Ice Breakers returned to the Toronto waterfront once again last month. In mid-January five interactive art installations were built along Queens Quay West between the Harbourfront Centre in the east and the Music Garden in the west.
below: Appropriate for a space called the Music Garden, is a large structure supporting many wind chimes. This is “Ensemble” by Joao Araujo Sousa and Joana Correia Silva of Portugal.
There are two installations in H2O Park.
below: On the west side of the park is “Winter Fanfare” by Thena Tak of Vancouver. It is made from painted layers of wood. After I had walked past this installation I happened to look back to see a group of boys using these wood forms as protection as they had a snow ball fight.
below: Also in H2O park is “Through the Eyes of the Bear”. This giant bear, or rather parts of a bear, is the creation of Tanya Goertzen of Calgary.
below: The large head of the bear is open at the back. With a little crouching you can go inside and look out through the bear’s eyes. It’s got a great view of the CN Tower!
below: Close to the Simcoe Wave Deck (at the bottom of Simcoe Street) is a structure called “Black Bamboo” that you can walk through. It was designed by Bennet Marburger and Ji Zhang of China.
below: Last is “Root Cabin”, a small hut constructed from large tree roots. The day that I walked past these Ice Breakers was early on when they weren’t quite complete. The roots were being arranged, like a puzzle being put together. The pink frame was being used as a guide and the plan was to remove it once the roots were in place. This installation was designed by Liz Wreford and Peter Sampson from Winnipeg.
For more information, Ice Breakers
These installations remain until the 25th of February.
as I walk Toronto 
I love Ice Breakers!