Oxford Properties Group (“Oxford”), a leading global commercial real estate investor, developer and manager, is changing the face of Toronto’s Financial District with the unveiling of Dreaming, a $2 million public art installation weighing more than 2.5 tonnes and scaling over three stories high. Created by Spanish artist, Jaume Plensa, who is known for his large-scale public art installations in major cities around the world, Dreaming will alter the area’s streetscape and anchor a reimagined public plaza called The Terrace at Oxford’s Richmond-Adelaide Centre.
Dreaming is a cast stone portrait created of white marble and resin, installed on top of a base that will serve as a public bench to encourage the public to enjoy the reimagined outdoor public space. The portrait of a young girl with her eyes closed in quiet contemplation was created with the intention of passersby looking inward. Plensa’s vision is for the art to act as a metaphor for humanity’s dreams for the future and for a shared human experience; a concept needed now more than ever before.
Dreaming creator, Jaume Plensa, has received numerous national and international awards and has created large-scale public art installations that can be found in global cities such as New York, London, Singapore and Tokyo. Dreaming is the only sculpture by Plensa in public view in Toronto.
“We are invested in Toronto’s urban landscape and in creating a magnetic destination that inspires people,” said Eric Plesman, Oxford Properties’ Executive Vice President for North America. “The Dreaming installation is a landmark sculpture that will attract visitors from the immediate community and broader audiences to a public plaza that will support the vitality of downtown Toronto and our ongoing evolution as a world class city.
“This is a crucial time to bring inspiring outdoor spaces that encourage connection between urban development, art and the community. After months of staying at home, Dreaming will be there to welcome back workers, residents and visitors as we start to bring back vitality to the downtown core. She gives a message of hope, courage and quiet contemplation at a time of great upheaval in all of our lives.”
“The installation of this large-scale sculpture at the Richmond-Adelaide Centre’s new Terrace couldn’t have come at a better time for residents seeking socially distant ways to enjoy Toronto’s outdoor, public art,” said Mayor John Tory. “I want to thank Oxford Properties for embracing its commitment to public art with the selection of Dreaming which will catch the eye of every passerby at this newly restored commercial plaza. The restoration and redevelopment of the surrounding office buildings represent a multi-year revitalization initiative by Oxford that will greatly improve our city’s Financial District.”
Dreaming, marks the culmination of the $650 million, multi-year and multi-building revitalization initiative by Oxford Properties at Richmond-Adelaide Centre. The revitalization comprises the recently completed restoration and redevelopment of the heritage-listed 85 Richmond Street, the recladding of 120 and 130 Adelaide street, the restoration of 111 Richmond, and the addition of the 100 Adelaide Street tower to Toronto skyline in 2017. Other notable public art located in the immediate buildings include a preserved mosaic by Group of Seven member J.E.H MacDonald found in the entranceway to 100 Adelaide Street.
Oxford Properties has made a self-directed Toronto Financial District art walk guide available to help the public engage with the many outdoor landmark sculptures and paintings throughout the area. The art walk will help provide a safe, outdoor activity to with a goal of boosting the number of people visiting the downtown core to increase the pedestrian traffic that retailers, coffee shops and food outlets across the Financial District rely upon.
For sculpture images and videos, click here.
The self-directed Toronto Financial District art guide can be found here.
