April 30, 1904
Join us from January 19-25, 2015 for the installation “April 30, 1904” by Tung studio as part of this years Toronto Offsite Design Festival. Swing by the office during work hours, or walk past the storefront at any-time to see the window installation!
On April 30, 1904, droves of thirsty Torontonians swarmed the Junction en masse for one final day of libatious celebration. According to The Toronto Daily Star,
“fully ten thousand men crowded the street cars to and from the city” and “in every one of the five hotels the drinkers were packed like sardines, and an extra force of bartenders worked like mad to supply their wants. The liquor flowed like water.”
The neighbourhood had just voted in favour of alcohol prohibition and this was the last day of legal alcohol sales in the Junction. Few could have predicted that the dry local option would be a drought lasting for nearly a century.
‘April 30, 1904′ is a site-inspired installation that pays tribute to this fascinating piece of Junction history. The alcohol ban, which was put to a referendum in 1997 and finally overturned in 2000, defined the neighbourhood for over 90 years. While in recent years, the Junction has undergone a dramatic revitalization, with a plethora of new bars and restaurants popping up, it is important to remember these past events to fully appreciate how the neighbourhood has transformed and where it is headed.
The focal point of the installation will be a large-scale, 10 ft. hanging grid of 10,000 metal bottle caps – a nod to the 10,000 Torontonians who coalesced in the Junction on that last “wet” day.
Seen from a distance, the gleaming round surfaces of the mass of bottle caps, in combination with the date of the commemorated event – will be an intriguing sight, encouraging curious passersby to stop and learn about that day. An accompanying exhibition where visitors can read more about this unique period of time in Junction history will be held in the Coolearth foyer, behind the installation.
Installation by Tung.
Hope to see you there!