Grab a drink of the Café and mosey on up to the second floor, where the Gladstone Hotel will host The Toronto Love Sauna.

The Toronto Love Sauna is a public installation that transforms a room at the Gladstone into a community-accessible sauna for the 2012 Valentine's Day.  Based on the theme of winter solace, the project stems from a reaction to current sauna and bathhouse practices that exist in North America under segregated circumstances, as well a desire to bring Torontonians together during the isolated winter season. The goal is to create an authentic sauna experience through the use of electric heat sources and cedar, supplemented by media elements such as sound and light. The Toronto Sauna Project will offer a warm retreat, enticing the local community into a comfortable space that is all at once relaxing, reflective, and fun.

The installation will be in operation during from 5pm on Friday, February 10th until 8pm on Sunday, February 12th, and by appointment on Valentine's Day at the Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen Street West, Toronto.

Participants are encouraged to bring shorts and a t-shirt and towel. Some extra outfits and towels will be provided for those without.

Hours:
Friday 5-8pm
Saturday 2-8pm
Sunday 2-8pm
Tuesday/Valentine's by appointment
To book an appointment email: torontolovesauna@gmail.com with your preferred times

This project was presented at FEAST 02, and was a winner of the FEAST Project Grant. Click here to view the original proposal, and congratulations to Shannon Linde and Edward Birnbaum on the successful realization of their project.

Rapid City Prototype -- April Wong and Zach Pearl

Zach Pearl and April Wong won the FEAST XPACE Student Grant at FEAST 02 with their proposal for Rapid City Prototype. Click here to read their proposal, and see below for images of the durational work that took place at the Gladstone Hotel in September 2011.

Photos from FEAST 02

Sean Martindale presents his FEAST 01 grant-winning project at FEAST 02.

Alison, our awesome DJ, hard at work.

A fancy array of sandwiches, new potatoes and green salad by chef Lisa.

A creative take on strawberry shortcake for dessert.

Participants and guest enjoy the picnic theme, and talking to each other, between presentations.

FEAST 02 Student Grant Winner

Curator Zach Pearl and artist/designer April Wong are the recipients of the FEAST XPACE Student Grant.

April Wong, installation view

Rapid City Prototype | Project Summary

"For FEAST 02 I am proposing an 'evolving' installation piece by by April Wong in the provided Gladstone studio. This piece will take the Gladstone and its surroundings as its subject matter, and reflect the current gentrification of the Queen Street West area while making commentary from its community visible.

Both a practicing artist and a masters student in architecture at the University of Toronto, Wong's work manifests as graphic, pattern-heavy cityscapes and tectonic forms that feature characters who are caught in the throes of their chaotic environment. Concerned with the cultural 'symptoms' of gentrification and the visual transformation of the cityscape as an index of locality, Wong intends to cover the entire surface of the Gladstone studio with drawings that mirror the increasing architectural dissonance of Queen Street West. To make her installation participatory, Wong will construct her piece in several layered, overlapping panels of materials like mylar, parchment and plexiglass. Wong will then lead a seven day series of two-hour workshops in which she will invite viewers to become collaborators by rearranging the composition of the pre-existing panels and generating new patterns, buildings and characters to add individual voices and perspectives from the community." - Zach Pearl

April Wong, installation view

Winners of FEAST 02 grants

We are pleased to announce that Shannon Linde & Edward Birnbaum are the winners of the FEAST Project Grant, and Zack Pearl & April Wong are the winners of the XPACE FEAST Student Grant.

'Toronto Sauna Project', rendering

Thank you to all the presenters and participating diners for making FEAST 02 a great event. More information on the winning proposals and photos of the dinner to come.

