Aquarium public art contest includes local artists, judges

By Dennis Hanagan –

Toronto artists Michael Awad and David Rokeby have been named to compete with artists from Montreal and New York to provide an art installation at the 14,000 square-metre Ripley’s aquarium next to the CN Tower.

In a presentation to the Toronto Public Art Commission in July, consultants said a preliminary budget of $500,000 has been set aside for the project. Plans calls for installing the winning artwork by the spring of 2013.

Rokeby of the Queen and Niagara neighbourhood is a featured artist at the Pari Nadimi Gallery at 245 Niagara St., while Awad of Little Italy holds the same title at Nicholas Metivier Gallery at 451 King St. at Spadina.

The art—which Ripley’s wants to be “memorable, distinctive and eye-catching”—will be in two sections, the primary one in the aquarium’s main entrance with its soaring lobby, and a secondary one at the southeast corner which faces Bremner Blvd. The community and planners had requested “an enhanced treatment” of that corner of the building.

A jury comprised of a Ripley’s representative, the aquarium’s architect and three art experts will judge concepts submitted by the artists.

Artists are required to show that their art can be viewed from inside and outside the building by day and night, be resistant to environmental conditions, and be “mindful of public safety.”