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SmartCentres plans transit-oriented community at Caledonia Station

SmartCentres’ ArtWalk breaks ground in growing SmartVMC community

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November 19, 2021

ArtWalk’s Three Towers Will Overlook a Nine-acre Central Park and Aim to Give Toronto’s Core a Run for its Money

Source: National Post

It wouldn’t be surprising to find the artist birdO’s massive outdoor mural of a kingfisher, with its technicolor plumage and bright red beak, in Miami’s Wynwood Arts District, where big, trippy murals trail more than 50 blocks. Or even in downtown Toronto.

But this is Vaughan.

“We wanted to bring people together in a COVID-free way,” says Mandy Mail, vice-president of marketing for SmartCentres, who explains the art initiative – along with food trucks and free drive-in movies – was to set the stage for a new mixed-use development called ArtWalk.

The project is part of the 100-acre master-planned community within the 400-acre Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, or SmartVMC, a development that comes with a subway on its doorstep, at Jane and Highway 7.

Developed by SmartLiving, the residential branch of SmartCentres — the retail giant responsible for Walmart-anchored plazas in Canada — the ArtWalk district shares its name with the condominium planned for its core.

In addition to murals, street food and movies, extensive public art is planned for the new community. The PXL Gallery, for instance, launched this past summer. “It’s like a giant Lite-Brite,” says Mail of the 10,000-square-foot outdoor installation. “Because it’s low-resolution, it has beautiful movement. It feels fuzzy, like a memory.”

She adds, “Out of all 100 acres, for me [ArtWalk] is the prime real estate within SmartVMC. It is kitty corner to a nine-acre central park and steps from a new library and a YMCA.”

A mix of materials and palettes are being used to impart variation among the buildings. PHOTO BY PHOTO COURTESY SMARTCENTRES

Bordered by Portage Parkway to the north and Apple Mill Road to the south, ArtWalk is unrolling in four phases. Phase 1 is three mixed-use towers: thirty-eight storeys and 18 storeys that are linked by a podium, alongside a separate six-storey “jewel-box residence” with retail at grade. Suites in the tallest tower range from 500 to 900 square feet. Pricing is not available yet; occupancy is set for January 2026.

Designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects, the buildings will offer a range of floorplates and suite sizes. A European-inspired shared central courtyard will have retail at grade and an urban vibe. A range of natural materials and colour palettes are meant to create variation among the buildings.

Multiple outdoor terraces with gardens, an outdoor movie area, lounge seating with firepits, as well as an outdoor dining space with barbecues are in the plans.

There will also be an indoor/outdoor children’s play area and a 2,500-square-foot co-working space with a sculptural spiral staircase that faces the central courtyard.

Wi-Fi will be available in all common areas and amenities can be booked via mobile app. Suites will include smart thermostats and keyless entry.

“SmartVMC has 20 million square feet of planned development; 3.5 million of that is built or under construction,” says Mail.

The monumental venture started with the launch in 2017 of Transit City, the five towers to the east of ArtWalk. “The demand was unprecedented,” says Mail. “There were 2,500 real estate agents lined up around the corner.”

Originally, it was only going to be one 36-storey tower, says Mail. But interest was strong and the design was adjusted to make it 55 storeys. Pretty soon, a second tower was added, followed by a third, fourth and fifth.

Mail believes COVID concerns have spurred the trend of Canadians relocating from downtown.

“SmartVMC gives them the benefit of life north of the city, but they don’t lose the energy and vibrancy of being in the city centre,” says Mail, who notes a Buca restaurant will be opening in the base of Transit City’s Tower 1, with a goal to bring in additional culinary offerings in the future.

Amenities include a 2,500-square-foot co-working space with a sculptural spiral staircase that faces the central courtyard. PHOTO BY PHOTO COURTESY SMARTCENTRES

But one of the community’s biggest draws, Mail adds, is transit connectivity.

“As I’m looking out my window, I’m two steps away from the subway station. You have the TTC on site, you have the regional bus terminal. You’re five minutes to York University, and 40 minutes to downtown Toronto.”

The construction of the subway was a game-changer in VMC’s story. In the 1990s, SmartCentres focused on finding key locations to introduce Walmart to Canadians.

