This past summer Yonge + St. Clair was home to nine unique brain sculptures as part of the Toronto wide art initiative titled The Brain Project. As part of the initiative, Yonge + St. Clair was the title sponsor for the ‘People’s Choice Award’ which allowed the public to vote for their favourite brain sculpture which would have been designed by a talented group of artists, celebrities and thought-leaders from across North America.

This year’s People’s Choice winner was Eden Bender, whose sculpture titled ‘Connect/ Disconnect’ brought in over 3800 votes! We recently sat down with Eden during her exclusive private dinner provided by BUCA and The Delisle Space (as one of her two winning prizes) and asked her about the inspiration behind Connect/ Disconnect and why she chose to be a part of The Brain Project.

What was your creative thinking process behind Connect/Disconnect and how long did it take to create this sculpture?

I wanted to symbolize some of the challenges one faces with ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder). This sculpture required three weeks to produce with periods in between for drying. The first step was to create the contours of the brain and allow for it to dry. The pods were individually flocked and then applied to the surface of the brain. The flocked pods were then attached one by one to the brain.

Connect/Disconnect references Autism Spectrum Disorder and how the ASD brain experiences the world, sometimes in isolation. How have you captured this reality in your sculpture?

I selected the colour blue because of its emotional impact. There is an implied sadness but blue also represents the sky and the sea. These are symbolic of the need to feel grounded. The blue is also a cool colour that creates a distancing effect, symbolizing the isolation a person on the spectrum might experience. The flocking has a very soft surface that draws you in to touch. Sensory stimulation is very calming for those with ASD. The pods represent memories that in a normal brain connect as a point of reference and help to define appropriate behaviours but these pods remain disconnected.

Your work is heavily influenced by the adversity of the human condition. Was this theme always the motivation behind your sculptures and paintings, or has it
evolved over time?

I think I have always been intrigued by the ability to overcome hurdles in life. Everyone has their own trials but it is how we learn to overcome them that I try to depict in my work. I think part of being human is having flaws and the inner strength it requires to challenge them, our resiliency. My years of volunteer and community involvement have inspired most of my work and tell a story of inner strength. We have all at some point in our lives felt defeated, but success is defined differently for everyone. Part of my work is to demonstrate positive reinforcement to others including a kind of mantra for myself.

Have you always worked in this medium, or did you begin your career as an artist producing other types of work?

I have always loved discovering new materials that best relay my concepts. I studied Fine Arts majoring in painting, sculpture, and drawing. I have worked with bronze, wood, silver, oils, acrylics, resin, wax, steel, industrial waste, and more but I still enjoy researching and taking courses on new materials and techniques.

Is this your first year participating in The Brain Project? If so, what excited you the most about this city wide initiative?

It is my first year participating in The Brain Project. I have had many family members and friends who suffered from a brain disease and so it is close to my heart. The number of youth afflicted with mental illness and an ever growing population of elderly will leave us in a crisis for resources to provide proper care. We need to build more facilities like Baycrest to meet the demand. This venue has reached a large audience and has been a great way to engage the public with issues surrounding the brain. Hopefully it will inspire others to support this cause and realize the urgency.

What role do you think public art plays in sparking conversations or raising awareness about particular health or social issues?

I think The Brain Project is an innovative example of how we can start conversations. Public art is an excellent way to stop people in their tracks on the way to work voluntarily.

You exhibit some of your work at Muse Gallery – a neighbourhood gallery here at Yonge + St. Clair. Can you tell us about some other current projects that are underway and what we can expect from you in the near future?

I have been exhibiting in this neighbourhood for many years and there are so many art lovers and supporters here. It is one of the many attributes of this community. I am currently working on several projects, one of which is a sensory exhibition inspired by ASD. I am creating sensory sculptures and spaces that challenge traditional living spaces. I am a firm believer that as our needs change, we also need to adapt our homes, schools and work spaces to meet them. I am also in the process of making a participatory installation that explores the impact of acts of kindness.