Shannon Linde & Edward Birnbaum, 'Toronto Sauna Project'

The Toronto Sauna Project (working title) is a public installation that takes over an otherwise closed-for-the-season Toronto Parks building in MacGregor Park, transforming the space into a community-accessible sauna for two consecutive weekends in Februrary 2012. Based on the theme of winter solace, the project stems from a reaction to current sauna and bathhouse practices that exist in North America under segregated circumstances, as well a desire to revive unused public space during the long winter months. The goal is to create an authentic sauna experience through the use of electric heat sources and cedar, supplemented by media elements such as sound and light. The Toronto Sauna Project will offer a warm retreat from Toronto’s longest, and often most isolated, season, inviting the community into a comfortable space that is all at once relaxing, reflective, and fun. 

Inspirations for 'Toronto Sauna Project'

Images of Toronto sauna culture

Site for 'Toronto Sauna Project'

Buy FEAST 02 tickets online

Tickets for FEAST 02 are available online. Click here to purchase yours!

FEAST is happening Wednesday, June 15, 2011 at XPACE Cultural Centre from 7-10 PM.

What is FEAST?

FEAST (Funding Engaging Actions with Sustainable Tactics) Toronto is a series of community dinners and micro-funding events. During each dinner, artists, designers and groups are invited to present proposals for art- or design-based projects. Everyone attending the dinner votes on which project they would like to fund, and the project with the most votes is given a grant from the money raised from the ticket sales.

The ticket cost for the locally-sourced, vegetarian dinner is a sliding scale of $20-30 (and $10 for students with valid student ID).

FEAST works on the basis that the more that people can share, the larger the grants are that we can provide. At our last FEAST event we were able to fund two fantastic projects by Sean Martindale and Matt Moreland.

Toronto’s FEAST is in its infancy. With your support we hope to see this event continue to grow.

How it works:

1. Buy a ticket for the dinner on June 15, 2011 at XPACE Cultural Centre
2. Enjoy dinner and conversation with your friends and community
3. Over the course of dinner artists present project proposals for your consideration
4. Everyone votes for which project they would like to fund
5. The project with the most votes is funded from the money raised from ticket sales

Tickets are first come, first serve so get your tickets now! Available online at bookwhen.com/feast.
For any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact us at info@feast-toronto.com.

Tickets for FEAST 02 -- June 15, 2011

We're still working on setting up an online system for ticket sales, and hope to have that running soon. Until then, follow us by email (use the gadget on the right, under our profile) and you'll get the latest news on when and how to buy tickets for FEAST 02.

There's still time to submit a proposal. Details in the post below.

FEAST 02 Call for Proposals -- due May 20, 2011

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Come FEAST with us!

We are looking for proposals for FEAST 02, taking place on Wednesday, June 15, 2011 at 7pm at  XPACE Cultural Centre, 58 Ossington Avenue, Toronto. 

FEAST 02 proposals should include:

A Project Summary (1), and the answers to the following questions:

(2) How will you use funding to realize your project?

(3) Why is this project critical to the FEAST community (e.g. why would the FEAST community be interested in supporting your project)?

(4) The names and contact information for all of your presenters

Each of the chosen participants presents a 5-7 minute presentation to the gathered guests over dinner, and then everyone gets a chance to vote on which projects they would like to fund.  The money raised from the dinner (estimated at $600+, and a 1 week studio rental at the Gladstone Hotel*) will go to fund the chosen project.  We will also have a dedicated student grant of $300.

Each section of the proposal (1-4) should be no longer than 100 words.  Remember these will be short presentations, so keep it brief and to the point!  In order to be considered for FEAST funding, you must be able to attend the dinner event. Tickets for this locally-sourced, vegetarian dinner will be $20-30, and $10 for students.

+ Proposals are due by: Friday May 20, 2011

+    Email your complete proposals to info@feast-toronto.com with the subject line: FEAST 02 Submission. Please indicate clearly on your proposal if you are applying for the student grant.

FEAST Toronto was founded by Amber Landgraff and Deborah Wang. FEAST 02 is a collaboration between Amber, Deborah and Dave Morgan. This event is co-presented by XPACE Cultural Centre, and sponsored by the Gladstone Hotel. Take a look at our website for details and photos of FEAST 01. If you would like to support feast with a small or large donation, please contact us at info@feast-toronto.com.

* Exact dates subject to availability; must be redeemed by September, 30th 2011.