Pillars of Change

Part of the Community Arts Space

The Gardiner Museum and No.9 Contemporary Art & The Environment have partnered to encourage action on important social and environmental issues, and amplify the work of prominent and emerging BIPOC and 2SLGBTQ+ identifying artists. The Pillars of Change project is rooted in No.9’s Pillars of Sustainability, nine essential components for cultivating healthy communities: Open Green Space, Food Security, Green Building Design, Alternative Energy, Civic Engagement & Leadership, Public Art & Design, Waste Management, Water Management, and Transportation.

Each artist has created poster artwork in both an open edition—a version that can be customized and remixed by you—and an artist edition. The artist editions are now on display in our street-level light box signs.

Personalize your Pillars of Change artwork and share your creation with us online for the chance to see it displayed in large-scale formats, like digital billboards, around Toronto. This project is open to all ages and abilities!

Download the customizable posters at PillarsofChange.art

Programs

Pillar of Change Artist Panel
Tuesday August 24 at 1 pm
Join us for virtual artist panel hosted by award-winning interdisciplinary artist and designer, Sean Martindale, who will be in conversation with artists, Kellen Hatanaka, Brian Jiang, and Vivian Rosas. Learn more

About the Artists

Kellen Hatanaka is a multidisciplinary artist from Toronto, living and working in Stratford, Ontario. His vibrant, figurative work is centered around heritage, tradition, identity and representation. He has exhibited in Canada and internationally, and has created many public artworks. In 2016, he was awarded the Governor General’s Award along with Jon-Erik Lappano for their book, “Tokyo Digs a Garden.”

Brian Jiang (they/them) grew up in the suburbs of the Greater Toronto Area. Their childhood consisted of tough loving parents, the aroma of home-cooked Chinese meals, and finding joy in drawing mediocre pictures. Brian’s work is informed by their love of discordant yet satisfying colour combinations, the balance between gestural forms and intricate details, folk art, and analogue media.

Vivian Rosas is a Toronto-based queer, Mestizx/Latinx multidisciplinary illustrator, dancer, and muralist. Feminism, empowerment, and diversity are recurring themes in her work. Her goal is to create imagery that expresses a sense of inclusiveness for underrepresented communities.

Community Arts Space Lead Sponsor

Supporting Sponsor

Susan Crocker & John Hunkin