Artists Lead The Bentway’s “Summer of Play”

Exploring how “play” can help drive our urban recovery, The Bentway presents a neighbourhood-wide program of playable public art installations, playful moments, talks, and audio experiences.

Double Dribble by Esmaa Mohamoud; photo by Julian Romano.

July 8, 2021 [Toronto, ON] The Bentway launches Playing in Public this summer, a collection of outdoor and online artist-led projects that rediscover “play” in the city. Driven by partnerships with creatives, residents, local business associations, public spaces, and civic leaders, the program includes 8 art installations, a connective Play Path, roaming and audio experiences, and more.

Playing in Public takes inspiration from the deeply intertwined relationship between play and public space. From playgrounds and basketball courts, to interactive signage and apps that map the city in new ways – play exists both within the boundaries of built public spaces and outside of them. Artists, designers, and planners have long used games to ask questions about the city – investigating new approaches to education, navigation, identity, and history. How does play change the way we feel and interact in public space? How has the nature of play changed in a post-COVID city?

Installations are open now and include work by Daily tous les jours (Montreal), Esmaa Mohamoud (Toronto), Assemble (UK) Studio F-Minus Toronto), Thomas Mailaender (France) and Erik Kessels (Netherlands), Pierre Poussin (Toronto), The Street Society (France), Nelson Wu and biosphere (Toronto), Stuart Semple (UK), and Bekah Brown (Anishinaabe; Toronto). Playing in Public spreads out across “The Bentway and beyond” into local parks, public spaces, and sidewalks throughout the Fort York, CityPlace, Niagara, and Waterfront communities. Participatory and “playable”, it has been designed to offer COVID-safe engagement for local residents to explore their city in new ways.

“COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of public space as a site and source for play, physical activity, and well-being” says Ilana Altman, Co-Executive Director of The Bentway. “This is even more pronounced in dense, high-rise urban communities, like the ones near The Bentway, where access to adequate public space is limited. The artists, designers and creative partners involved in this season are giving us a glimpse of an urban future where play has reshaped our shared spaces for the better.”

Walk Walk Dance by Daily tous les jours; photo by Jack Landau.

Playing in Public includes:

• Walk Walk Dance by Daily tous les jours (Montreal)
  Open now through July 24 — Fort York Visitor Centre, 250 Fort York Blvd
• Double Dribble by Esmaa Mohamoud (Toronto)
  Open now — The Bentway, 250 Fort York Blvd
• Big Red by Assemble (UK)
  Open now — The Bentway, 250 Fort York Blvd
• Nil:Nil by Studio F-Minus (Toronto)
  Open now — The Bentway, 250 Fort York Blvd
• Play Public by Thomas Mailaender (France) and Erik Kessels (Netherlands)
  Co-commissioned with the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival
  Open now — The Bentway Studio, 55 Fort York Blvd (next to Canoe Landing Park)
• Jax by Pierre Poussin (Toronto)
  Co-commissioned with Concord Adex
  Open now — Under the Gardiner at Dan Leckie Way
• Dream Street by The Street Society (France)
  Co-presented by TAS
  Open now — 125-133 Niagara St
• Midsummer Mix Vol. 1 by Nelson Wu (Toronto) and biosphere (Toronto)
  Co-presented with the Waterfront BIA
  Open now — South side of Queens Quay West (Bathurst St to York St)

Play Public by Thomas Mailaender and Erik Kessels; photo by Jack Landau.

Connective wayfinding linking the installations together:

• An interactive Play Path that guides visitors through the neighbourhood and offers opportunities to “play the city” with engaging interventions on local sidewalks, bridges, bike rings, and building faces, and six (6) “Tiny Games” developed with the Hand Eye Society
  Open Now

Roaming experiences:

• Audio playcasts offering reflections on play in the city with: Britta B. (spoken word artist); Dan Iaboni (parkour practitioner; founder of The Monkey Vault); youth in conversation with Urban Minds
  Available July 3
• A joy-inducing, smile-spreading pop-up by Stuart Semple (UK) that reminds us how play can help us through our toughest times.
  Various (secret) dates and locations
• Artist residency with Bekah Brown (Toronto; Anishinaabe) exploring Indigenous traditions of recreation, culture, and sport as tools for resistance, healing, and reconciliation
  Throughout the summer
• Toronto-based Retro Rolla will offer paid roller skate rentals onsite. Pre-registration is required. Visit retrorolla.com for more information. 19+ visitors are also invited to a post-skate sip next to the Skate Trail on Saturdays later this summer, courtesy of Smirnoff Berry Blast.
  Opening June 19, Thursdays to Sundays at The Bentway, 250 Fort York Blvd

Online talks co-presented with World Urban Parks and 8 80 Cities:

Featured guests include: Alex Bozikovic, Mitchell Chan, Jen DeMelo, Adil Dhalla, Tim Gill, Alexandra Lange, Melissa Mongiat, Amanda O’Rourke, Janie Romoff, and Luis Serrano
On July 13 and September 7

Big Red by Assemble; photo by Jack Landau.

Please play safe:

Playing safe is our priority. We encourage the public to safely explore this exhibition.

Please use the installations as intended. Do not climb to unsafe heights or take other unnecessary risks. Actively supervise any children under 10.

Please be COVID safe and follow all current public health guidelines:

COVID-19 is a fast moving and complex situation, please stay tuned to our website and social media for all COVID-19 announcements relating to Playing in Public.

PRESENTING PARTNERS:
City of Toronto, the Waterfront BIA

SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Concord Adex, TAS, Fort York National Historic Site, Cossette, Craft Public Relations, Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival

The Bentway’s local neighbours, artists, and play partners.

SUPPORTERS:
Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, Government of Ontario, Ontario Arts Council, Balsam Foundation, Fondation DRG, Park People Public Space Incubator, TD Bank Group, RBC, The Michael Young Family Foundation, The Hal Jackman Foundation, The McLean Foundation, Partners In Art, Smirnoff, CityPlace Fort York BIA, Consulate of France

Playing In Public is presented as part of ArtworxTO: Toronto’s Year of Public Art 2021-22.

thebentway.ca
250 Fort York Blvd.
hello@thebentway.ca
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The Bentway is an open and accessible space.