Sustainability
Commissioned by BFPLTO, Tepkik, a 100-foot-long site-specific sculptural work by visual artist Jordan Bennett, graced the Allen Lambert Galleria at Brookfield Place Toronto from July 30 to August 24, 2018, with a striking visual representation of the intersection of Mi’kmaq ancestral and contemporary traditions. Shortlisted for the 2018 Sobey Art Award, Bennett finds inspiration from images and stories created by the practice of artfully removing rock to create a petroglyph. Tepkik draws on the Mi’kmaq petroglyph that depicts the Milky Way, which has been found on the rocky shores of the lakes and rivers at Kejimkujik National Park in Nova Scotia.
Bennett’s work employs both large, printed fabric panels and highly reflective surface elements. The piece creates a link to Mi’kmaq ways of being and understandings of our known universe by presenting a visual conversation exploring Mi’kmaq creation stories.
Jordan Bennett’s largest piece to-date, the sweeping, colourful Polysilk fabric panels used in Tepkik will transport visitors into the realm of the night sky, bringing the stars and stories of our galaxy into view at any time of day. The installation title, Tepkik, is a Mi’Kmaq word for “night”, reflecting on the creation stories that are told through the stars in the sky. Historical references to the sky, land, and our galaxy are illuminated by Bennett’s bright treatment of colour, both traditional and pop, as well as his interpretation of Mi’kmaq quillwork patterns and motifs. By pushing his limits and employing new materials in his art practice, Bennett has given a new forum for these oral traditions to be told and shared. Using over 200 ft of Polysilk fabric and custom reflective vinyl typically used for road signs, Bennett uses contemporary materials to evoke cultural markers of the past.
Tepkik was presented at Brookfield Place New York in the summer of 2019 and was a featured exhibition of The National Gallery of Canada’s Abadakone / Continuous Fire / Feu Continuel in the fall of that year.
About the Artist:
Jordan Bennett is a Mi’kmaq visual artist from Stephenville Crossing, Ktaqamkuk (Newfoundland). He lives and works on his ancestral territory of Mi’kma’ki in Terence Bay, Nova Scotia with his partner in life and art Amy Malbeuf. Jordan’s ongoing practice utilizes painting, sculpture, video, installation, public art and sound to explore land, language, the act of visiting, familial histories and challenging colonial perceptions of Indigenous histories and presence with a focus on exploring Mi’kmaq and Beothuk visual culture of Ktaqamkuk. In the past 10 years Jordan has participated in over 90 group and solo exhibitions nationally and internationally, as well as created numerous public art commissions. He has been the recipient of several awards and honours most notably short listed for the 2018 Sobey Art Award, long listed for the 2016 and 2015 Sobey Art Award, a Hnatyshyn Foundation REVEAL award and presented with the 2014 Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Councils Artist of the Year. Bennett holds a BFA from Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, Memorial University and an MFA from The University of British Columbia, Okanagan.
Little Cloud and three friends are spent their lazy days of summer hanging out in the Allen Lambert Galleria in August 2019. Presented by BFPLTO, Into the Clouds featured four large-scale inflatable clouds created by the Los Angeles based visual arts collective FriendsWithYou.
The cloud has been a recurring image in their work – an enduring symbol of love and light. By animating these simple forms with universally recognized human expressions FriendsWithYou continues to promote a positive message of happiness in their work and connectivity in the world.
About the Artists
Since founding their collective in 2002, works by Samuel Borkson and Arturo Sandoval III have been exhibited nationally and internationally including Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo; Art Basel in Miami Beach; Dallas Contemporary; Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin; The High Line, New York; The Indianapolis Museum of Art; Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara, and the Oakland Museum of California.
Brookfield Place presents World Press Photo, a traveling exhibition of prize-winning images assembled by organizers of the world’s largest and most prestigious annual press photography contest. The exhibition is held every October in the Allen Lambert Galleria, a showcase for creativity in photojournalism and a platform for developments in the profession. For over 60 years the World Press Photo contest has encouraged the highest standards in photojournalism. The contest creates a bridge linking the professionals with the public. As the announcement of the winners makes headlines around the world, so the inspirational role of photojournalism is highlighted to an audience of hundreds of millions.
All the prize-winning photographs are assembled into an exhibition that travels to 45 countries over the course of a year and published in a yearbook. Over two million people visit over a hundred different venues to see the images, and the yearbook is published in seven languages and distributed worldwide.
The contest is judged by leading experts in visual journalism who represent various aspects of the profession. The composition of the jury changes from year to year, they operate independently, and a secretary who has no vote safeguards the fair and balanced judging procedure. To learn more about World Press Photo, visit www.worldpressphoto.org
World Press Photo is run as an independent, non-profit organization with its office in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where World Press Photo was founded in 1955.
Contactless ticket dispensers have been installed at entry points within the Brookfield Place parking garage. Simply wave to dispense your daily parking ticket. For more information, contact the Parking Office at (416) 777-6468.
Brookfield Place is pleased to offer complimentary LIVE stream yoga sessions led by Naturally Nora. They are geared towards all levels and all you need is a yoga mat! Just find a comfortable place in your home and use your smartphone or computer to stream these. Please note that a passcode will be required when joining the class.
Each live event will be broadcast online using ZOOM.us. You can access Zoom via your desktop or download the ZOOM App for ease on your phone.
A video camera or a microphone are not required, as this is a one-way broadcast. However, you are welcomed to ask any questions via the text-based chat tool at the END of the session.
*Reminder* Please disable audio and video prior to the start of each session. This is to ensure everyone participating can hear the instructor.
You are encouraged to click the link below AHEAD OF TIME to check your connection and sound are working. Zoom has recently updated their security measures, as such we encourage you to ensure you have updated to latest version of Zoom App.
We take your privacy seriously. Some additional measures have been put in place to protect participants, including one way presentations from our instructors with audience members on video/audio mute and restricted screen sharing abilities.
Please note that a passcode will be required when joining the class.
Visit our tenant app axiis or the links below for current links and passwords.
