The TUNNEL by B!G ART Work outside the Eaton Centre

Trinity Square Park, located on the west side of the Toronto Eaton Centre, is home once again to a large scale work of art, in this case The TUNNEL by B!G ART Work. This piece features 4m high inverted V type structures, illuminated by LED strips on the inside of the structures, creating a path, or tunnel through the installation. The TUNNEL is on site from September 5 to October 29, 2025.

From the Eaton Centre website, "Whether literal or metaphorical, these passageways ignite the imagination and challenge us to explore what lies beyond. The TUNNEL takes this idea further, offering a one-way journey through a dynamic corridor of light, sound, and interactivity. Part immersive sculpture, part sensory instrument, The TUNNEL is more than an installation—it’s a cosmic passage through the imagination."

B!G ART makes public art specializing in interactive and immersive art works. They say, "the TUNNEL is a one-way trip to another side. A series of strange, 4m(12 feet) tall cosmic structures create a tunnel of magical light and sound, scalable from 32m(105 feet) to 50m(165 feet) with all 16 frames. “Pilots” use an interactive device to manipulate the array, creating an infinite number of patterns of light and sound guiding your path through the structures. The 3D design uses over 150 LED bars, pixel-mapped to create a vortex of light pulling you through the structures, with over 8,000 individual LEDs"

@jmhcet #art and #lightinstallation in #trinitysquarepark #Toronto, outside #cfeatoncentre ♬ original sound - This Banger

DOORS art installation in Trinity Square Park

Tucked between the Toronto Eaton Centre, Church of the Holy Trinity and 483 Bay Street is Trinity Square Park. It is a pretty simple park, a green space ringed by tall trees and surrounded by large bleacher type stairs, in the middle is a singular circle of shrubbery and a public labyrinth, formerly made of shrubs now a circular winding pathway made of paving stones. In the labyrinth they have placed the large interactive art installation called DOORS appropriately made up of empty portals lit with LED lights and interspersed with white doors.

From the Eaton Centre website, "Join us in Trinity Square for “DOORS,” an interactive art installation that blends the metaphorical with the physical from Jun 27 - Aug 31 2025. Join us in Trinity Square for “DOORS,” an interactive art installation that blends the metaphorical with the physical. Each door reveals a new surprise, as a creative reminder that every path begins with the choice to open the door to new possibilities. Whether you're here to reflect, explore, or just pass through, this exhibit offers a moment of magic in the heart of the city." You are invited to open the doors and experience the installation.

It's hard to tell in daytime but when you open a door it has a projection on a screen behind the door. There is a poster by the installation which has the following information regarding DOORS.

@jmhcet #DOORS #interactive #artinstallation outside the #eatoncentretoronto in #trinitysquarepark. open the doors to see the magic. #Toronto ♬ Knocking On Heavens Door - Elaine M

"What does a door mean to you? Is it a symbol of opportunity or a threshold of uncertainty? Throughout time, the door has become more than a functional object - it's a powerful metaphor for change, choice, success, failure, family, home and transformation.

The DOOR(S) invites you to reflect on the emotional weight we give to these everyday structures. With every opening, there is potential: to cross into something new to leave something behind, or to simply stand still and wonder.

This installation explores the deep symbolism of the door - and how a single, simple act of opening one can alter the course of our lives.

After all, it's just a door. Right?"

Tiny motorized advertising in Toronto

In early April 2025 I was walking downtown at the Yonge Dundas intersection, waiting for the light when a small remote controlled vehicle wheeled by and seemed to get stuck at a door. A nearby woman tried to open the door because she thought it might be a delivery drone, however it didn't go in the door, it just kind of hung there.

I took some photos waiting for it to do something and didn't really notice that its sail was talking about advertising, which seems to be the opposite of what they want to accomplish. So if you can't afford a billboard, this might be your thing.

It was a busy intersection where they were driving this little wireless wonder

Upcoming Christmas and the Toronto Cavalcade of Lights

Fall colours will soon fall to the ground and cooler winter temperatures will start to hit Toronto and the city has started the long process of putting up Christmas decorations. The annual Cavalcade of Lights taking place at city hall requires a lot of prep to get the lights and giant Christmas tree installed. Already the reflecting pond is drained and two manlifts are preparing the arches for lights. The tree lighting ceremony and Cavalcade of Lights opening is expected on November 30, 2024 to be held in Nathan Phillips Square.

Setting up for Cavalcade of Lights

The Toronto Eaton Centre is installing their large herd of decorative deer statues and the extremely tall Christmas tree near the fountain looks like it is in place and covered up with a red curtain.

Over at Commerce Court the aluminum, illuminated Christmas trees have been placed at the King Street entrance as well as back in the courtyard where the elephants roam.

See more Christmas pictures after the jump.

BE ME sculpture for Pride Month in Trinity Square

Downtown Yonge BIA is working with artist Monica Wickeler who has brought her sculpture "BE ME" to Trinity Square Park to help celebrate Pride Month. Trinity is tucked in the middle of the Toronto Eaton Centre block between Yonge and Bay Streets and you can through the side door of the Eaton Centre or follow up James Street from Queen Street.

Santa Speedo Run human tunnel

The art installation shows two figures holding their hands high, clasped together to form a bridge. This formation is used quite often to allow people to run through a human tunnel at the end of some sort of event - like a game or a Santa Speedo Run. It will remain in place for the month of June, 2024.