“We would typically buy 25 to 30 acres of land,” says Mail. “But the seller of [the VMC parcel] at the time refused to split it.” Serendipitously, they ended up with 100 acres.

Then SmartCentres’ founder Mitchell Goldhar got “the call every developer dreams of,” says Mail. The TTC asked if they could extend the subway line so that it terminated at the property.

“Nobody is going to say no to that,” says Mail. “A subway is typically built in a densely populated area to relieve traffic,” but the City recognized that the vacant land had potential.

Cities like London or Paris revolve around open space, Mail notes. “You think of the square: the piazzas in Italy, the big parks in London. Instead of maximizing density and financial gain, the first thing we planned is a nine-acre park.”

The green space runs one block across the property. “It’s the true heart of the community,” says Mail. “We think of open space as the music and the architecture as the lyrics. The building is built around the open space to complement it versus building being the prime focus.”

Suites in ArtWalk’s 38-storey tower range in size from 500 to 900 square feet. Pricing is not available yet. For more information, visit artwalkcondos.com.

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November 2, 2021

First Phase of SmartCentres’ 1900 Eglinton East Impresses at DRP

Source: UrbanToronto

Scarborough’s Golden Mile is poised for a dramatic transformation over the coming decades as a direct result of the new Crosstown LRT line, scheduled to open in 2022. According to City Planning staff, the stretch of big box retail and industrial parks is currently subject to 12 active development applications. The majority of these are large-scale master plans that altogether are proposing upwards of 32,000 new residential units, representing a population increase of roughly 54,000 people. The largest of these master plans is located at 1900 Eglinton East, in the heart of the Golden Mile, where SmartCentres REIT is continuing its journey ‘From Shopping Centres to City Centres’ by redeveloping its existing retail property into a complete mixed-use, transit-oriented community.

Rendering of the first phase towers, image courtesy of SmartCentres REIT

Located on a 29-acre site flanked by the future Pharmacy and Hakimi-Lebovic LRT stations, the phased master plan comprises upwards of 20 mixed-use and residential buildings ranging in height from mid-rise to high-rise; a new street grid; plenty of retail; and an extensive public realm. The master plan also features a new central park, a signature element that SmartCentres prioritizes in its communities, which is the only park currently proposed along the Golden Mile that connects Eglinton through to Ashtonbee Road, with the City identifying potential connections beyond that to the Meadoway that runs just to the north.

Rendering of the first phase looking west from the central park, image courtesy of SmartCentres REIT.

SmartLiving, SmartCentres’ residential sub brand, introduced the first phase of their master plan in March, 2021, and presented it at the Toronto Design Review Panel in July, 2021. The first phase involves two towers of 38 and 40 storeys, located at the southwest corner of the property along Eglinton. The development includes a total of 899 residential units, 1,219m² of retail space, and a new POPS that creates a mid-block pedestrian connection between the two towers. The design of the towers is the work of Peter Clewes and his team at architects-Alliance, along with landscape architects MHBC Planning, who are overseeing the public realm.

Rendering at street level of the first phase showing POPS and Eglinton streetscape, image courtesy of SmartCentres REIT.

Currently existing on the site are several big box retail structures housing close to 30 tenants and over 380,000 square feet of retail, most notably a Walmart Supercentre. The early phases of the master plan will focus on the less-developed portions of the property, particularly the areas along Eglinton to the south that are mainly occupied by surface parking. SmartCentres’ retail development expertise will be leveraged to thoughtfully integrate retail, a key component of complete communities, into all phases of the master plan, which will ensure a continued retail presence on the property. Walmart, specifically, will remain an essential retailer servicing the community for the foreseeable future.

SmartCentres’ long-term plans include a diversity of smaller-scale and larger-format tenants, so look for some creative solutions that include a variety of retail in urban, mixed-use buildings as the master plan progresses. For Phase One, the ground floor of the towers contains retail on all four frontages, primarily located along Eglinton to the south, and extending along the east and west edges of the podiums.

Ground floor plan of the first phase towers, image courtesy of SmartCentres REIT.

