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Wind Rose
An invigorating climb to the summit of Downsview Park’s largest mound of earth will be rewarded! On top you’ll find the Downsview Wind Rose: a structure that hosts a changing series of dynamic installations.
Created by Future Simple Studio, the Downsview Wind Rose is a radial network of 32 square arches arranged in a compass-like formation. A wind rose is a time-honoured tool invented by meteorologists that maps the direction, speed, and frequency of the wind in a specific location. The wind rose for Downsview shown here is specific to the Downsview airport and shows the local area’s prevailing northwest winds.
The square arches provide great potential for installations and have hosted two since the structure was installed in fall 2021. The installations have celebrated the wind, local history, stories of making home, and the Indigenous connections to this place. And more are coming!
The Wind Rose Design Competition
In fall 2022, we called on students and early-career professionals across the GTA to propose new temporary installations for the Downsview Wind Rose. We received proposals from a wide range of ages and creative fields, including graphic, urban, and industrial design, architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, fine arts, and more. During the competition, all teams were offered a site visit, the support of a mentor, and technical guidance from the XOXO team.
Ultimately three winning proposals were selected by a panel of eight jury members.
The winning proposals are:
by Fion Kong, Georgia Sa, & Natalie Ko, University of Toronto
Landing, Take Off celebrates the industrial heritage and biodiversity of Downsview. The forms — 16 panels stretched between the square arches in different shapes and angles — were inspired by the flight of the red tailed hawk and its adaptations to the howling wind.
by Sherri Gallowitz, emerging artist
See You Around celebrates the diverse local community and Downsview Park as a gathering place. It is composed of large-scale photographs of individuals, friends, and families and a series of rainbow flags.
by Zishuo Li & Yifu Ding, OCAD University
Wind Blessing in Red harnesses the power of the wind. The installation is created with long strips of fabric on which wishes are written by community members in a multitude of local languages. It is a celebration of Downsview’s multicultural community and a blessing to all beings around us.
These proposals will be installed, each for 10 weeks of public display, with the support of the XOXO Downsview installation team and funding from landowners Northcrest and Canada Lands. The first will come to the Wind Rose later this year.
The jury was impressed by the creativity, thoughtfulness, and passion shown by all teams who submitted to the competition. Along with the landowners, they extend their congratulations to all participants. You can see all the proposals and meet the jury here.
Fabric of Community
In August 2022, Fabric of Community was installed on the Wind Rose. This textile-art-based community engagement project and public art installation features crocheted mandalas and over 500 ribbons that embrace and amplify stories and experiences of journeys, arrivals, and legacy. These works have been made by community members who have migratory experience and have settled in North York.
This project has two components. A total of 136 mandalas were crocheted by eight Latina women living in North York. These individually and collectively produced creations represent the makers’ stories. Also community members were invited to reflect on their experiences of making a home here by drawing, writing, and illustrating colourful ribbons that are tied to the fence. Together they make the phrase “I am right here,” reflecting their individual journey and arrival narratives as part of the collective story of North York.
The project, co-presented by North York Arts, was led by Paola Gomez, with creative co-facilitator, Daniela Arango. The talented crocheters, or “tejedoras,” are: Gladys Agudelo, Margarita Andrade, Daniela Arango, Sandra Cordero, Enny Johana Giraldo, Paola Gomez, Vilma E. Requena, and Blanca Restrepo. Learn more about Community Arts Facilitator, trained human rights lawyer, community organizer, public speaker, writer, and refugee, Paola Gomez here.
The Turtle and the Traveller
The first installation on the Wind Rose featured a set of flags designed by Chris and Greg Mitchell, Mi'kmaq artists who lead the design studio Born in the North. The work, called “The Turtle and the Traveller,” was based on the history of these lands and the local area. Because the flags were positioned at the installation’s northwest, one was white, representing north on the medicine wheel, and one was the black, representing the west.
The white flag depicted a traveller to honour Indigenous people's historic use of this place as an important route for trade and travel. The turtle on the black flag represented the land—Turtle Island—as well as the local wildlife. Its shell referenced a medicine wheel to highlight traditional teachings. The style is reminiscent of petroglyphs from the Eastern Woodlands people.
Learn more about the creators on our Collaborators page and hear from some of them directly on the audio tour.