Toronto Trinity Square clock tower revitalization

Downtown Toronto's hidden park sits behind the Eaton Centre, surrounded by the Church of the Holy Trinity built in 1847 and 483 Bay Street, it is a baby brother to the more famous Trinity Bellwoods Park. Trinity Park is a public square park with the newly upgraded clock tower along with a labyrinth, fountain and stone arches. They finally removed the scaffold and covering around the tower and exposed the upgraded tower.

The labyrinth

And stone arches

From the Toronto Centre projects website, "Over the past three years, the Downtown Yonge BIA has collaborated closely with the City of Toronto and Janet Rosenberg & Studio to strategize the revitalization of the Trinity Square Park clock tower in Downtown Toronto. This initiative aims to enhance the clock tower's visual appeal and practical functionality. This will involve applying weather-resistant paint, modernizing side panels, incorporating new lighting features, and addressing the non-operational clock mechanism that has remained inactive for an extended period.

The Trinity Square clock tower stands as a central point of focus within this locale. The restoration endeavour is predicted to generate favourable outcomes for the broader expanse of the park. This effort aligns harmoniously with the BIA's overarching objective to consistently introduce enhancements to the public spaces within the Downtown Yonge vicinity."

Illuminite and Biolumen light art installations

Downtown Toronto is breaking out the bling with artistic light installations known as Illuminite during the month of March 2024. Six pieces are spread out around the Eaton Centre - one at Yonge-Dundas Square, one overlooking Y-D Square, one at Shuter Street and three in Trinity Square Park from March 1 to 31, brought to you by the Downtown Yonge BIA and all lit up daily until midnight - reminder they have more impact after sunset. Ethera is shown at top.

A closer look at ethera

SAM LAMP wants to help with your Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) mental health

The installations in Trinity Square Park are ethera by Ariel Weiss in Trinity Square Park, SPECTRUM by Mirari, co-production of Quays Culture and Quartier des spectacles Partnership and SAM LAMP by Sam Hardwicke-Brown (which used to be in College Park).

SPECTRUM - this has speakers at both ends and you can see your sound waves leaving and the echo and return light. One of my favourites of the installations

Someone modeled for me in SPECTRUM

SPECTRUM is an interactive installation with microphones built into the stands that hold the circles of light. Verbal communication "becomes a cascade of waves and luminous pulses, illustrating the fascinating trajectories of sound. Watch as your message moves from one end of the circles to the other. You will see how small gestures – invisible reverberations – can have a big impact."

Biolumen - you can spin the tubes

Biolumen in the large public square opposite the Toronto Eaton Centre and adjacent to one of the busiest pedestrian areas of the city features The art installation features "ten large luminescent structures where art, science, and nature merge. Inspired by deep-sea Radiolaria, “Biolumen” represents resilience and beauty in harsh environments."

Along Yonge Street you can find BIOLUMEN by Radha Chaddah x RAW Design (Yonge-Dundas Square), digital drapes by MattCreative at 19-21 Dundas Square and You were here by Meghan Cheng at Shuter Street which features lighted butterflies that animate as people walk by.

Digital Drapes shining in blue in the photo above - the design changes and one has a heart floating up

You were here butterflies in a window at the SE corner of Yonge at Shuter

The Illuminite map

Dream Machines at Toronto Eaton Centre

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, we love you and we love the eclectic collection of Emett Machines, otherwise known as dream machines by Rowland Emett. The Ontario Science Centre has the world's largest collection of these machines and some of them are on loan to the Toronto Eaton Centre where they are displayed in some of the windows along Yonge Street.

The sculptures have no purpose but art and were made as complicated as possible using regular household materials as necessary. Rowland's art pieces were incorporated into the old timey 1968 movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with actor Dick Van Dyke playing an inventor that saves a magical car.

This Toronto Eaton Centre display is currently underway for the 2023 holiday season and they come alive every half hour from 10am till 8:30pm.

Alice Li dances for children's charities

@aliceli_official performs ballet on the corner of Yonge and Dundas Streets to raise money for SOS Children's Charities Canada on September 24th. The former Miss Canada, accountant (CPA and CA!) and cast mate for the upcoming Bachelor in Paradise Canada is known for raising money for children's charities.

BIPC describers her as "Alice, 27 Bachelor Nation From pageant queen to dancing queen, Alice is known for her viral videos, in which she performs for charity on the streets. As former Miss Global International (2020) and Miss Canada Intercontinental (2018), Alice is described by those who know her best as inspirational, hardworking, and passionate - she’s devoted to giving back to her community and leaving a positive footprint on the world. Now, Alice is looking for someone kind-hearted, driven, supportive - and punctual! - to complement her lifestyle. With her dancing shoes on, Alice is ready to nab that perfect man in Paradise!"

Another Anti-Vax protest at Yonge-Dundas Square

The square was full of protesters at Toronto's urban park across from the Toronto Eaton Centre on Saturday, September 25. The rally ended and some unmasked people tried to enter the mall when they were blocked by security and Toronto police officers and two people were later charged with assault.

"The media is the virus"

Speakers on a trailer sitting on Yonge Street

I don't have a problem with the protests, or that they don't want vaccinations. I do believe that they shouldn't have the right to not wear masks when they go inside stores, restaurants, etc, or distort the truth to make others not take the vaccine and put their, and other lives in danger.

See more photos after the jump.