The towers themselves are designed with generous setbacks and separation distances that exceed the City’s Tall Building Design Guidelines. They feature architects-Alliance’s signature wraparound balconies, a feature Clewes explained is advantageous for providing passive solar shading in the summer, increased private amenity space for the residents, and more opportunities for creating a unique architectural expression. The towers are clad with alternating screens that form a distinct pattern on the north and south facades.

Site plan of the first phase towers, image courtesy of SmartCentres REIT.

Clewes further elaborated that with the design of the towers, they were taking into consideration how they would be perceived from street level. Eglinton is quite a wide avenue, which allows for a clear view of the full height of the buildings, contrary to many downtown settings where only the streetwall of the podium is typically visible from the street and the tower then becomes mainly a feature of the skyline. With that in mind, the design attempts to create more of a seamless transition between the podium and the tower through staggered setbacks and a cohesive architectural language between the tower and the base.

Rendering of the first phase at street level along Eglinton, image courtesy of SmartCentres REIT.

Panel members were impressed by the design of the towers, calling them “very elegant, modern buildings”. They were also intrigued by the approach taken to designing the towers, saying that there was a certain delicacy to the building grid that created an interesting texture as perceived from the street.

The Panel wanted to see more details of what would be built around the first phase, and SmartCentres acknowledged that the master plan for the larger site is still evolving, explaining that, “What we believe we are able to demonstrate with our first phase is that not only does this fit within the long term vision but also can stand on its own as part of the larger shopping centre for the foreseeable future”. SmartCentres is currently updating and enhancing the master plan, which will be resubmitted to the City in the near future.

Rendering of the first phase looking south toward the POPS, image courtesy of SmartCentres REIT.

There was no vote from the Panel, but the overall reception was unanimously positive, with the request that a more defined master plan be drafted as they move forward with the first phase. The parting words of the Panel emphasized that this project is setting a precedent for “taking a classic kind of retail that has worked very well and thinking about how that might transition” into a more mixed-use, complete community.

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October 5, 2021

SmartCentres Unveils ArtWalk Condos at SmartVMC in Vaughan

Source: UrbanToronto

It doesn’t seem all that long since the centre of Vaughan was just big box stores amid acres of parking… but then the subway arrived with the opening of Vaughan Metropolitan Centre station, and the area has been on a tear ever since. SmartCentres REIT, who own 100 acres adjacent to the station, took the opportunity of the new direct accessibility to Downtown Toronto to make best use of the land through a master plan they developed, gradually bringing a new 20M ft² City Centre to Vaughan surrounding a 9-acre central park.

Looking through the proposed Central Park at SmartVMC, designed by Claude Cormier + Associes for SmartCentres REIT

The plan, developed with Diamond Schmitt Architects and Claude Cormier + Associés, has quickly brought quite a bit of new development to the area that’s just a minute’s drive from Highways 400 and 7. “With five sold out world-class residential towers, and two leased out award-winning office towers, SmartVMC is one of the fastest growing communities in Canada,” Mitchell Goldhar, Executive Chairman and CEO of SmartCentres REIT told us. “This emerging city centre has unparalleled transit connectivity, including a TTC Subway Station and York Regional Bus Terminal on site.”

The first three Transit City towers behind the Smart VMC Bus Terminal, and PwC Building with Library to the left, image by Edward Skira

While current construction immediately to the east is adding more residential buildings, the next parcel of land to be developed has now been revealed; just to the west of Transit City will be the mixed-use ArtWalk District. Launched this past summer with a series of “accessible, experiential art and culture activations,” the ArtWalk District was kicked off with 30,000 ft² of murals painted by acclaimed local and international artists including Ricardo Cavolo, birdO, Ben Johnston, and Jeremy Shantz. Currently, the murals provide a colourful backdrop for ArtWalk’s food truck market, and for a series of free drive-in movies that run every Thursday and Saturday evening.

Mural by renowned Barcelona-based artist Ricardo Cavolo at ArtWalk, image courtesy of SmartCentres

New developments will transform the art district with a four-phase block of new, mixed-use developments from SmartLiving, SmartCentres’ wholly owned in-house residential development brand. The first of these is ArtWalk Condos Phase 1. Goldhar continued “ArtWalk Condos represent our next phase of new residential buildings within SmartVMC; a pedestrian and public art-oriented neighbourhood within a vibrant new city centre. ArtWalk Condos is located at the nexus of a brand-new YMCA and public library, a series of striking public art installations, and a spectacular 9-acre central park that will serve as the heartbeat of the whole community.”

