Public Art Safari !

Free-standing rock and rubble collage workshops.

Next safari is March 17th 2012! It is a free gift. Call 416-977-1077 to register.

Public art is a visual statement with no commercial or political agenda. Art for art’s sake, freely available in the midst of our urban environment

Over this winter we have planned no city tour safaris. In spring we will continue. Until then we will mainly be performing rock and rubble balancing / assemblage at Gallery Arcturus. Come at noon to 1pm if you want to watch or try this relaxing beautiful art form. There will be balancing in front of the gallery, in the courtyard behind and also inside the building. The gallery space and art displayed is really special and free to enter and view. Please come if you will. If you take photos or videos of the work offered, and it is not too much trouble, please send copies to me, jason@arcturus.ca.

 

Images from the recent safari, updated often. Mouse over to advance or to click full screen.

 

What is it?

 

Art safari is a fun and novel way to tour Toronto viewing art surprises as well as to install art, thereby contributing to the city. Sunjye is leading groups to discover public art installations and install rock balance sculptures in downtown Toronto as part of an inquiry into the nature of public art.

If you wish to walk about, take photos, sketch and learn to build stone balances — or just inquire with us — come on out!

The sense of balance and space are the first perceptions developed in the womb and every other system develops in relation to our sense of 3-dimensional space with a strong sensation of up and down. Perhaps work with this sense can benefit all other perceptual systems and systems of integration between the senses.

Stone and Rubble Assemblage stimulates a sense of balance, space, and gravity in a way that dissolves normal patterns of perception and requires one to be attentive, alert and watchful; listening with all the senses in play. When we are able to work this way, often something emerges and surprises us with its otherness. It is as if the beauty comes through us.

We meet at our studio @ 230 queen st. east, and after a short introduction by one of the city-art group members, we safari !

2 Ways To Take Part In Art-Safari

1. Register before the Art-safari (there are a limited number of participants taken on). Contact 647-857-6207 or email jason@arcturus.ca and be sure to leave your email or other relevant contact information and the date you would like to register for.

2. Drop in on the day of the safari. Call sunjye at 647-857-6207 and he will direct you to the safari.

Anyone who wishes may take part; together we can find a way to work. We will observe public art in the neighborhood and vicinity chosen to work in. Then we will open to sensing the space itself. We learn to create rock balance sculptures and as well as collaborate on a piece that will be left as a gift to the people, place and, time. Art-safari is a free gift to you from cityartproject.ca and made possible by The Foundation for the Study of Objective Art.

Next excursion: To Be Announced.

Most recent: October 22nd (See pix from previous safaris in slideshow below.)
Contact 416 977-1077 or jason@arcturus.ca for details.

 

Comments from Art safari Participants

Thank you for such a great and meaningful time!  -Sean

Funny how a few hours can seriously change a worldview. Thanks, thanks, infinite thanks and expect email photos of rocks!  -Caitlin

Such a pleasure learning from you today. Your outlook is fascinating and refreshing.  -Eric

 

Safari Notes

On September 24th a group of 4 worked on balance sculptures along Lake Shore Boulevard at Yonge Street. We were delighted by the constant stream of monarch butterflys that happened to be migrating.

The June 25th cityartproject safari built balance sculptures along the Lake Shore walking path from Jarvis to Spadina. This path is a different way to get across the city on bike or foot. It runs under the Gardiner Expressway. The way the stones used as landscaping have been arranged reminds me of zen gardens but they tend to require a lot of care. It is a transition zone between the core and the harbourfront, so it gets a lot of traffic passing through. We will pass through this area again!

The May cityartproject excursion was into the heart of Kensington Market. There was a more consciously-served interplay between the height and shape of what we were installing and the space we were in. We had a great time, talked to lots of people and had several join in the creating. It went so well the installation lasted three days. Some pix in the gallery. Thank you all!

On April 23rd we had 3 participants and the excursion went up the Don Valley from Queen St. to Bloor St., on foot. We were installing rock balance sculptures where they seemed to resonate with the space. We found the antler of a four-point buck!

On Tuesday March 8th a public art excursion was attended by a 12-member team from Nashville. They were part of a larger, many-day excursion put on by URBANEX.

When the property owners from buildings surrounding a chosen vacant lot came by, they looked ready to chase us off. Instead, both visibly melted into smiles when they saw we were making sculptures and said, “Please keep doing this – it looks beautiful.”

Many passersby stopped to watch and talk with team members about the question, “What is public art?”

Thanks to area resident Conny who bought our group water and engaged us so lovingly.

The community response to intentional art in public seems to be overwhelmingly supportive.