There is so much going on in the city of Toronto this month, it is hard to get a grip on it all. But one new attraction on the Toronto waterfront is definitely worth noting.
Public Pier is launching on Sept. 18 at 539 Queens Quay West, beside the Toronto Music Garden and across from the iconic Canada Malting Silos. The event runs Friday and Saturday evenings through Oct. 3.
During the three weekends, the site will feature food and drinks, live DJ sets, beginner-friendly dance workshops and interactive art installations. On Saturdays, programming begins in the afternoon, while Fridays focus on an evening experience.
The free event is also intended to showcase the potential of Marina Quay West as a future public park and cultural space.
For instance, one of the main attractions will be Silo Nights, which is a program curated by OCAD University that will turn the Canada Malting Silos into a giant canvas for immersive art and sound projections.
Canadian and international artists and works at Silo Nights include Ali Phi’s Decomposition No. 7: Undergrowth, Faisal Anwar’s Breathe and OOOPStudio’s The Shape of Memory.
Other works include Animation Collaboration Workshop Project, created with OCAD U students and led by Pablo Gracias; Travel Diary of a Particle; Paul Murnaghan’s The Light; and Melting Temporalities by Claire Brunet and Johnny Ranger.
And it isn’t just about static works of art.
One of the most exciting Public Pier projects is an interactive public artwork by artist Paul Ramírez Jonas. Public Trust will make its Canadian debut at Marina Quay West from Sept. 17 to 20. The project asks visitors to make personal promises to themselves and their community, turning those commitments into a collective portrait of the city.
Food will also be part of the experience, with the Super Yummy Market bringing a selection of food vendors and fresh flavours to the pier. Local craft beer and other beverages will be available from Great Lakes.
With the Canada Malting Silos lit up across the water, music playing along the pier and food and drinks available on site, the event is designed to turn a stretch of Toronto’s waterfront into an evening destination rather than simply somewhere to pass through.
More information and the full programming schedule are available at PublicPier.ca and through @WaterfrontBIA.