Looking southwest to ArtWalk Condos Phase 1 at Smart VMC, designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects for SmartCentres REIT

Designed by renowned Hariri Pontarini Architects, the first phase of ArtWalk is just to the west of the library, an arrangement of four buildings that will rise around an integrated courtyard. HPA is leading both the architecture and interiors for this phase, bringing varying building and suite sizes to accommodate a diverse range of people and lifestyles. The design is detailed and welcoming, featuring natural materials and colour palettes, “purposefully creating variation between all the buildings while crafting a striking skyline.”

Looking southwest to ArtWalk Condos Phase 1 at Smart VMC, designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects for SmartCentres REIT

The tallest of the four buildings is a 38-storey residential tower at the east end of the courtyard and fronting Buttermill Avenue. It will be joined by a 3-storey podium to an 18-storey residential building on the north side of the courtyard. To the south will be a 6-storey residential building, low enough to allow sunlight to flood the courtyard. At the southeast corner of the site, at the corner of Apple Mill and Buttermill will be a 4-storey mixed-use building. The base of the 6-storey building will feature a co-working space and café which spills into and animates the courtyard. Coverage of the site is 4.63 times, with a total gross floor area of 51,124m², in a mix of 50,281m² of residential space and 590m² of retail. The three buildings count a total of 627 residential units. A single-level underground garage provides 220 parking spaces to serve residents, employees, and visitors, while parking for 383 bicycles is also included.

Courtyard at ArtWalk Condos Phase 1 at Smart VMC, designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects for SmartCentres REIT

Residents of all three buildings will enjoy access to a full roster of amenities in the development, arranged around the courtyard to foster activity and interactions between residents, creating an urban neighbourhood feeling and build a sense of community. Amenities will include multiple lushly landscaped terraces with gardens that variously boast an outdoor dining space with barbecues, intimate lounge seating with firepits, and even an outdoor movie area. Families will benefit from an indoor/outdoor children’s play area, while those working from home will have use of an expansive 2,500 ft² co-working centre facing the courtyard. The double-height co-working space is designed with neutral tones to provide a calming, focus-supporting environment, and a community café will be at hand. A spiral staircase, see below at the back, leads to a breakout area to chat with co-workers or friends.

Co-working space at ArtWalk Condos Phase 1 at Smart VMC, designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects for SmartCentres REIT

ArtWalk will be future-ready when delivered, with WiFi will be offered in all common areas, and an app available for all residents to book amenities, control smart thermostats in suites, provide keyless entry, and more. According to Goldhar, the same holistic approach to master planning SmartVMC has been applied to ArtWalk, including “the active integration of art and culture, the pedestrian focus, and the thoughtful consideration of connectivity with the surrounding amenities.”

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September 20, 2021

SmartCentres REIT Proposes Transformation at South Hill in Richmond Hill

Source: UrbanToronto

The Greater Toronto Area is transforming at a tremendous rate, with about a hundred thousand people looking for new homes in the area every year. Over the last few years, SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust, one of Canada’s largest fully integrated REITs with approximately $10 billion in assets, has become a leader in the intensification of under-utilized land into much-needed housing and new communities across the country, their work in the heart of Vaughan a well-known example of city-building that the company is engaging in.

Acting on behalf of the property owners, SmartCentres REIT is preparing a gradual transformation of the lands of the South Hill Shopping Centre in the heart of Richmond Hill. SmartCentres currently manages the property on Yonge Street at 16th Avenue and has been engaged to lead the development application and approvals process. Located in an area considered by the City of Richmond Hill to be an essential growth node along the Yonge Street Regional Transit Corridor, it is SmartCentres’ intention to “set the standard for the future of Richmond Hill’s Key Development Area” here.

