By Lanterra Development
Lanterra Developments will commission Ryan Gander’s first permanent sculpture in Canada as well as fund an OCAD University mentorship bursary and new minor degree in public art
Lanterra Developments will commission Ryan Gander’s first permanent sculpture in Canada as well as fund an OCAD University mentorship bursary and new minor degree in public art
November-2022 (TORONTO): Lanterra Developments announces renowned British artist Ryan Gander OBE RA will create his first permanent sculpture in Canada as part of a new public art project, which will be integrated in Lanterra’s residential development, Artists’ Alley at 234 Simcoe St. This is one of Lanterra’s largest sites, near Dundas St. W and University Ave., at the centre of Toronto’s celebrated arts district. The six-foot sculpture named The Cat, the Clock and the Rock will be built in Artists’ Alley grand public concourse, connecting St. Patrick St. to Simcoe St. between two residential towers, and further extending a pathway to the TTC St. Patrick subway station. The sculpture will be fabricated locally in Toronto and completed for residential occupancy in 2024.
Emma Landis, Principal of Richan Art; Centre: Ryan Gander; Mark Mandelbaum, Chairman of Lanterra Developments Photo Credit: Lanterra Developments
In 2019, Lanterra hired Richan Art as the Public Art Consultant to create a Public Art Plan for City approval. The Public Art Plan included a substantial community engagement component that integrated the voices of the site’s neighbours, OCAD University, the Grange Community Association, and the Ward councilor. Undergoing a unique “Invitational Competition”, a curated shortlist of artists was invited to discuss the project with the Public Art Selection Committee. Through this process, Lanterra attracted global artistic talent that may not have responded to a traditional Open Call. This resulted in the exciting collaboration today with Gander.
“Sculpture is perhaps the most recognizable form of art and adds a third dimension and spatial element to its message, and as we built out plans for Artists’ Alley grand concourse, we knew we wanted to bring the city something very special,” said Mark Mandelbaum, Chairman of Lanterra Developments. “As a celebrated artist around the world, Ryan Gander became the clear choice to partner with. He demonstrated unmatched creativity and passion for working with aspiring artists, while remaining sensitive to the neighbourhood’s history and context. We are very excited to work with Ryan on this project.”
Lanterra also launched a partnership with OCAD University to fund a mentorship bursary and support the development of a new minor degree program in public art. OCAD U invited upper-year students and recent alumni to compete for one of six places to be mentored by Gander. In September 2022, the chosen students participated in a week-long workshop entitled “A Melted Snowman”, focusing on urban explorations and the production of interventions within neighbourhoods surrounding the OCAD U campus. This multi-dimensional partnership between Lanterra and Gander coincides with Toronto’s Year of Public Art (2021-22) and supports the city’s 10 Year Public Art Strategy objectives such as collaborating with art institutions, creating significant new initiatives, and the facilitation of public engagement.
Left: Ryan Gander; Right: Derek Sullivan, Associate Professor at OCAD University; Background: Student-participants on a walking tour during The Melted Snowman workshop. Photo credit: Scott Lalonde
Lanterra business partners Mark Mandelbaum (Chairman), Barry Fenton (CEO), and Christopher Wein (COO and President of Construction Management) all share an affinity for art. After acquiring 234 Simcoe St., Mandelbaum and Fenton decided to share their love of art with Artists’ Alley. This new sculpture by Gander will both serve as an entry point for the gallery that awaits Artists’ Alley residents and a future landmark for Toronto’s arts district.
Artists’ Alley Concourse Rendering Photo credit: Lanterra Developments
Artists' Alley will feature three towers, ranging from 18 to 39 storeys with 581 condominium suites combined, all completely sold out. Interiors will be completed by award-winning Studio Munge with exteriors by acclaimed David Pontarini of Hariri Pontarini Architects. Over the last 20 years, Lanterra has left an indelible mark on the city’s urban landscape through generously commissioning works of public art. Gander’s upcoming sculpture will add to the developer’s incredible portfolio of public art including, Immigrant Family by Tom Otterness, Dream House by Vong Phaophanit and Claire Oboussier, Burano by Sandro Martini, and much more.
“My father has two fantastic sayings: 'Time is your greatest asset' and 'Let the world take a turn'. The first he repeats to me to shock me into action and ambition, to seize the moment. The second he uses to remind me that my agency or my ability to decide is mine and nobody else's. It also reminds me that often problems never seem insurmountable with the privilege of hindsight. As I get older I find myself worrying more about money than time, and complaining more about how the world lacks freedom than using the agency that I do have.
For Artists’ Alley, I have devised an ambiguous fable: The Cat, the Clock and the Rock . It can be interpreted in a multitude of ways. A fable that is open to interpretation, but to remind us of my father’s sayings — that we should not underestimate the value of our time, our agency, or our attention and a reminder that there are moments to act and equally moments to pause, for everyone.” - Ryan Gander
About Lanterra Developments Lanterra Developments was founded by Mark Mandelbaum and Barry Fenton, two real estate visionaries who began with a dream to develop innovative, one-of-a-kind downtown condominium properties. With over 20 years of partnership, joined by Christopher Wein in 2018 as President of Construction Management and COO, Lanterra has charted on an amazing success story on the Toronto skyline with one iconic condominium after another, scaling new heights in design, style and elegant urban living. The company’s guiding philosophy goes beyond just condominium building to dynamic urban revitalization and putting Toronto on the global map as the new city of the future, with vibrant master-planned mixed-use communities, sustainable green living and cutting-edge environmental technologies. For more information, visit www.lanterradevelopments.com or on social media @lanterradev.
About Ryan Gander Ryan Gander OBE RA (Chester, 1976) has established an international reputation through artworks that materialize in many different forms, ranging from sculpture, apparel and writing to architecture, painting, typefaces, publications and performance. As well as curating exhibitions, he is a committed educator, having taught at international art institutions and universities, and has written and presented television programmes on and about contemporary art and culture for the BBC.
Through associative thought processes that connect the everyday and the esoteric, the overlooked and the commonplace, Gander’s work involves a questioning of language and knowledge, as well as a reinvention of both the modes of appearance and the creation of an artwork. His work can be reminiscent of a puzzle, or a network with multiple connections and the fragments of an embedded story. It is ultimately a huge set of hidden clues to be deciphered, encouraging viewers to make their own associations and invent their own narrative in order to unravel the complexities staged by the artist.
Major projects include Liverpool Biennial of Contemporary Art 2018, Liverpool, UK; Sydney Biennale 2018, Sydney, AU; Performa 15, New York, US; British Art Show 8, Leeds, UK; Panorama, High Line, New York, US; Imagineering, Okayama, JP; Unlimited, Art Basel, Basel, CH; Parcours, Art Basel, Basel, CH; Esperluette, Palais de Tokyo, Paris, FR; dOCUMENTA (13), Kassel, G; Locked Room Scenario, commissioned by Artangel, London, UK; ILLUMInations at the 54th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale; Intervals at Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, NYC, US and The Happy Prince, Public Art Fund, Central Park, NYC, US.