Planet Storage of Toronto has transformed part of its facility into “Holding Patterns,” a temporary art exhibit procured by Art Spin, a local organization that specializes in using decommissioned venues and unusual public spaces to produce large-scale group displays. Through Oct. 21, the public can view the work of 20 artists who have adapted storage units of various sizes into creative installations.
The exhibit is spread across three floors of the self-storage facility at 1655 Dupont St., which was created from the former Viceroy Rubber factory. Art Spin curators Layne Hinton and Rui Pimenta first held an exhibition at the site in 2010 when it was a vacant, 10,000-square-foot warehouse, according to the source. The new showing is meant to convey personal stories as well as the history of urban development and community migration.
“Holding Patterns explores movement, space, belonging, material culture and transition,” according to a description posted on the Art Spin website. “The exhibition investigates consumerism and the glorification of materialism, and touches on forms of marginalization in reference to issues of site-lessness, connoted by storage facilities.”
The exhibit opened on Oct. 11. It’s open 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. It’s closed on Monday and Tuesday. Admission is free, though Art Spin is accepting donations to help cover its costs.
The storage site was conceived as a community space. “Although self-storage is our main focus, Planet Storage is a community made up of local artist studios, designers and commercial businesses,” according to the company website. “And with our large indoor space available, Planet Storage has become a popular place to hold events.” In addition to typical climate-controlled storage space, the facility offers multiple loft-style office spaces designed to “foster creativity and collaboration.”
Sources:
The Star, Toronto’s Planet Storage Has Been Transformed Into a Temporary Art Gallery
Art Spin, Holding Patterns
Planet Storage, Website