Yonge + St. Clair is home to many different art forms, what compelled you to participate in this project and what initiatives are you excited to see in the area?

The world around us has a great effect on our mental stability. It is great to see that there is an effort to maintain historical low rise buildings and green spaces incorporated into the neighbourhood. I look forward to more site specific art initiatives.

Thanks Eden!

For more information on The Brain Project please visit www.brainproject.ca

We were lucky enough to get the very busy Josh Cooper, president and CEO of the Baycrest Foundation, to answer some of our questions about this year’s The Yogen Fruz Pinkberry Brain Project, which is on now until the end of August here at Yonge + St. Clair.

Take a peek below to learn more about this incredible art initiative, and how it brings awareness to brain health here within the City of Toronto.

Q: In its third year now, what was the motivation for starting The Brain Project in 2016 and how did this initiative come to life?

The Brain Project is the brainchild of Baycrest Foundation donors who wanted to spark discussion about brain health, inspire the creation of thought provoking works of art and raise funds for Baycrest. The initiative came to life in 2016 with 100 amazing artists who designed brains, in the medium of their choice, depicting the many ways in which the human brain is perceived and how brain health is crucial to our overall well-being.
Since its inception in 2016, notable participants in the Project have included Michael Bublé, John Mann, Peter Mansbridge, Mr. Brainwash, Kim Kardashian, Kurt Browning, Emanuel Pavao, Bruno Bilio, Alec Monopoly, David Drebin, Sarah Farndon and Joe Carter.
Last year, The Brain Project raised more than $2.3M for Baycrest – that’s $2.3M towards helping people live better with Alzheimer’s disease; and towards helping education and support programs at Baycrest for the caregivers who are on the frontlines of brain health care, looking after family and loved ones.

Q:  A city wide public art installation at the core of this initiative. Why did Baycrest choose art to start the conversation about brain health, rather than other fundraising efforts?

Art is infused in so much of what we do at Baycrest. Through a holistic view of what it means to age well, we have a better understanding of the vital importance of engaging in activities that bring meaning and purpose and tap into our strengths and creative abilities.

From creating conversation, to triggering memories, connections, creating beautiful art work and interacting with other people, art has been used as a form of therapy at Baycrest to help with recovery and also as a tool to help people stay healthy, active and engaged.

With art playing such a large role in our care, it was a natural fit to have it be the vehicle for such an important initiative.

Q: Over 700,000 Canadians are living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. Do you think brain health and aging is misrepresented in the mainstream news and media? If so, what common misconceptions still exist about Alzheimer’s that are not factual?

Over the last few years, brain health and aging-related issues have increasingly made their way into our news and media. However, we still have a long way to go to make these issues mainstream.

Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias impact us all – directly or indirectly. The oldest baby boomers are turning 72 this year and the seniors care sector is already facing unprecedented demand and difficulties. These challenges will rise dramatically over the next few decades and take a very serious toll on families and society at large.

The biggest misconception is that you don’t have to worry about your brain health or aging until you are an older adult. This is wrong. In fact, Baycrest research continues to show us that the earlier we begin to take preventative measures, the better our odds for improving outcomes for our population’s brain health.

Q: Baycrest is a global leader in brain health and aging. What is your primary research focus and what role does The Rotman Research Institute play in this process?

The Brain Project serves as a critical vehicle for fundraising in support of world-class care for older adults and research into aging and brain health being conducted at Baycrest’s world-renowned Rotman Research Institute, where our scientists and researchers are working to discover ways to delay the onset of dementia.

If we can delay the onset of dementia by just five years, we could reduce its incidence in the population by about one third.

Q: The Brain Project has raised $2.3 million to-date. How much do you hope to raise this year and where will the funds directly go?

Funds raised through the Brain Project will help our Baycrest scientists continue to advance our understanding of the best ways to delay the onset of dementia.

Q: Yonge + St. Clair is a new location for The Brain Project this year and is home to many public art initiatives. What goes into the selection process of the brain locations?

