Burned-down Toronto church will soon be home to a free festival
Toronto's grief-stricken St. Anne's Anglican Church is opening its fire-damaged interior to the public this summer for a new contemporary art exhibition fittingly centred on resurrection after destruction.
St. Anne's Anglican Church is presenting the show, called Where Walls Meet Sky, in collaboration with Toronto artist Rui Pimenta, whose work with Art Spin has often featured contemporary art in unexpected public spaces.
The exhibit is unique in that it was specifically designed around the building's ruins. Where Walls Meet Sky will mark the church's first public reopening (in its current, desolate condition), since a devastating four-alarm fire turned parts of the building into mere rubble in 2024.
Inside the damaged structure, visitors will see sculptures, installations, photography, and multidisciplinary work by 12 different artists, including Sacha Bassil of Toronto-based catering company Flour Power Saj, Sofia Escobar, David Jensenius, Mary Catherine Newcomb, and others.
Many may already know that St. Anne's Anglican Church is steeped in Canadian art history and once housed murals created by J. E. H. MacDonald and other members of the Group of Seven. Art is central to its identity.
Alongside the exhibition, several special programs will take place throughout the event.
On weekends from Aug. 22 to Sept. 13, visitors can stop by between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. for Bricks to Bread, a project that turns bricks salvaged from the church grounds into a working sculptural oven. As an extension to this installation, Bassil will prepare fresh flatbread for guests to relish.
On Saturday, Aug. 22, opening day will also feature Vita Contemplativa, an evening of experimental music curated by Toronto writer and performer Fan Wu. The free program will feature performances from numerous other artists and starts at 8 p.m.
Where Walls Meet Sky will take over the ruins of the historic church from Aug. 22 to Sept. 13, Thursday to Sunday, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., and is completely free to attend.
St. Anne's Anglican Church is located at 270 Gladstone Ave.
Where Walls Meet Sky
