Submission: November 03, 2017
Registration: November 03, 2017
Language: English
Location: Toronto, Canada
Prizes: Please see details below
Type: Open
WinterStations is now embarking on its fourth year, again opening up an international design competition to bring temporary public art installations to The Beaches, an exhibition to celebrate Toronto’s winter waterfront landscape.
This year we are hoping to include up to six lifeguard stands, including an additional three by invited universities, across Balmy, Kew and Ashbridges Bay beaches located in the heart of the Beach community, south of Queen Street East, between Woodbine and Victoria Park Avenues. These utilitarian structures are to be used as the armature for temporary installations, which will need to be able to withstand the rigours of Toronto winter weather. The exhibition is to run February 19 until April 1, 2018.
This is a single-stage open international competition, welcoming artists, designers, architects and landscape architects to submit concept proposals for WinterStations’ temporary artwork installations.
THEME
WinterStations 2018 theme: RIOT: violent disturbance; uproar; outburst of uncontrolled feelings; a large or varied display
The past year has been one of upheaval and continued uncertainty. Paradigms are shifting, lines of division appear to be drawn, perceptions skewed – it may feel we are losing sight of reality, or at least what we once considered normalcy. But century after century, from one era and generation to the next, what was once within the realm of fantasy and disbelief emerges to the surface proposing alternate, often conflicting realities and ways of going forward. And go forward we must!
This year’s WinterStations theme, RIOT, is a call to artists and designers to act out. Your designs may be an active resistance expressed through a riot of colour, form and material. You may wish to speak to the political, cultural or environmental climate. You may rail against passive, placid art and design. You may, in a gesture of catharsis, unleash your inner turmoil. But please do remember, this exhibition is first and foremost a project to promote creativity and joy – basic, shared human qualities that bring us together and are needed now more than ever.
Given the success of the past year’s re-use, repurpose, recycle initiative WinterStations continues to encourage proposals that evolve into future iterations, as on-going research and design projects and / or demonstrate an environmentally conscience post-exhibition lifecycle, including de-commissioning / removal.
There is no limit to the size of the installation, but please note that included in the jurors’ instructions will be durability and constructability. Installations cannot exceed the total cost outlined.
The jury may choose to pick up to ten proposals, in order of choice. The WinterStations team will review these proposals to determine constructability. From this list we are fundraising to build up to six installations.
Winning teams will be provided with an allowance for travel and accommodation to spend time in Toronto during the installation and the activities surrounding the opening,
The winning artists will be expected to provide a brief, 3 minute slide, video speaking presentation of the topic of their choice. February 19, 2018 at noon is the Beach openings where invited dignitaries will speak and the press will be present to interview artists and their works. These events provide opportunities for citizens of Toronto to engage directly with the designers. Members of the design team should expect to meet with media to discuss their designs and ideas.
This year, local design and art institutions will be represented by the University of Guelph, Ryerson University and the Ontario College of Art. with teams of students designing and fabricating installations for three stands.
