Toronto will be full of both beauty and brains this summer.
From July 4 until August 31, The Yogen Früz Pinkberry Brain Project returns to Toronto again this year, bringing bold, talking point-filled brain sculptures throughout the city.
The Brain Project is a public art fundraising initiative where artists, change-makers, public figures, and designers from across North America design a brain sculpture to raise funds for Baycrest Health Sciences, a global leader in brain health that does important research and teaching. It also raises awareness of the importance of a healthy brain. This year is Baycrest’s centennial, and in celebration, the project aims to raise over $1 million in 2018.
Brains will be found in Union Station, Yorkville, Nathan Phillips Square, Distillery District, and other popular landmarks. Notable artists and designers this year include world famous EDM Musician and DJ Steve Aoki, Hatecopy, The Beckermans, Doug Schwartz, and BirdO, among many others. Past artists have included names like Wayne Gretzky, Peter Mansbridge, Joe Carter, Jessica Gorlicky, and Kurt Browning.
This year’s sculptures also look a little different, as they are debuting a brand new 2D format, which allows the art to be hung on a wall, as opposed to the previous 3D structures. This year’s new format of sculptures will push artistic boundaries, showcasing bold designs, with emerging and established artists working in the medium of their choice. The new 2D wall-mounted structure is designed to open up creative possibilities for the artists and to encourage a more curatorial approach to the program, allowing the finished pieces to be displayed both outdoors throughout the city as well as indoors as wall-mounted pieces.
If you’re in the market for some interesting art, the brains will be available for sale online.
The Project’s leadership continues this year with prominent co-chairs Noah and Erica Godfrey, as well as honorary co-chairs Ben and Jessica Mulroney. It’s safe to say that there are definitely some powerful faces behind this cause.
To date The Brain Project has raised over $2.3 million for brain health research and advancements, in areas such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. Funds raised support brain research, patient care, education, and programming at Baycrest.