Parapan Am Games Art Installation by RAW Design Unveiled in Mississauga

As the Parapan Am Games amp up with the Torch Relays, RAW Design contributed to the opening celebrations with a stunning art installation in Mississauga.

The Torch Relay in Mississauga took place at Lakeside Park along the Waterfront Trail. The celebration consisted of a community barbecue, a cauldron lighting, and the grand finale was the unveiling of Art of Sport: Fitness Follies, RAW’s three-piece, interactive installation. The installation was commissioned by the City of Mississauga and funded by Community Celebration Fund.

“We’re thrilled to be contributing to the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games in Mississauga,” says Aaron Hendershott, an architect at RAW, in a recent release. “Public interaction is something we are consistently striving for in our designs. With Fitness Follies we’re encouraging people of all ages and abilities to engage with these pieces.”

The Art of Sport: Fitness Follies is comprised of three separate pieces of abstract sculptures, celebrating sport, culture, art, and outdoor fitness. The three pieces are titled Synchronicity, Velocity, and Colosseum.

Synchronicity - photo by Jeff Tessier

Synchronicity is inspired by martial arts dummies and are spread across the grass, imitating a group of tai chi participants. The branches of the sculptures are perfect for climbing, hanging, and performing other exercises, such as pull ups.

Velocity - photo by Jeff Tessier

Velocity is a physical representation of the motion and speed of a race with three competitors. The sculpture is ideal for climbing and hanging. This one is our favourite!

Colosseum - photo by Jeff Tessier

Colosseum is inspired by an arena and is made up of colourful podiums that represent the relationship between audience and athletes. The wooden podiums are made for people to balance on and navigate their way across, testing their skills of perception.

“Even though each installation was designed to support physical interaction, we wanted to ensure they took the form of sculptural artworks in the landscape,” says Roland Rom Colthoff, founder of RAW. “These installations are temporary, so we also wanted to focus on sustainability by utilizing reclaimed timber, used telephone poles and other found material, while the colour palette is meant to evoke the medals handed out during the Pan Am and Parapan Am games.”

109OZ by Reserve Properties

The work of RAW Design

RAW is heavily involved in community and industry projects. Last June, we attended their annual industry party, RAW CANVAS. Thousands of Toronto creatives attended the catered event and RAW teamed up with many established and up-and-coming artists in the GTA to transform a construction site and warehouse into a giant collaborative work of art.

RAW is also responsible for many modern-contemporary building designs in Toronto, including  109OZ by Reserve Properties, !T Lofts by Worsley Urban Partners, and Spectra Condos by Concord Adex in CityPlace. RAW also designed the master-planned Harmony Village development by City Core Developments in Barrie.

It’s truly amazing to have a Toronto-based architect that is so involved and making such a large impact on the way Torontonians and the world see and experience our city. We’re already looking forward to RAW’s future parties and projects!