, retail and other luxury interiors.

Paris-based designer Calla Haynes grew up in Toronto and studied Fashion Design at Parsons School of Design in New York. After working for several luxury houses in Paris, she launched her namesake label in 2009. Placing the ready-to-wear line on hiatus in 2015, Calla focused her attention on collaborations with diverse high-end brands around the world both as a textile designer and design consultant. Calla is particularly passionate about design projects that support craftsmanship, uplifting artisans while recycling textiles.

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Laura Donefer – Amulet Baskets
South Vitrines
Curated by Melanie Egan

Laura Donefer is an exuberant and extraordinary individual who has created boundary-pushing work for over forty years. She is an inimitable force with a career that is a testament to the impact she has had on the glass community worldwide, whether as an artist, teacher, mentor, curator, organizer or advocate.

Born in Ithaca, NY, but raised in rural Quebec, Donefer studied sculpture at the National Art School of Cubanacan in Havana (1973) and graduated with honours in Literature and Languages from Dawson College (1975) and McGill University (1979). Donefer studied glass at Sheridan College (1985) and was an artist-in-residence at Harbourfront Centre (1985-89).

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The opening reception for ‘Material Practice at Harbourfront Centre’ coincides with the DesignTO Launch Party on Friday, January 24, 2025, from 7-11pm. Tickets are required to enter the building during this time.