February 17 – March 17, 2025
Woodbine Beach, Woodbine Park, Kew Gardens, and Ivan Forrest Gardens
www.winterstations.com
From February 17 to March 17, 2025, the Toronto waterfront will again be transformed into an immersive, artistic landscape with Winter Stations, an annual exhibition that reimagines the city’s lifeguard stations as vibrant public art installations. Now in its 10th year, Winter Stations has become one of Toronto’s most anticipated cultural events, inviting artists from around the globe to creatively engage with the city’s harsh winter environment.
Each year, Winter Stations challenges artists to design temporary installations that not only beautify the city’s beaches and parks but also provoke thought, spark dialogue, and inspire the public. The theme for 2025, “Dawn,” encourages artists to explore moments of awakening, renewal, and transformation—whether through reflections on the natural world, human connection, or the dynamic interplay between light and shadow. By infusing the urban landscape with creativity and innovation, Winter Stations transforms Toronto’s cold, gray winter months into a celebration of art, community, and imagination.
This year’s installations will be displayed across four iconic waterfront locations: Woodbine Beach, Woodbine Park, Kew Gardens, and Ivan Forrest Gardens, each offering a unique canvas for the artists’ visions. Visitors are invited to explore these sites, where each installation interacts with its surroundings, inviting onlookers to pause, reflect, and experience the art in new and unexpected ways.
Featured Installations of Winter Stations 2025
The selected installations for Winter Stations 2025 bring together a diverse range of artistic practices, including sculpture, architecture, and interactive experiences. The artists—hailing from Canada, the United States, Portugal, and France—have created thought-provoking and engaging works that reflect the core themes of the exhibition. Each installation seeks to engage the public not just as viewers, but as participants in the unfolding narrative of the winter season.
- Watch
- Artist: Trae Horne (USA)
- Concept: This installation symbolizes the vigilance and passage of time, offering a striking visual metaphor for the act of watching and waiting. “Watch” invites visitors to reflect on the personal and collective moments that shape their lives, urging a deeper consideration of the role time plays in shaping identity and experience. Its bold design encourages interaction, making it a memorable focal point of the Winter Stations exhibition.
- Slice of Sun
- Artists: Cláudia Franco, Mariam Daudali, Tom Byrom (Portugal)
- Concept: In a city often bathed in gray winter skies, “Slice of Sun” offers a much-needed respite with its radiant, sun-inspired structure. The installation seeks to capture the warmth and energy of sunlight, drawing attention to the ways light and color can uplift and transform the winter environment. Visitors will be able to bask in its glow, even during the coldest days, evoking feelings of warmth and hope amidst the chill of winter.
- Parade
- Artist: Jesse Beus (USA)
- Concept: “Parade” is a sculptural procession that explores the themes of movement, community, and celebration. The work draws inspiration from the collective experience, encouraging viewers to engage with the installation and with one another. By creating an experience that emphasizes unity and participation, “Parade” invites the public to step into the artwork and experience the power of collective action.
- Ascolto
- Artists: Ines Dessaint, Tonin Letondu (France)
- Concept: This installation provides an auditory experience that invites visitors to listen closely to the world around them. Using sound as its primary medium, “Ascolto” encourages viewers to attune themselves to the subtle noises of the environment, fostering a deeper connection with nature and the city. In this way, the piece underscores the importance of active listening in fostering a sense of presence and awareness in our busy, often disconnected lives.
- Peak
- Artists: University of Waterloo Department of Architecture (Canada)
- Concept: “Peak” represents the pinnacle of human achievement, designed as a geometric structure that reflects both the beauty of natural landscapes and the ingenuity of architectural design. The installation serves as a metaphor for ambition, success, and the enduring pursuit of excellence, inviting viewers to reflect on their own aspirations as they experience the sculptural elements of the piece.
- Solair
- Artists: Toronto Metropolitan University Department of Architectural Science (Canada)
- Concept: “Solair” explores sustainability and the power of renewable energy. Harnessing solar energy as its core principle, the installation symbolizes hope for a brighter future and emphasizes the need for sustainable practices in both art and architecture. Visitors will experience how innovative design can harmonize with nature to create a sustainable and more eco-conscious world.
Each of these installations offers a unique take on the theme of “Dawn,” representing renewal, transformation, and the power of light and connection in the context of a winter landscape. Together, they form a stunning tapestry of creativity that invites visitors to rethink the potential of public spaces and experience the magic of winter through the lens of art.