Context map indicating the Phase 1 site, with current and potential transport options highlighted, image courtesy of SmartCentres REIT

At South Hill, SmartCentres is master planning the site for the future; while it is easily accessible from Highway 404 and the 407, the site is being designed as a pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use, transit-oriented development, with potential for future rapid transit access. York Region Transit inaugurated a new VIVA Rapidway along this stretch of Yonge Street in December, bringing dedicated bus lanes and faster service to the area, effectively bringing Finch subway station closer. When the future extension of the Yonge subway to Richmond Hill Town Centre opens, rides to the downtown core will get that much faster again.

With over a dozen retailers operating within the shopping centre, SmartCentres identified part of the property for a first phase transformation to a more urban form. Growing from a five-storey podium, towers would rise to 42 and 45 storeys tall. While it is early enough in the process that a final design is still to be reached, the massing concept by Sweeny &Co Architects has the towers offset from each other so that residents’ access to sunlight and views will be maximized.

Looking northeast to South Hill, Phase 1, image provided by SmartCentres REIT

Retail will be incorporated into the ground floor of the podium of Phase 1, while amenities for the residents will be provided on the fifth floor, both indoors and atop the podium to take advantage of a landscaped rooftop terrace.

As detailed planning continues, SmartCentres is anticipating approvals for Phase 1 in 2022 with a construction start in 2023.

Looking north along Yonge Street beside South Hill, image provided by SmartCentres REIT

Phase 1 is the beginning of a long-term master-planned redevelopment of the shopping centre that aims to provide a mix of uses including diversified residential and retail, all benefiting from connectivity–both in terms of walkability and transit—with SmartCentres looking to create an inviting community and enhance the lives of those who live there.

Looking southeast across Yonge Street to South Hill, Phase 1, image provided by SmartCentres REIT

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August 24, 2021

SmartCentres unveils a permanent 10,000 square foot art installation

Source: Building.ca

SmartCentres unveiled the PXL Gallery, a 10,000 square foot low resolution LED permanent art installation that features rotating exhibits of curated moving artwork by acclaimed digital artists.

Photo Credit: SmartCentres

Located in SmartVMC, SmartCentres’ flagship 100-acre master-planned city centre in Vaughan, the gallery adorns the façade of one of the residential towers. The PXL Gallery is only one of many high-impact art installations that have debuted in Vaughan’s new city centre this summer.

“The PXL Gallery at SmartVMC introduces digital art, a progressive contemporary art form that is on the rise,” says Mitchell Goldhar, Executive Chairman, SmartCentres. “The PXL Gallery is a 10,000 square foot LED canvas, integrated into the building’s design, at the nexus of three 55-storey residential towers, the TTC subway station and the new regional bus terminal. The PXL Gallery brings new meaning to hanging art on the wall.”

The PXL Gallery’s inaugural artwork was curated in collaboration with the City of Vaughan’s Senior Art Curator, Sharon Gaum-Kuchar. An open call for submissions invited artists to submit proposals of their vision. Acclaimed artists Jim Campbell, Rafaël Rozendaal and Rob King were awarded commissions, and their artwork will be the PXL Gallery’s first three rotational features.

Photo Credit: SmartCentres

“Public art is an urban design mechanism that brings vibrancy to the forefront, and gives a personality to the city,” says Ms. Gaum-Kuchar. “The PXL Gallery is theatrical and dynamic. It is not a static entity. The artist’s work is constantly morphing and evolving, and the resulting effect is a sense of transformation that really aligns with the vision for SmartVMC.”

Along with creating artwork for an upcoming PXL Gallery exhibit, San Francisco-based artist and digital pioneer, Jim Campbell, was instrumental in the design and development of the PXL Gallery. Known for his contemporary, low-resolution LED lightworks, Campbell worked alongside SmartCentres, Diamond Schmitt Architects, Studio F Minus and Mulvey & Banani Lighting to investigate LED technology, glass, frit patterns and input standards while conducting substantial testing on the infrastructure supporting the gallery.

Photo Credit: SmartCentres

On display now is Silence, by Rafaël Rozendaal. Based in New York, Rafaël Rozendaal is a Dutch-Brazilian artist who uses the internet as his canvas. Silence is a digital artwork consisting of three ambient moving images. The works are almost abstract, but a suggestion of space and movement hint at experiences of landscape and travel. With restrained, minimal elements of color and rhythm, a maximal experience is created of immersion and contemplation.

