Vacant newsstand becomes Gateway for commuter art
Quirky kiosk a yearlong project by a group of Toronto artists
There’s a disco ball in the middle of Chester subway station turning the heads of even the busiest of commuters.
The glittery orb is one small piece of a yearlong initiative launched this month by a group of Toronto artists to transform a long-vacant Gateway newsstand into a vibrant space for art.
“Art is not necessarily just an activity that someone might go to do on a Saturday afternoon. It is woven into our lives,” said Jess Dobkin, the artist who spearheaded the project. “Why not at a kiosk?”
For years, Dobkin passed by the sad, empty space and imagined possible creative uses for it. She eventually started a crowdfunding campaign and raised close to $5,000.
At its grand opening, red velvet curtains were drawn back to reveal a quirky yet functional newsstand-slash-art-space.
Interspersed amongst the typical trashy magazines, pop, chips and gum were locally made caramels, with flavours such as rosemary almond and pistachio mint; cookies decorated to look like TTC transfers; dog hoodies reading “I’m a tasteful Danforth pup” and tote bags designed by a local artist.
There’s even a small lending library from which commuters can borrow books, free of change.
“In a sense, the whole project is a performance,” said Dobkin. “It’s not just a monetary exchange but a creative exchange: the customer becomes the audience.”
The project is still in its early stages, but artists will eventually mould the small space to their own vision, said Dobkin. Artists could hang their work on walls, use the space for performances or project videos onto the kiosk windows.
Recently, customers bustling through the station stopped to admire the transformed kiosk.
“This is so awesome, oh my gosh,” said mom Victoria Adilman, approaching the newsstand with her son August.
“How are you getting that to turn?” asked a man, pointing at the disco ball.
“This is a rare public art space where you can engage people,” said artist William Andrew Finlay Stewart, manning the kiosk as he handed out caramel samples. “People are excited the space is being used in a creative way.”
While Dobkin hopes planting art in public spaces makes it more accessible, it also comes with risk. A robbery at Chester subway station in late April and the ensuing investigation forced her to push back the opening by two weeks.
“This is a rare public art space where you can engage people.” WILLIAM ANDREW FINLAY STEWART ARTIST
“It’s a terrible thing that happened,” she said. “(But) I think Toronto is safe. I don’t have any concern about it.”
As TTC riders stopped by, most just purchased a bag of chips or a bottle of water. Some commented on the steep cost of the artisan goods; a small cookie costs $9 and a bag of caramels $8.
Dobkin said revenue goes toward paying artists to staff the booth and paying rent to Gateway Newstands. She hopes to break even.
“I’m just thrilled to see where we’re going to go.”