MEDIA RELEASE
TORONTO, Ontario, November 1, 2017 – A stunning new public art installation, Spectrum, by internationally-acclaimed artist, designer and engineer Cecil Balmond was dedicated today at Concert’s new flagship mixed-use development, 88 Scott. Balmond, of Balmond Studio in London, England, attended the art dedication ceremony on November 1, 2017, along with David Podmore, Chairman and Co-Founder of Concert, and Jane Perdue, Public Art Coordinator for the City of Toronto.
Spectrum, a three-dimensional work with intersecting planes creating a geometry of polygon shapes at different scales, is suspended from the second storey ceiling of 88 Scott’s public atrium, with a secondary two-dimensional piece extending under the soffit of the retail podium. This is Balmond’s second public art installation in Canada.
"Spectrum runs in a river of colour with vortex and swirling flow around the high void of the 88 Scott Street lobby. But its precise geometry and angled intersecting planes introduces a quantum ambiguity – is it a solid wave or a liquid geometry?" said Balmond, highlighting what will encourage passersby to come in and experience the artwork.
Balmond has been described as one of the most significant artists of his time. At the intersection between art and science, his work has been exhibited in public spaces and in galleries around the globe. Balmond has received numerous awards, including the 2016 Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medal in Architecture for his exemplary contributions, and the Office of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for Services to Architecture.
Public art commissions by Balmond Studio include the Star of Caledonia, a world-class sculptural icon to mark the England-Scotland border; Infinita, a floating sculpture that will be a headliner at the Amsterdam Light Festival; and Freedom Sculpture in Santa Monica, California, the most widely crowdfunded artwork in U.S. history.
David Podmore commented, “We are committed to contributing to the communities where we build, and are honoured to showcase this spectacular artwork by such a renowned artist.” Kelly Wilson, Concert’s Vice President, Development added, “A truly great team has come together to develop 88 Scott, Concert’s landmark addition to the Toronto skyline.”
88 Scott is a mixed-use development with a 58-storey contemporary residential condominium tower including a 5-storey office and retail podium. It is located at the corner of Scott and Wellington Streets within the downtown core on the edge of the historic St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood of Toronto.
About Concert
Founded in 1989, Concert specializes in developing rental apartments, condominium homes and retirement communities, acquiring and developing office, industrial and infrastructure properties, and in property management. With operations across Canada and the backing of more than 200,000 Canadians represented by the union and management pension plans who own Concert, our commitment is to build strong, sustainable communities.
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Photo Credits: George Pimentel