On Saturday, September 20, 2014, the collective brain and driving force behind Toronto’s King East Design District (KEDD) presented an unprecedented showcase of art and design on the street. Joining forces for 3d parti, showrooms, artists and designers transformed King East into a life-sized public art gallery for the free all-day festival to fete Toronto’s downtown Design District (KEDD) and its official launch.
A clever play on the architect’s parti sketch – the festival’s underlying big idea and concept showcased in 3D the creative neighbourhood’s DNA, exposing the inspiration and people behind it. Presenting KEDD’s distinct design-rich culture for the first time as a collective effort to the public, Toronto was invited to explore the ever-evolving community already recognized as Toronto’s destination for design.
Setting King East apart is an unmatched design density led by a collective of internationally recognized showroom owners. Connected to diverse global networks, the group is responsible for creating a design knowledge centre that has evolved along with Toronto’s growth and appetite for arts and culture.
Celebrating the historic Old Town neighbourhood’s future, 15 eye-popping installations came to life on the street and transformed façades from Church Street to east of Parliament Street.
With their finger on the pulse, KEDD’s curators invited influential Miami artist and Design District Ambassador, TYPOE, who is represented by Spinello Projects, to bring his evocative work to the streets of Toronto. As co-founder of Primary Flight – historically the first organization to take over an entire district with art, Primary is recognized as the catalyst for transforming Miami’s Wynwood into the vibrant art district recognized worldwide. TYPOE’s first project in Canada, at bulthaup at King and Ontario, will propel viewers to participate in its edgy thought-provoking dialogue.
From the anticipated public art project at Klaus by Toronto’s own Thrush Holmes, a massive 10’x 10’ installation that is now a permanent public art display, to Justin Broadbent’s bold graphic welcome mat, the visual vibrancy of the neighbourhood set the stage for inspiration.
At studio b, Zeidler Partnership Architects charged the street like a herd of elephants, while artist Gary Taxali inserted a pyramid of dynamic stacked lasered cubes at DOM on Berkeley Street. Piquing curiosity, Fugitive Glue’s bold mirrored cube is a play on light and optical illusion at Suite 22. At Calligaris, RAW’s life-sized arch of chairs immersed pedestrians, transforming a stroll down the street into a sensory experience.
Further down King Street at Kiosk, DesignAgency’s collaboration with artist Tommy Matejka and international luminaries Saty + Pratha resulted in a video installation that invites neighbours and strangers to share a stream of consciousness through mixed mediums. Collaborating with the crew of artists, Mangia & Bevi’s curated pizzas offered delicious edible art in the street.
Participants experienced the best of design, architecture, art and dining in King East, and partook in the transformation of Toronto’s Design District on Saturday, September 20, 2014 from 11:00am to 7:00pm.
For more information, please visit www.kingeastdesigndistrict.com
