From beavers to basketball hoops: a new public art trail opens in Toronto

A new public art trail, the Lassonde Art Trail (Lat), has opened in Toronto's waterfront area, featuring a diverse range of artworks to improve the city's relationship with its waterways. The iconic piece, Orange Functional (2022) by Cuban artist Alexandre Arrechea, is a monumental tree-like structure covered in red basketball hoops, with over 20 nets at various heights. The trail, funded through a $25m gift from philanthropist Pierre Lassonde, spans two and a half miles and includes 17 temporary and permanent artworks.

The Port Lands, where the trail is located, were previously synonymous with heavy industry, polluted soil, and neglected infrastructure. However, a major $1.4bn revitalization project has transformed the area, creating new parks, restoring wetlands, and rerouting the Don River to protect against floods. Executive director of Lat, Chloë Catán, explains that the park was designed as a destination, offering visitors activities like kayaking, playing in the playground, and having a barbecue.

The basketball hoop installation by Arrechea is particularly playful, allowing visitors to shoot their own balls into the nets. The artist draws inspiration from life's many decisions and the many outcomes that can result from a single action. Other works in the trail focus on sustainability and regeneration, inviting visitors to reflect on the natural world within the urban context of Toronto.

Artists such as Cree Kent Monkman and Portuguese Joana Vasconcelos have created permanent sculptures, with Monkman's commission featuring a condo full of beavers and Vasconcelos' work resembling a dragon formed by local fish species. The trail aims to welcome visitors from diverse backgrounds and backgrounds, catering to both art enthusiasts and those with no prior experience with contemporary art.