James AllenWinter Stations 2025
When: February 17 to March 30, 2025
Where: Woodbine Beach
Living in Toronto, there’s a special kind of magic that comes with winter. Sure, it gets really cold, and the snow can be tough, but it’s also the season when our city’s creativity shines the brightest.
That’s why I was truly excited when I found out that the Winter Stations exhibition is back in 2025. Every year, it turns Woodbine Beach into a wonderland of art as artists from around the world showcase their amazing art installations.
This time around, the exhibition’s theme is all about “Dawn.” It signifies the start of a new day and a chance for transformation and renewal as we say farewell to our past and begin anew.
I’m actually writing this just a couple of hours after visiting Woodbine Beach. Suffice it to say, I had a great time walking around the art installations and admiring them despite the near-zero temperatures.
Out of all the installations, the ones that stood out to me are the six winning art installations made by various artists both from Canada and abroad.
– Photo credit: winter.stations
One of them is “Watch” by Trae Horne from the US. This installation looks like an observatory that’s perfectly aligned with the sun. When you walk through it, you can see the light and shadows playing in such a beautiful way.
Another favourite of mine is “Slice of Sun” by Cláudia Franco, Mariam Daudali, and Tom Byrom from Portugal. It’s like a cozy sanctuary filled with warm light that almost made me forget about the cold outside.
“Parade” by Jesse Beus, also from the US, is another amazing piece. It’s a parade of six vibrant characters, each one celebrating self-acceptance and individuality. It’s a joyful, uplifting art piece that reminds us to embrace our uniqueness.
There’s also “Ascolto” by Ines Dessaint and Tonin Letondu from France. This minimalist structure is an immersive listening experience. When I stood inside, I was able to hear the sounds of the beach more clearly! It certainly was a unique and surreal experience, to say the least.
– Photo credit: winter.stations
As for art installations made by our fellow Canadians, my favourite is “Peak.” It was a collaborative project made by the University of Waterloo School of Architecture and Department of Architectural Engineering.
What impressed me about it is its use of geometric forms to perfectly contrast the sand surrounding it. I also like that it offers shelter against the strong winds I encountered earlier.
Last but not least, there’s also “Solair,” an art installation made by the Toronto Metropolitan University Department of Architectural Science.
This one is quite clever since it harnesses the power of sunlight and wind to produce a mesmerizing dance of rippling shadows and flickering light.
And there you have it. I hope my brief descriptions of their amazing art installations are enough to pique your interest. Best of all, this exhibition is totally free for everyone!