Jim Campbell’s work will debut this fall, followed by digital art by Rob King. Best viewed after sundown, the PXL Gallery’s summer hours are daily between 9:00pm and 12:00am. It is located on the west side of Millway Avenue between Portage Parkway and Apple Mill Road in SmartVMC.

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August 20, 2021

SmartCentres unveils largest digital art gallery of its kind in Canada

Source: REMI Network

SmartCentres unveiled Canada’s largest low-res LED art installation, with permanent status, in SmartVMC, its flagship 100-acre master-planned city centre in Vaughan.

At 10,000 square feet, PXL Gallery adorns the façade of one of SmartVMC’s condominium towers and features rotating exhibits of curated moving artwork created by acclaimed digital artists. The LED canvas is integrated into the building’s design and overlooks the on-site SmartVMC regional bus terminal and the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre TTC subway station.

Digital art has been getting trendier over the past decade as technology evolves. As a medium, it offers much versatility. As the City of Vaughan’s Senior Art Curator, Sharon Gaum-Kuchar, explains, “public art is an urban design mechanism that brings vibrancy to the forefront, and gives a personality to the city.”

“The PXL Gallery is theatrical and dynamic,” she adds. “It is not a static entity. The artist’s work is constantly morphing and evolving, and the resulting effect is a sense of transformation that really aligns with the vision for SmartVMC.”

An open call for submissions invited artists to submit proposals of their vision. Artists Jim Campbell, Rafaël Rozendaal and Rob King were awarded commissions, and their artwork will be the PXL Gallery’s first three rotational features.

San Francisco-based artist and digital pioneer, Campbell, was instrumental in the design and development of the PXL Gallery. Known for his contemporary, low-resolution LED lightworks, Campbell worked alongside SmartCentres, Diamond Schmitt Architects, Studio F Minus and Mulvey & Banani Lighting to investigate LED technology, glass, frit patterns and input standards while conducting substantial testing on the infrastructure supporting the gallery.

Photo courtesy of SmartCentres.

Best viewed after sundown, the PXL Gallery’s summer hours are daily between 9:00pm and 12:00am. It is located on the west side of Millway Avenue between Portage Parkway and Apple Mill Road in SmartVMC.

Feature photo courtesy of SmartCentres

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July 28, 2021

A look at four zany and psychedelic new murals in Vaughan

Source: Toronto Life

ArtWalk is a new culture venue in the developing Vaughan Metropolitan Centre area. It’s part of a 100-acre master-planned hub, SmartVMC, and launched this summer by transforming a vacant warehouse with 30,000 square feet of art. The space is an attractive backdrop to ArtWalk’s daily food truck market and drive-in movie screenings, running every weekend through September. And the murals, by local and international artists, were painted over a three-week period in June using 1,000 cans of paint. Here’s a closer look at the art.

Here Comes the Sun

Ricardo Cavolo is a Madrid-based artist known for eccentric and comic-inspired creations. His mural takes over the southern façade of the warehouse, and he directed the painting from Spain. “The worst part of this process was not being there, but the best part has been realizing this kind of magic is possible even when I’m in a different country,” says Cavolo. The bold colours and sunny, vibrant illustrations are meant to symbolize the power of sharing your inner light with the world to get through turbulent times.

Better Together

Toronto artist Ben Johnston—who has painted murals in Serbia, India, Colombia and across North America—stamped his characteristic typography onto the northern façade of the building, using bold pinks and reds. “The colours are associated with joy, warmth, sunshine, enthusiasm and optimism,” says Johnston. “Now more than ever, we need to work together to create a better future.”

Birds of a Feather

Multidisciplinary artist Jerry Rugg, known in street-art circles as BirdO, added his signature blend of animals and geometric shapes to the western façade of the warehouse. For this project, Rugg wanted to include a long-beaked kingfisher, which would fit his horizontal canvas perfectly. “My style is a merging of my interests: graffiti that pops up in unexpected places, surrealism that’s conceptually strange and graphic design that assembles the parts in a harmonious way,” says Rugg.

