Winners of 2018 Ice Breakers competition revealed

TORONTO — Ice Breakers 2018 features five wintertime art installations that will be displayed on Queens Quay West in Toronto until Feb. 25.

The second annual temporary waterfront art exhibit, presented by the Waterfront BIA and produced by Winter Stations, asked artists and designers to create installations using the theme “constellation.” A giant red bear reclining in the snow, a cabin made from tree roots and a jingling wind chime constellation are just some of the winning installations that visitors can experience.

According to a media release, the Ice Breakers jury met in October 2017 to choose the final five art installations that would be built and featured along Queens Quay West between York Street and Spadina Avenue. Over 100 international submissions were reviewed and the winners were chosen based on their originality, feasibility and how interactive and engaging the installations could be.

The name Ice Breakers is inspired by the utilitarian ships once used in Toronto’s harbour to break up frozen bodies of water, keeping commerce flowing into and out of the city, states the release, adding Ice Breakers is also a testament to the power of design, bringing strangers together and sparking a fresh dialogue about Toronto’s urban Waterfront.

“After the huge success of last year’s Ice Breakers event, we decided to open the exhibit up as an international competition for 2018. We were looking for installations that would bring colour, warmth and activity to the waterfront,” said Carol Jolly, executive director, the Waterfront BIA, in a statement.