We like to partner with companies who share our vision of promoting awareness for brain health, helping to amplify our exhibit in order to reach new audiences, getting more people to think about their brain health. We are thrilled to have Yonge + St. Clair as a new location this year and can’t wait to see which artist will win the Yonge & St. Clair People’s Choice Award!

Q: Ten years from now, how far do you envision The Brain Project going? Is this an initiative you hope to execute in many cities and communities worldwide?

As an organization, Baycrest has innovated for 100 years. We’re proud to be celebrating our centennial this year. It’s hard to say what the installation will be in ten years but our vision is about the impact. We aim to make brain health top of mind, reaching more and more people – whether we are empowering them to impact their own future or the future of others by supporting initiatives like The Brain Project.

Q: What do you hope people take away from this initiative and are there resources online where people can learn more about brain health and aging?

We hope this initiative will encourage everyone to consider their own brains in much the same way we consider our hearts, kidneys, livers, lungs and overall body health. That is to say: the brain also responds positively to a healthy lifestyle, creativity and interaction. It is never too early to take action.

For more information, visit www.baycrest.org

To learn more about the unique brain sculptures we have here in the neighbourhood, CLICK HERE

Attention designers and artists! Are you looking for space for the 2019 Toronto Design Offsite Festival (TO DO)?

The Yonge + St. Clair BIA has partnered with TO DO and is offering a number of local venues to showcase your creative project. Venues are free of charge, and also cover the exhibitor registration fee.

Join the Festival to become a part of an exciting network of creative people, exhibitions, events, and a captive audience of designers and design-lovers. Last year, TO DO had 100+ events and exhibitions across the city, 140K+ visitors, 95+ million press impressions, and 500+ million total brand impressions. From design talks to experimental installations to prototypes to opening parties and curated exhibitions, the Festival featured the work of over 800 artists and designers.

If you have a project you’d like to showcase, then we want to hear from you!

By submitting to this call for guest artists/designers, you agree to produce a creative project to be showcased at Yonge + St. Clair during Festival Week, January 18-27, 2019. The duration and type of participation is entirely up to you. We’re excited to learn about your creative ideas in your submission, due Friday, September 14, 2018.

Here is an outline of what’s possible:

– A window installation runs the whole Festival Week, and is visible to the public 24 hours a day from the outside of your venue. Depending on the space, the installation may also be viewable from inside your venue during regular business/gallery hours.

– An event runs one day during Festival Week, for a set period of time. Events can include a talk, a product launch, screening, or a workshop.

– An exhibition runs more than one day during Festival Week. It is visible to the public during regular business/gallery hours, and may include a window component. It can start before Festival Week, and end after Festival Week. It may also include an opening or closing reception, or artist/designer’s talk.

Host venues commit to paying the Festival registration fee, and provide the venue free of charge to the artist/designer.

Host venues will be confirmed by September 14, at which point selected artists will have the opportunity to choose their top 3 venue options.

As the artist/designer, you are responsible for all costs related to creating, producing and mounting your creative project. You are also responsible for collaborating well with your host venue, which includes communicating the details of your project, including all logistics, with the owner/manager of the host venue, and coordinating the project’s successful execution.

Each registered project will receive:

– A listing on the online Festival Schedule (one page with up to 6 images, 200-word description, 1 opening reception or other event);

– A listing on the Festival mobile App (one page with up to 6 images, 40-word description, 1 opening reception or other event);

– A listing in the printed Festival Guide (event or exhibition name, dates, address, website URL) with an anticipated distribution of 15,000 copies city-wide;

– Inclusion in one “What TO DO” daily e-newsletter and corresponding “What TO DO” website post;

– TO DO venue signage (e.g. window cling);

– Opportunity to be part of the TO DO x Yonge + St. Clair tour, to be scheduled during the festival; and,

– Opportunity to be part of the Yonge + St. Clair opening night party.

