Tee Up Downsview
Northcrest Developments commissioned STEPS to identify artists to bring a unique 9-hole mini golf course to life at the Hangar District, the first area earmarked for development.
Project at a glance
Location: 30 Hanover Road Toronto, ON M3K 1L3
Artist(s): Abiola Idowu, Afifa Bari, Andre Kan, Anthony Ricciardi, Asli Alin, Chris Foster, Meghan Cheng, Quentin VerCetty, Sangmin Lee
Year: 2023
Photographer/Videographer: Anushay Sheikh, Garcia Creative, Selina McCallum
Services: Public Art Management
9
artists
9
unique mini golf courses
2,500
visitors
About Tee Up Downsview
Over the next several decades, Northcrest Developments will transform the 370-acre Downsview Airport Lands into a series of vibrant communities. Before development even begins, Northcrest is engaging the community by creating programming events, activations and public art, allowing people to start seeing and using the space in a different way.
As part of a series of free activations, Northcrest Developments commissioned STEPS to shortlist potential artists and ultimately bring a unique 9-hole mini golf course to life.
At the intersection of art and play, this custom pop-up installation was fabricated locally and created by talented artists across visual styles. For several artists, this was their first time designing a playable and functional public art piece. The artists were given creative freedom in translating their visual style into a golf course, resulting in 9 one-of-a-kind courses of various fun challenges and surprises!
“STEPS proved to be a valuable partner by offering an extensive list of diverse local artists, each with varying backgrounds and experience levels. Additionally, STEPS successfully managed the production and construction of the course, leveraging the expertise of a local carpenter. The playful nature of the project resonated well with the community [and] the overall sentiment reflected a sense of joy and enthusiasm, indicating that Tee Up Downsview successfully connected with the community.”
In the fall of 2023 and just in time for National Miniature Golf Day, the family-friendly course was open to the public. With creative mini courses that imagined Ancient Rome to afrofuturism, the pop-up saw 2,500 visitors with more public art installations planned for the coming months.
“Before working with STEPS, I had a lot of public art project ideas but little knowledge of how to bring them to life. After working with STEPS and receiving their help and support, my public art process is much clearer.”
“STEPS understands the process of creating public art from both artist and client perspectives. STEPS not only streamlined this process, making it a hassle-free part of the project, but also instilled a sense of security that allowed me to concentrate on creating.”
About the Artists
Abiola Idowu
Artist
Afifa Bari
Artist
Afifa Bari is a contemporary realist oil painter and textile artist based in Toronto. She earned her BFA from York University in 2020. She is currently pursuing her MFA from OCAD University. Through representational art, she examines the contemporary world through the lens of capitalism, uncovering consumerist values in her work. She discusses issues around ideas of capitalism, such as poverty and the cycle of consumerism. Her work focuses on material possessions and the desire for materialism in the newly advancing society. She discusses fast fashion trends and the constant desire to purchase more in modern society from a socio-political and environmental outlook.
Andre Kan
Artist
Andre Kan is a Toronto based painter. Since graduating from the Ontario College of Art & Design University in 2014, he continues his creative pursuits as an Artist, Muralist, Photographer, Curator, Producer, and Musician. His paintings have been showcased throughout Canada with permanent collections in the U.S and China. His murals can also be seen internationally including London, Spain, Portugal and Taiwan.
Anthony Ricciardi
Artist
Anthony Ricciardi is a renowned multi-disciplinary artist from Toronto, Canada that has traveled internationally showcasing his artwork and murals. His collections have been showcased globally in major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Manchester, Montreal and Sao Paolo. He has curated large-scale artwork and clothing for notable celebrities such as Demi Lovato, Bad Bunny, Post Malone, Shaq and many more. He has also collaborated with major brands such as Disney, Adidas, Coors Light and L’Oreal.
Asli Alin
Artist
Asli Alin is a dynamic artist whose creative explorations span a multitude of disciplines, including painting and installation. With a Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture, Asli brings a unique perspective to her art that captivates and enthralls viewers. Her sculptural work has garnered tremendous interest over the past two years, and she has been invited to participate in major art festivals across Ontario, including Nuit Blanche, Supercrawl, and Lumen. In addition to her sculptural work, Asli is frequently commissioned by corporations and municipalities to create murals in both digital and analog formats. Based in Toronto, Asli continues to push the boundaries of artistic expression, creating truly one-of-a-kind pieces that resonate with audiences.
Chris Foster
Artist
Chris Foster is a multidisciplinary visual artist and carpenter based in Toronto. His creative practice is focussed on immersive exhibitions, site-specific installations and public projects. His art practice examines how local histories and material technologies shape the built environment. His studio practice embraces a do-it-yourself methodology, developing processes for reuse, repair, and maintenance to to reimagine material ecologies and subvert systems of built-in obsolescence. Chris received an interdisciplinary BFA from the Nova Scotia College of Art (NSCAD) in 2008. His clients have included Ontario Place, Harbourfront Centre, Massey Hall, the Ace Hotel and the City of Stratford.
Meghan Cheng
Artist
Quentin VerCetty
Artist
Quentin VerCetty is an award-winning interdisciplinary storyteller known for his Afrofuturistic creations. He explores historical references and symbolism with sci-fi elements in an approach he calls “Sankofanology.” With traditional analog sculpting skills gained during his 2010 OCADU Florence exchange program, he created a streamlined hybrid of 3D digital approaches with rapid prototyping during his 2020 MA at Concordia University. With installations in Belize, USA and across Canada, including Toronto’s first monument of a person of African descent – Stepping Forward Into History, he aims to inspire minds, move hearts, and positively impact tomorrow’s world with his work.
Sangmin Lee
Artist
Project Partner
Our Public Art Management is recognized for being iconic, cost-effective and transformational. From murals to sculptures and projection mapping, STEPS produces one-of-a-kind public art installations with partners that meet your needs.
Ready to get your project started with STEPS?