TTC Sherbourne: All Aboard! “The Whole is Greater than the Sum of its Parts”

After two long weeks at the end of October 2018, working through day and night, we are very happy to announce that “The Whole is Greater Than The Sum Of Its Parts“, formerly referred to as the Sherbourne Station Community Mosaic, is complete and open to the public at TTC Sherbourne in Toronto, ON.

We are very proud of the finished artwork. “The Whole is Greater Than The Sum Of Its Parts” is a series of 39 ceramic tile mosaic panels located throughout TTC Sherbourne station at the main entrance, Bloor Street concourse, both East and West bound platforms, and the Glen Road Concourse.

Sherbourne Street Concourse.

Each panel is a blend of geometric patterns that we collected from over 450 people from the local neighbourhood at a series of 24 community workshops held in March and April 2018. Kindergarten children to senior citizens who contributed over 700 unique triangle patterns to this public art project and this project is dedicated to them and the vibrant communities that merge together every day at Sherbourne station.

Pattern-making workshop at the Toronto Public Library St James Town Branch, March 2018.

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Csaba Bereczki, proprietor of The Tile Setter Company, and his assistant, Marthonee ‘Kim’ Padua, for their tireless effort and professional dedication to making sure that we completed the installation on schedule. It was a near-super human feat and we couldn’t have done it without you!

Csaba Bereczki, proprietor of The Tile Setter Company (right), and his assistant, Marthonee ‘Kim’ Padua (left)

Rebecca priming the columns on the Sherbourne Street Concourse.

After priming the subway tile walls and skimming with thinset, the first sections of the 39 panels are adhered to the Westbound platform.

After every stage of the installation each panel was covered for protection until complete.

Rebecca reviewing the plans.

All work around the main Sherbourne Street entrance had to be completed between 2am and 5am while the station was closed.

Csaba laying the last tile section in thinset.

With a six-car train passing every 4-5mins, working in an active subway station was a challenging environment.

Midnight snack in the storage room.

David removing the face tape from a mosaic on the Sherbourne Street Concourse level.

Rebecca striping the masking tape bordering a mosaic on the Westbound platform.

Csaba and Kim grouting the mosaics at the Sherbourne Street entrance.

Csaba and Kim giving the mosaics a careful wipe down before the final completion.

David and Rebecca with Csaba Bereczki, proudly presenting the completed artwork to representatives from TTC on the final day of installation.

The Sherbourne Station Community Mosaic public artwork was commissioned by the Toronto Transit Commission as part of the Easier Access and Second Exit Program.

Tags | Art, Community, Design, Infrastructure, Interconnections, Mosaic, Ontario, Pattern, Process, Public Space, Public Transport, Sherbourne, Tessellation, Tile, Toronto, Transit, TTC