Loop Sessions Toronto: Bentway Sound Art Jam
Join us for a site-specific walk where you’ll learn to make field recordings and use vinyl records to create new soundscapes with Loop Sessions Toronto.
Goldenrod Foraging and Natural Dyeing Workshop with Julia Rose Sutherland
Join Julia Rose Sutherland in collaboration with The Bentway for an immersive and eco-conscious workshop where we’ll take a unique stroll under the Gardiner Expressway, exploring the urban landscape and foraging for native species of goldenrod.
Gardiner Green Pockets and Urban Nature Walk with Toronto Field Naturalists
Join the current president of Toronto Field Naturalists, Zunaid Khan and past president Ellen Schwartzel as we will explore the nature pockets in and around The Bentway.
Communal Table 2023: Mskomini Giizis (Raspberry Moon)
Join Dashmaawaan Bemaadzinjin (They Feed the People) for a shared meal that originates from the sky, the water, the land and the kitchens of our families.
Communal Table 2023: Indonesian Rendang
Chef Elita of NaiNai shares a few distinctive and authentic Indonesian recipes. Home of the original “Spice Islands”, Indonesia has been a culinary destination for centuries, sharing spices like nutmeg and clove with the rest of the world while absorbing and reimagining Indian, Chinese, Arabic, Thai and Dutch influences.
Greening Your Grounds: Gardening for Birds, Butterflies and Beyond
Helping the environment starts in your balconies, backyard, and public spaces! Learn how to attract and protect native pollinators, such as Monarch butterflies and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Plus: learn how to start native wildflowers from seed in hand-decorated paper pots.
Communal Table 2023: Turkish Delight
Chef Tuba Tunç’s selection of contemporary, flavourful and inspired dishes reflect the ancient culinary tradition of Turkey, stretching back to the very beginnings of Western civilization.
City Sketching with Julie Ourceau
During this workshop you will learn to develop your sense of observation to depict a bit of everything that surrounds you in your sketchbook, this could include nature, buildings, people, market scenes, architectural details.
Communal Table 2023: Momo Party
Join Tsewang & Lhundup of TC’s Tibetan Momo, for a taste of traditional Tibetan fare. Momos — hearty dumplings of simple dough wrapped around delectable fillings, served steamed or fried with spicy sauce — are probably Tibet’s best known culinary export.
Communal Table 2023: Viva Colombia
Chef Cookie Martinez brings Colombian street food to life at this shared dining experience, featuring a classic dish from Colombia, patacón pisao – green plantain that has been fried and pressed flat, then refried until crisp and served with a range of tasty toppings!
Communal Table 2023: Mdaamiin Giizis (Corn Moon)
Join Dashmaawaan Bemaadzinjin (They Feed the People) for a shared meal that originates from the sky, the water, the land and the kitchens of our families.
Bentempus Gardinus: A Long-Exposure Ecological Portrait
May 26 to Sep 24, 2023 - Viewable 24 hours a day
Geometric animal sculptures emerge from the Gardiner, representing species who’ve inhabited this place across time – from prehistoric woolly mammoths to sly modern foxes. Alex Sheriff’s speculative new work uncovers each of their stories and reconsiders our own role within natural history.
Eco-Art Workshops
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Taking inspiration from the Beyond Concrete installations, participants are invited to experiment with the same practices, materials, and ecologies showcased this season through a series of creative workshops.
Atmospheres
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What can the wind teach us about our city’s infrastructure and our own needs for comfort? Atmospheres manifests this powerful force into a series of soaring soft sculptures, sound, and video that both generates and visualizes environmental data collected under the Gardiner.
Balete Bulate Bituka
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An otherworldly creature germinates at The Bentway, its parasitic tentacles emerging from the history of waste materials used as landfill to create the solid ground where the Gardiner now sits. Woven with bamboo, living plants, and locally-sourced discarded plastics, Leeroy New’s first North American commission presents nature reasserting itself amidst concrete infrastructure.
The Bentway Animal Parade
Join a community parade honouring the resilient urban animals who persist along highways and streets, with special guest Little Amal. Local residents are invited to create their own animal mask or welcome flag celebrating Little Amal’s visit to The Bentway on June 10. Presented with Luminato Festival Toronto, with creations by Red Pepper Spectacle Arts.
The Bentway Block Party (2023)
The Bentway Block Party is back! Join us for our annual signature event with a full program of performances, music, street food and drink, art workshops, summertime vibes, and community celebration. All free, all are welcome.
Walking Workshops
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Participate in walks across the Gardiner corridor paired with hands-on learning experiences such as urban foraging, local flora and fauna identification, and exploring the sights and sounds of the Bentway.
WOODS
Saturday May 27 (performances at 1:30pm and 3:30pm) & Sunday May 28 (performances at 1:30pm and 3:30pm)
A forest of upside-down human bodies grows out of the concrete, set against Toronto’s high-rise horizon. In WOODS, performers’ bodies struggle to maintain their verticality, calling attention to the struggle faced by nature itself: How long can the body resist? How long can our forests survive?
Wellness Workshops
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Join us in a monthly series to experience The Bentway environment as a space where we can gather to pause, ground, reset and drop into our senses together. Each session we will explore different techniques of getting to know ourselves, what we need, and how to nurture this through mindful different activities and movements.
The Aliens of Manila
Nuit Blanche, September 23 with performances at 10pm, 11pm, 12am, 1am
A companion to his installation at The Bentway, Leeroy New’s The Aliens of Manila is a set of sculptural costumes made from locally-sourced discarded plastics. At first glance eye-catching and whimsical, the Aliens call attention to experiences of overseas Filipino workers as an essential, yet invisible workforce across the globe.
Opening Weekend Talks, Tours, and Workshops
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Join us at our Beyond Concrete Opening Weekend for a series of talks, tours, and workshops that explore the unique urban ecosystem that thrives under the Gardiner.
Communal Table 2023: Trini Liming
Trinidadian cultural ambassador Rhoma Spencer shares the convivial spirit of an island lime — hanging out, drinking, joking and eating together with friends — with this lovely meal of Caribbean favourites.
Earth Dreams: A Summer Party for Grief & Love
Artist studio Nocturnal Medicine, known for their recent “Rave For Eco Grief” in New York, present a contemporary festival that centres both joy and sorrow, dancing and meditation, as we confront our planetary health crisis. Equal parts DJ dance party and urban ritual.