Innovative technological public art unveiled at Daniels HighPark!
By Lucas on Sep 21, 2015
The City of Toronto has a Public Art Program that requires builders and developers to dedicate 1% of development costs to the creation of public art. At Daniels HighPark, The Daniels Corporation went the extra mile, commissioning Public Studio to create an innovative, three-piece, interactive art installation, which was just unveiled!
Elle Flanders and Tamira Sawatzky of Public Studio, along with their collective of artists from OCAD University were present to unveil their artwork, which took two years to envision and produce. OCAD University President Dr. Sara Diamond and Ward 13 Parkdale-High Park councillor Sarah Doucette were also in attendance for the condo’s milestone celebration.
Niall Haggart
“The opportunity to work with Toronto’s arts community is near and dear to our hearts at Daniels,” said Niall Haggart, Daniels’ Executive Vice President. “Through an intense consultation process and competition, we selected Public Studio for its brilliant interpretation of this special setting, and for its mentorship component, which involved working with OCAD University students. Public Studio went above and beyond to create a stunning interpretation of the HighPark Condominiums lifestyle that engaged the greater community by involving emerging artists in the process.”
“I thank Public Studio, Daniels, WJ Properties and Councillor Doucette and the City of Toronto for this wonderful opportunity for OCAD University students to collaborate on a meaningful and aesthetically powerful project,” added Diamond. “OCAD University is a passionate believer in the importance of art in public spaces, allowing us to see the world around us in different ways. This experiential learning opportunity will have a lasting impact on the students’ lives and our community.”
The artwork is titled We Are All Animals, and consists of three distinct pieces. There is a bronze bench by the front doors of Daniels HighPark which has the title of the artwork inscribed along the front. Then there are hand-carved limestone coyotes that face the entrance of the condo, as if they had just crossed the street out of High Park. The coyotes have a geometric/pixelated design, which makes perfect sense since the third piece of the artwork is a giant LED (22’x9’) screen portraying a real-time digital rendering of High Park. The video was rendered with digital gaming software, and the real genius behind it is that it’s set three months ahead, so you get to experience the beauty of Canada’s multiple seasons all year.
(L-R) Tamira Sawatzky and Elle Flanders
“As an architect and filmmaker duo, we wanted to find a way to integrate current technology and the prominent role screens now occupy in our culture merging the real world with the virtual,” said Flanders and Sawatzky. “Like the city around it, We Are All Animals is constantly changing — we felt we wanted to create a new kind of public artwork that moves beyond the sculptural and that will never be viewed the same way twice.”
Only a few remaining units at Daniels HighPark
Daniels HighPark is now occupied and there are only a few units remaining. Most of the available units are studios and one-bedrooms, with a few one+dens available.
Daniels has some great incentives on right now to sell off the final units. Targeting first-time buyers, Daniels if offering up to $25,000 cashback, purchasing with just 5% down, and a great deal on parking and storage lockers. You can move in today with prices starting from just $299,900!
For more information and to book a private tour of one of the stunning model suites, visit the presentation centre at 2150 Bloor Street West Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 12 pm to 6 pm, Wednesday from 12 pm to 8pm, or on the weekend from 12 pm to 5 pm. You can also call 416-351-1844.