SUBMIT NOW

Submissions are due September 14, 2018

If you have any questions, please contact:
Mackenzie Keast
Executive Director, Yonge + St. Clair BIA
mackenzie@yongestclair.ca

Gallery of 2018 TO DO exhibits at Yonge + St. Clair and Beyond

The Toronto Design Offsite Festival is Canada’s largest cultural celebration of design with over 100 exhibitions and events forming Toronto’s design week, January 18-27, 2019.

Going into its 9th year, the Festival transforms Toronto into a hub for creativity, taking design and art out of the studio and into the urban sphere, bringing people together to celebrate contemporary culture. We provide opportunities for emerging talent and engage the community with exceptional and accessible public programming.

In January 2018, the Festival had direct participation from 800+ artists and designers, 140K + visitors, 95+ million press impressions, and 500+ million total brand impressions

todesignoffsite.com

The Brain Project has made it’s way here to Yonge + St. Clair.

Visit the area to check out the incredible brain sculptures from:

Dan Tanenbaum

Dave Bagley

Loren Kaplan

Ben Sellick

Julie Moon

Morgan Sheardown

Molly Gambardella

Gina Godfrey

Grace Eun Mi Lee

VOTE HERE for your favourite artist today!

THIS YEAR’S WINNER WILL RECEIVE TWO INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCES:

Rooftop Dinner with a View

This fall, the recipient will enjoy an exclusive rooftop dining experience at Yonge + St. Clair, where top chefs from Buca Restaurant will prepare a tasting menu for you and three guests. Take in the 360-degree view of the city from your own private 15th floor patio while experiencing cuisine from some of Toronto’s best chefs.

Pop-Up Gallery

The recipient will also have exclusive access to host an event or show any of their work for up to one week at The Delisle Space; Yonge + St. Clair’s newly developed gallery and event space. Invite guests and bring this bright and airy 3,500 square foot space to life with your unique artistic touch.

June 5th- Kristian Montano
June 12th- Collette Andrea
June 19th- Justine Giles
June 26th- Daron McColl Trio
July 3rd- Zoubi Arros
July 10th- Piper Hayes
July 17th- The Sun Harmonic
July 24th- J with a K Music’s ‘Young’ Performers

Yonge + St. Clair is more than just an intersection. It’s home to a delightful array of retail shops and businesses that keep residents staying true to the “shop local” mentality. The Health Shoppe, located at 1375 Yonge St is one of these delightful places, and it’s proud to be nestled in the heart of Yonge + St. Clair for now over 40 years. They’ve embraced the small town charm of this neighbourhood by turning customers into acquaintances, and then into friends through familiarity and kindness.

We caught up with the long standing owner Andrea Szomor about popular items within her shop, and what her favourite spots are in the neighbourhood.

Q: Tell us more about the Health Shoppe

We cater to our customers special health needs and we are always excited to bring the latest trends to the neighbourhood. We offer a wide range of supplements, natural and organic groceries including LIVE salads, gluten free, vegan and fermented foods. The store also has an extensive health and beauty department and gift ware section within our 3000 sq ft space.

Q: Any particular item that is a MUST for spring/ summer 2018?

This upcoming spring the Health Shoppe will be bringing back our natural, environmentally conscious sunscreens to prepare customers for a much missed season of sun and outdoor fun. They are zinc based and free from oxybenzone, a chemical linked to coral bleaching. Our most popular brands are Godess Gardens, Green Beaver and Badger.
So far in 2018 probiotics and fermented foods are still really hot. New this year are collagen supplements, both marine and bovine for skin and joints.

Q: What are some of your favourite places in the neighbourhood. Any hidden gems you’d like to tell us about?

Delicious food and the infectious good humour and service of restaurants like Barnsteiners, Jingles and Spiga have kept us coming back for more over the years and will continue to serve our lunch and work-party needs.

Q: Anything else you’d like to share about the neighbourhood?

As most of our customers know, Tuesday is our senior’s day and has become the busiest day of the week. Just come in and ask.

