Art Spin announces its latest Bicycle Art Tour and the Ontario premiere of Wet Sounds

A special underwater sound installation in a Toronto public pool

Art Spin is back with one of its classic and beloved bicycle-led art tours, on Saturday, September 7. Join Art Spin for a unique one-time art experience that will guide audiences by bicycle through the Earlscourt neighbourhood to discover multiple art projects and performances presented amongst curious and alternative sites. While the exact details of the programming are kept secret until the day of, Art Spin is thrilled to be working with artists Neil Lordson, Moraa Stump and Rudy Ray, with more to be announced.

The tour finishes at the City of Toronto’s Giovanni Caboto Pool, with a unique art project: the Ontario premiere of Wet Sounds, by UK-based artist Joel Cahen. Wet Sounds invites audiences to dive into a public pool and experience an underwater sound installation. It  will also feature live performances by Heidi Chan, Prince Nifty, Mira Martin-Gray, and Olivia Shortt presented in partnership with The Music Gallery.

There are two ways to experience Wet Sounds on September 7: join the afternoon Art Spin Bicycle Tour which ends at  the pool; or skip the ride and enjoy the show’s evening presentation (and postseason pool access!). As a special treat for the 7 p.m. showing, Art Spin will fire up their Mobile Sauna so that participants can alternate their pool/art experience with a sauna warmup. 

The Mobile Sauna was most recently seen at Trillium Park as part of the Mixto and Wavelength Summer Thing festivals, and featured at last year’s popular Harbourfront Centre Public Sweat festival. Visit the Art Spin website to learn more about Wet Sounds, or to reserve a ticket now.

ART SPIN BIKE TOUR

Saturday September 7th, 2 p.m.

Art Spin bike tours are a roving curatorial project that situates commissioned, site-specific works in unique public spaces throughout the city. Each Art Spin tour gathers a large audience on bicycles to visit the multidisciplinary installations and performances in a one-of-a-kind event. With few details released beforehand, Art Spin tours ask you to trust the curators and allow yourselves to be surprised by both the creative programming and the unusual spaces to which they lead you.

“I can’t think of a more fun and engaging way to explore the City than on a group bike ride with hundreds of other cyclists. An Art Spin tour takes you on an exploratory journey through carefully constructed routes to experience a variety of art projects in unique spaces while reimaging the City in the process,” says Co-Director and Co-Curator of Art Spin, Rui Pimenta. 

WET SOUNDS

Presented in collaboration with The Music Gallery

Saturday September 7th, 4pm (as part of the Art Spin Bike Tour) with a second performance at 7 p.m during which time you can also enjoy the Public Sweat wood fired mobile sauna.

Wet Sounds is a sound installation in a public swimming pool led by UK-based artist Joel Cahen. Using underwater and over water speakers, it immerses the audience in a unique experience of public space and an unparalleled listening experience.

Sound travels 4.5 times quicker in water than in air. It physically connects listeners through vibration. Here, like in the womb, sound is perceived by bone conduction, by the inner ear, giving the impression of it being produced inside the listener’s head rather than through speakers. Split between a multi-channel underwater sound system, the surreal musical experience takes listeners on a journey.

Audience members are invited to don their swimsuits and take to the pool to listen to live performances by PlutonOvarian, Heidi Chan, Prince Nifty, Mira Martin-Gray, and Olivia Shortt.

“We’re really interested in injecting art into unique and everyday spaces. It’s not that often that you get to experience a world class sound installation and local improvisational music performances in your neighbourhood pool.” says Layne Hinton, Co-Curator & Co-Director of Art Spin. “People should bring their swimsuit and towel, and come prepared to rest their head on a pool noodle and take in the underwater sound experience before summer is over.”

Wet Sounds has been touring swimming pools worldwide since 2008 participating in festivals such as Red Bull Music Festival in Moscow and Montreal, ISEA, AV Festival, All Tomorrow’s Parties, Helsinki Festival, Brighton Festival, Adelaide Fringe (Award winner of 2018 festival), Latitude Festival, and Veranos De La Villa Madrid.

TICKET & EVENT DETAILS:

Visit www.artspin.ca/wet-sounds to purchase.

Art Spin Bike Tour & Wet Sounds

• Date: Saturday September 7th (Rain date Sept. 8th) 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
• Tickets: $27
• Location: Meet at Earlscourt Park Gazebo (1200 Lansdowne Ave). The tour ends at Giovanni Caboto pool for the Wet Sounds performance.
• Featured Artists: Neil Lordson, Moraa Stump, Joel Cahen (performing as PlutonOvarian), Heidi Chan & Prince Nifty
• To Bring: Your bicycle, helmet & lock, plus your swimsuit and towel for Wet Sounds.
• Accessibility: Unfortunately this event is not accessible.Participants are required to ride a bicycle to participate. The pool building features a ramp to entrance, accessible washrooms, barrier free shower, and stairs into the pool, see the pool’s website for more information.

Wet Sounds

Presented in collaboration with The Music Gallery

• Date: Saturday September 7th (Rain date Sept. 8th), 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
• Tickets: $22
• Location: Giovanni Caboto Pool, 1367 St. Clair Ave W, Toronto
• Featured Artists: Joel Cahen (performing as PlutonOvarian), Mira Martin-Gray & Olivia Shortt.
• To bring: Swimsuit & towel
• Accessibility: This event is partially accessible. See the pool’s website for more information. The building features a ramp to entrance, accessible washrooms, barrier free shower, and stairs into the pool.

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