Promise in the Park: The Winchester Park Public Art Project

We're in conversation with the City of Toronto, Parks, Forestry & Recreation staff about sites for community engaged permanent public in the Winchester Park neighbourhood. We're grateful for support from Ward 28 Councillor Pam McConnell's office, which has been unwavering since the inception of this project in 2013.

We've scouted the Winchester Park area numerous times in search of public art sites -- for in situ stone mosaic -- that capitalize upon already existing City of Toronto infrastructure.  The brick pads, which once hosted public benches, are embedded in brick paths used by pedestrians travelling between high-rise tenant dwellings in the Winchester Park area. Enhancement of these public spaces may further increase use and enjoyment of area parks, and by extension, increase a sense of safety.

Winchester Square Park, north of Carlton Street

Winchester Square Park

Winchester Square Park

Winchester Square Park

Walkway between Diane Frankling Co-operative Housing, Fieldstone Housing Co-operative,
and Hugh Garner Co-operative Housing.

Bleecker Street Park, north of Fieldstone Housing Co-operative

Bleecker Street Park, north of Fieldstone Housing Co-operative

Pedestrian walkway between Winchester Park North and Winchester Park Junior and Senior Public School.

Pan Am Path/ Para Pan Am Path Public Art

Invitation to Promise: Art Installation and Celebration of Communities on June 23, 2014

Red Dress Productions is delighted to present

Promise: A Celebration of Communities

Connecting Through Art

An interactive gallery installation about the promise of spring and the local stories

and art of Winchester Park and St James Town communities.

Where: Diane Frankling Co-operative Homes, 85 Bleecker Street

(east of Sherbourne St., north of Carlton St.)

When: Monday June 23, 2014 from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

food & drink, art activities, and presentations

This installation and celebration is the culmination of our first year of Promise in the Park,

a four-year community art project in Winchester Park and St James Town communities.

Over the next three years, we will create collaborative mosaic public art for area parks,

and also a community play presented by and for local communities. 

We gratefully acknowledge the support of our funding partners: Ontario Trillium

Foundation, Toronto Arts Council, and Ontario Arts Council, and our community partners:

Diane Frankling Co-operative Homes, The Rekai Centres (at Wellesley Central Place and

Sherbourne Place), Elizabeth Frye Society Toronto, Winchester Junior and Senior Public

School, Mid Toronto Community Services, Sherbourne Health Centre and Supporting Our

Youth, Hugh Garner Housing Co-operative, Maggie's, and Jumblies Theatre. 

RED DRESS PRODUCTIONS led by founding artistic directors Anna Camilleri and Tristan R.

Whiston is an arts company that works with/in communities to create interdisciplinary

theatre projects and visual public artworks. www.reddressproductions.org 

Contact:

Project Coordinator Chantelle Gobeil

Email: promiseinthepark@gmail.com

Phone: 416-574-9232

The Winchester Park Public Art Project | Dispatch # 7

More work created by the awesome Winchester Public School children in Lee Hicks' classroom who we've been working with over the past two months. The illustrations depict students' wishes and intentions for their friends, family, and, in some cases, for those who are unknown but recognized for our shared humanity. 

Photography by Katie Yealland. 

Art in the Parks: The Winchester Park Public Art Project | Dispatch # 6

Last weekend we launched Art in the Parks -- an experiment of sorts where we set up tables loaded with mono printing  paper construction and puppet making art supplies and invited passersby to join us in four different parks including Winchester Square Park, Fieldstone Park, St James Park, and Winchester Park .

We wondered: Would people be intersted in joining a motley crew of artists in outdoor art adventures, surrounded by a cacophany of sounds and the hustle and bustle of people travelling form here to there by foot, wheelchair, bicycle, car, bus, and moped while walking their dogs and toting groceries?

Some joined us for both Saturday and Sunday in different locations, and others for a few minutes. Several people said, "This is exactly what should be happening in our parks! When are you coming back?" Others suggested that we make contact with organizations they're connected with including an after school program, a faith-based group, and grassroots neighbourhood initiatives. 

Thank you to all those who accepted our invitations to make art and share stories. Art in the Parks was a lot of fun, and yes, we'll do it again!

Art in the Parks is part of Promise in the Park: The Winchester Park Public Art Project, a four-year community art project in Winchester Park and St James Town communities. Over the next three years, we will create collaborative mosaic public art for area parks, and also a community play presented by and for local communities.