Q: April is Earth Month. Do you have anything going on at the Health Shoppe to celebrate that?

Spring cleaning meets the environmentally friendly with our line of cleaning products by Seventh Generation. A collection we are excited to be offering at 25% off in April. With plant-based ingredients, 0% bleach or synthetic fragrances added and containers 100% composed of recycled plastics, you can clear the muck of winter away worry-free.
EcoMax is another natural cleaning line is made with food grade ingredients, is Canadian and boasts ingredients derived from biodegradable, renewable and sustainable botanical resources, making it both gentle on the environment and your skin. Ecomax is also 25% of this month as well as Goddess Garden sunscreens that are free of oxybenzone, a chemical linked to coral bleaching.

It’s Earth Month here at Yonge + St. Clair and we wanted to take a more creative approach not only to celebrate Mother Earth, but public art as well. That led us to formulating a ‘Call for Artists‘ back in February where we accepted proposals for public art installations that would be original,  interactive, and environmentally conscious. After pouring through the many fantastic submissions, our team made the final decision with architect’s Natalia Bakaeva (Interspatial) and Natalia Tcherniak’s (Blueprint Jam) proposal for a large scale art installation titled ‘Equilibrium‘. Equilibrium will be suspended from the ceiling of the lobby of 2 St. Clair W, and will be on display from April 16th-30th.

Natalia + Natalia took a few moments to talk to us about Equilibrium itself, sustainability, public art, and what they’re working on next.

Q: As trained architects, you are deeply involved in sustainability in your profession, how does Equilibrium comment on the larger ecological balance throughout our daily lives?

Our installation explores the sense of “Equilibrium” within a set of suspended mobile structures, that is inspired by the evolutionary structure of ecosystems. We wanted to emphasize that the idea of “balance” would involve both the natural and man-made. Everything we, as architects, and as people, add to our environment is connected and interdependent to what is existing, and should be considerate and respectful.

In our previous work, we explored the idea of interaction nature and human in its different forms, inviting spectators to play an active role in conceding meaning to the art expression itself. Such as, Natalia B. has done as part of Interspatial collective with Inverted Valleys, where they used the topology of Don Valley to extend attention to under-appreciated and overlooked spaces in civic imagination. With “Equilibrium” we want to provoke a similar reaction. Engaging and rising awareness about the delicate global ecological balance and the role we play in it as agents for change.
In “Equilibrium” you may not be able to necessarily trace every line that holds the piece together, and yet, every little element plays a crucial part in an overall balance. Even the materials we utilized, recycled from previous installations, contribute to the overall idea of ecological equilibrium and the sustainable mindset of younger generations.

Q: Borrowing from the Theory of Complexity, how do the objects and materials used affect the overall meaning of the work?

The way the installation relates to the Theory of Complexity and evolutionary biology is that Equilibrium is based on an holistic organism, which parts are interrelated and connected through organized chaos. It was important for us to create a system of networks that would behave as such.

As we mentioned previously, the idea was to emphasize the idea of both the natural and man-made, where wooden dowels represent the nature, and acrylic tubes add a synthetic layer that was brought to ecosystem by people. Having two different kinds of materials for the individual pieces adds to the complexity, without overwhelming the viewer with chaos. There is no single algorithm used for each link, just like in nature there is no single formula that lifeforms follow; the overall creation is quite sculptural and ephemeral. Inspired by fractals, the natural beauty of the installation emerges out of precise and diligent procedure. Uniform pieces of two different materials are attached to each other in different ways, allowing some parts of the cluster to move freely, while the others are static. The interaction between the pieces creates its own emergent pattern, allowing the structure to morph and evolve. On top of that, after being part of the installation, the dowels and tubes will find their way into other projects, since both are completely reusable and recyclable.

Q: What was the thinking behind the suspension of the piece? Would this work have the same meaning if it was anchored to the ground?

