On September 20th the collective brain and driving force behind Toronto’s King East Design District (KEDD) will present a showcase of art and design on the street.
Joining forces for 3d parti, showrooms, artists and designers will transform 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’ will showcase in 3D the creative neighborhood’s DNA, exposing the inspiration and people behind it. 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.
KEDD’s curators invited influential Miami artist and Design District Ambassador, TYPOE, who is represented by Spinello Projects, to bring his 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.
Other anticipated public art projects include Klaus by Toronto’s own Thrush Holmes, a massive 10’x 10’ installation set to become a permanent public art display, and Justin Broadbent’s bold graphic welcome mat. At studio b, Zeidler Partnership Architects prepares to charge the street like a herd of elephants, fine artist Gary Taxali inserts a pyramid of dynamic stacked lasered cubes at DOM on Berkeley Street and 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 will immerse pedestrians, transforming a stroll down the street into a sensory experience, and at Kiosk, DesignAgency has collaborated with artist Tommy Matejka and international luminaries Saty + Pratha on 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 will offer delicious, edible art in the street.
Entrance to the KEDD 3d parti festival is free, but attendees are invited to make a donation for the 3d parti pack, the guide to the festival. All proceeds go to support Habitat for Humanity Greater Toronto Area.