The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery recently had an exhibit, “Colourful Parachutes: Imagining Alternative Futures Through the Power of Play” (now finished). From the Power Plant website:
“A key theme underlying Colourful Parachutes is the relationship young people have to the future. Many of the works in the exhibition touch on the vital importance of fostering a relationship to the natural world during childhood, the increasing sense of eco-anxiety carried by young people, and how to advocate for child-led environmental activism.”
“The title is borrowed from Ailton Krenak’s book Ideas to Postpone the End of the World (2019), in which the Brazilian Indigenous philosopher and environmental activist suggests using creativity and dreaming to create colourful parachutes that might slow our fall. Krenak asks: “What sort of world are you boxing and wrapping for future generations? You keep talking about another world, but have you asked the generations of tomorrow if the world you’re building is the world they want?”
below: Kids playing in ‘Chrysalis and Butterfly’, an installation by Leisure (aka Meredith Carruthers & Susannah Wesley).
below: Climbing frame that kids were allowed to play on. Created by Sassa Linklater.
below: Part of “A Decision Between Us” by Claire Greenshaw. This started as a large pencil (graphite) drawing of the Athabaska Glacier that covered an entire wall. What you see lying on the floor are partially used erasers. People were invited to erase parts of the picture.
below: This is the top left corner of the drawing where some of the detail of the original still remains.
below: The next few images are from “Dream Lab” by Rivane Neuenschwander which is full of lights and shadows. It wants us to look at a world of dreams – do your dreams tap into your innermost wants and fears? The shapes used to decorate the installation were taken from children’s drawings of their dreams. Some of these silhouette/shapes were available as shadow puppets to play with. Some of the walls were a chalkboard for people to draw on.
below: This is 0ne of the many little ships that were created by Robin Rhode and then silk-screened onto the gallery walls. A group of school kids were then given the opportunity to draw the blue waves.
below: Outside of the Power Plant, in Ontario Square, is this large portrait. Fanny “Bobbie” Rosenfeld (1904-1969) was one of the first Canadian women to compete in the Olympics. In 1928 she won two medals in track and field. Arthritis limited her athletic career; instead she became a journalist at the Globe and Mail where she wrote about women’s sports. This portrait is one in a series called “The 52” as there are 52 Toronto women being featured. It is a Museum of Toronto project. Two other portraits hang near this one (Phyllis Bomberry – softball and Angela James – hockey). All three women helped to transform women’s sports in Canada.
Also outside of the Power Plant (where there used to be a pond) is an area covered in mist. Many places have splash pads where little water fountains erupt out of the ground. Here it is mist, not water. It is still fun to play in and you don’t get as wet!