Gravity plays a key role in our installation. The installation is built based on principle of mobile, which means it is a structure hanging above ground, and relies on balance and movement to achieve visual effect. Mobile is made of the series of elements or modules, that all come together to a one composition by wire, string or metal rods connections. Unlike traditional sculptures, mobiles do not remain static, they set in motion by air currents, by every slight flow. The thorough design of each of its parts, as well as the object as whole, creates an equilibrium that brings the core concept and provide exceptional aesthetics. Also, the overhead structure gives the opportunity to the observer to walk under and observe it from various angles.

Q: Yonge + St. Clair is home to many different art forms, what compelled you to participate in this project and what initiatives are you excited to see in the area?

Nowadays, interactive installations that are balancing on the edge of different medias, parametric sculptures that have an ability not only a be centrepiece but represent certain function (e.g. data collection) for the space it is located in. There is a trend computational design based on research and experimentation, or on the intersection of various disciplines. Mix of techniques and approaches is highly explored today and that is what Equilibrium represents. Competitions, like this one, have high importance in giving opportunities to emerging design collectives to showcase their work and to community to interact with it.

Q: As artists, do you think your works collectively has residing themes that you’re interested in, and if so, what are they?

We both tend to create pieces that are about space-making, considering our design and art backgrounds. Sometimes works are brief-driven, some are material-driven, but overall, we always strive for bringing unconventional and interactive aspects to the work. We advocate for creating landmarks, making places, animating the space for viewer to look, to engage, to interact.
We exist in a network of relationships – visible and invisible, conscious and unconscious. We connect directly and indirectly to other people, things, concepts, events, places, everything around us. Those relationships are physical, virtual, metaphorical, ephemeral, spiritual, transient, and dynamic. They create a connective tissue; and, as artists, we work on this tissue, tracing and redefining it.

Q: What role do you think public art plays in the creative and design process of buildings and neighbourhoods?

Ideally, at some point, public art would define the neighbourhoods, but in the meantime, it creates points of interests and changes of pace, encouraging pedestrian traffic, human-scale interactions, helping to shape local culture. A community, like Yonge + St.Clair, creates a great platform for emerging and established artists to reach out to public, to share their vision in a very approachable way. It is about bringing art to the neighbourhood, making people feeling more identified with art because it is happening locally. We believe that conventional way of museum-based art display will be seen less in the future, and the boundaries between art and everyday life will be getting more blurred.

Q: What can we expect in the future from both of you? Are you focused on large-scale installations in the public realm, or does your art take different forms?

We do intend to continue our collaborations, most likely large- or medium-scale installations, but our art does take different forms, and we believe the key is stay open-minded and be ready to explore. We believe in our productive collaboration, where Natalia B. and her Interspatial design collective bring projects are focused on animating interstitial urban environments and facilitating autonomy in the making of personal and public spaces. She is currently working on research project for an opportunity of creating an work-live urban habitat out of shipping containers in urban/rural area in west coast of Japan. At the same time, Natalia T. and her Blueprint Jam’s work spans across many genres – fine art, theatre, design, and performance, focusing on different scales and different levels of interaction between collaborators. Upcoming project in the works for Natalia T. is a set design for an original-script play, to open in late May in Barrie, ON.
We believe that, working in different techniques and art languages create diversity and brings fresh ideas to our collaboration, and where we area able to create projects like “Equilibrium”.

Thanks Natalia + Natalia!

Equilibrium will be up within the lobby of 2 St. Clair W from April 16th-30th for Earth Month.

Hours: Monday- Friday 8:00am-6:00pm

Reception: Sunday, April 22nd 10:00am-4:00pm

Equilibrium is part of the Earth Month programming here at Yonge + St. Clair

Interspatial + Blueprint Jam are the winners of this year’s Call for Artists: Earth Month Public Art Installation contest.

Learn more about the architects behind the work HERE.

Location: 2 St. Clair W

Hours: Monday- Friday 8:00am-6:00pm

Reception: Sunday, April 22nd 10:00am-4:00pm