An Exploration of Our Timespace

The central figure in Montreal-based Jeremy Shantz’s abstract piece on the eastern façade is a disembodied character floating in a liminal space. Shantz created the drawing and worked with local artists to complete the project, in order to illustrate the different elements it takes to build a community. “Mural art is a fantastic platform for collaboration,” he says. “The talented artists interpreted the drawing through their hands, creating the most beautiful work of art.”

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July 25, 2021

Have an artistic flair? Then you should check out the Toronto events on this week

Source: The Hamilton Spectator

Ready to get out and be creative? If so, you’re in the right place as Toronto is the only city in the country designated a UNESCO Creative City of Media Arts. With the arts on our minds, here’s a roundup of the happenings around town

Immersive Van Gogh exhibition

It starts right on our home turf, with the ImmIt starts right on our home turf, with the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibition inside the Toronto Star building at 1 Yonge St. Continuing the trend of immersive digital art experiences, the exhibit delivers one of the greatest artists of all time through art, light, sound, movement and imagination. Opens July 29. To buy tickets, visit vangoghexhibit.ca.

imagineNATIVE at the DriveInTO

Enjoy a free outdoor film at Ontario Place on July 27 at 9:30 p.m. As part of DriveInTO, imagineNATIVE will screen Falls Around Her, a dramatic feature that follows a world-famous Anishinaabe musician Tantoo Cardinal returning home. The film was the opening gala film at the 2018 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival where it won the Air Canada Audience Choice Award.

ROM reopens

The ROM is now welcoming back visitors, with safety measures like timed-ticketing and wider spacing for physical distancing in place. Current featured exhibitions include The Cloth that Changed the World: India’s Painted and Printed Cottons, and Great Whales: Up Close and Personal. To get tickets, visit rom.on.ca.

ArtWalk at SmartVMC

It’s a summer-long art celebration in the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. ArtWalk features massive art murals, free drive-in movies and a food truck market. For more information, visit smartvmc.com.

Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N.

Your mission awaits at the Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. Running from July 29 until September inside Yorkdale Mall, the experience boasts 25,000 sq. ft. of fun for all ages. Interact with sets, props and costumes, uncover Avenger backstories and test your worthiness lifting Thor’s Hammer. Visit avengersstationcanada.com for ticket information.

Walking tours at Toronto History Museums

Select City of Toronto Museums are now offering exterior walking tours through HistoricTO. Join Alan Colley from Toronto Aboriginal Eco Tours every Sunday from now until the end of August at Todmorden Mills, where you can learn, in a meaningful way, Indigenous cultural teachings. Visit Toronto History Museums to plan your visit.

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July 16, 2021

From food trucks to drive-in movies, ArtWalk district opens in Vaughan’s emerging downtown core

Source: Yorkregion.com

ArtWalk features 30,000 square feet of vibrant “Instagrammable” artwork

What’s the value of a downtown area if there is no art, street food or entertainment?

This is exactly why Vaughan’s emerging downtown core saw its first-ever art district, also known as ArtWalk, recently open up with a “collection of experiential activations,” according to a press release by SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust.

SmartCentres is behind the 100-acre master-planned city centre in the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre.

The ArtWalk has 30,000 square feet of vibrant “Instagramable” artwork, painted by four acclaimed international and local artists.

“The murals are the backdrop for ArtWalk’s daily Street Eats food truck market, and a free series of drive-in movies, running every Thursday and Saturday through September,” the release added.

FREE DRIVE-IN MOVIES

Starting July 10, SmartCentres launched a bi-weekly series of free drive-in movies to compliment the ArtWalk murals. The outdoor theatre runs every Thursday and Saturday evening through September, screening a variety of cult classic and family-favourite movies in a safe and fun environment.

FOOD TRUCK MARKET

Rounding out ArtWalk’s summer activations, SmartCentres has engaged Street Eats to set up a food truck market on site. From authentic Latin tacos to BeaverTails to Toronto’s “OG” mac ’n’ cheese truck, the market has something for every palate, with more vendors that have yet to be announced.

ArtWalk Street Eats is open daily at 101 Edgeley Blvd. in SmartVMC, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. The hours extend to 10 p.m. on drive-in movie nights.

For more information on the ArtWalk activations, including movie listings, showtimes and registration, please visit smartvmc.com/events.

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