A State of Play for the City

As observers or participants, we often associate play with the wildness and abandon of children, perhaps evoking shrieking, swinging, climbing, sliding, jumping, chasing, hiding, or impromptu silliness. This beautiful pandemonium is incredibly effective for shaping life skills (for adults too). Play is self-directed learning in action—inspiring freedom and building up negotiation prowess while boosting mental and physical health.

As we acknowledge play’s critical role in shaping childhood, and its possibilities to enhance our adulthoods, the need to make our cities more play-friendly becomes more evident— the concept of play can and should be more expansive. Play has a magic power to energize a wide audience, create new habits, and prompt conversations between people of different ages and abilities, stimulating collaboration, tying new knots in the social fabric, and creating community cohesion.

Play Provocations is an exploration of how to expand the definition of play, both who it is for and what it can do.

Special thanks to our Play Path partners:

• Cossette
• City of Toronto
• Toronto Hydro
• Fort York National Historic Site
• Residents of 50 Bruyeres Mews
• Residents of 20 Bruyeres Mews
• Residents of 137 Fort York Blvd
• CityPlace / Fort York BIA
• Waterfront Neighbourhood Centre
• Waterfront BIA

Retro Rolla is a roller skate rental pop-up operating out of the shipping container at The Bentway. Skaters can rent four-wheel retro-style roller skates in bright summer hues (with matching protective gear) to explore the Fort York neighbourhood!

Hours of Operation:

• Thursday – 6:00pm-8:00pm
• Friday – 6:00pm-8:00pm
• Saturday – 1:00pm-8:00pm
• Sunday – 1:00pm-6:00pm
  *hours subject to change*

What you need to know:

• Reservations are required. Beginning Monday, June 14, 2021 guests can reserve their rentals via www.retrorolla.com. Skate rental bookings are released every Monday at 1pm for the week ahead.
• Face coverings are required. Wearing a face covering is required while skating, waiting in line to pick up roller skates, and in any indoor space on-site. Please review all health & safety guidelines.
• Socks must be worn.
• Bring ID to verify your identity. We accept valid driver’s license, passport, health card, or any government-issued ID with a picture. (Student IDs not included.)
• Pack light and keep your belongings on you at all times. Lockers are not currently available at The Bentway.
• Arrive 15 minutes early to check in and get roller skates. Spots will be considered no-shows 10 minutes after their time slot has begun.

For additional information, visit Retro Rolla’s FAQ.

Be the explorer of your Secret Landscape, discover its secrets by engaging your senses in a playful adventure enjoying the present moment. 

Meditation games to be in Flow

Human Gate

Frame different views with your “binocular hands”, like a pirate or hug them with different parts of your body, stretching like a yogi.

Cross the gate and explore the secret landscape of your mind!

Visual Fest

Find similarities in natural and urban elements. E.g.: a tree can look like a building, the highway, a river, etc.

Close your eyes and hear or imagine their sounds, what do they have in common? Discover other features in the surroundings to create more metaphors, envisioning a more harmonious natural city.

Mix-Senses

Explore natural and urban elements: leaves, flowers, grass, soil, concrete, wood, metal, etc.

Close your eyes and “see” them by touching and listening; breathe deeply and imagine the taste with your sense of smell. Exchange your senses to appreciate in a deeper dimension.

Emotional Rainbow

Match colors you see to your present feelings; do you feel playful like yellow? Or vibrant like green? Maybe you feel full of colors like a rainbow?

Where in your body do you feel that emotion? Use that part of your body to release the emotion in a positive gesture or action, joining a collective rainbow of kindness.

Flow

Choose a pleasant view in the landscape.

Open your mind and blend into your surroundings, making soft movements: flow with the air, hum or whistle a melody, whisper a positive word. Breathe deep; enjoy this ethereal moment and take it with you…

Now the Landscape’s Secrets are yours!

About Tiny Games

Six designers have created games that can be played throughout the Play Path, ranging from contemplative interactive challenges to role-playing, rituals, and more! The games take the form of ground vinyl prompts, with longer instructions online that can be accessed using the QR code or URL. Visitors can read these installations and play the games on the spot at any time, finding new, playful ways to experience the trails, nooks, and architecture that make up the city.

Tiny Games was inspired by the 2011 project of the same name by Hide&Seek. You can learn more about it here. 

About the Artist

Diana possesses an extensive design background that includes Product, Urban, Architecture, Landscape, Graphic and Web Design. This breadth of knowledge allows her to approach projects holistically; make analytical connections through different disciplines, and communicate using different tools within a multidisciplinary team. She also runs her own design studio, IDITA, which offers multidisciplinary and sustainable design services. Diana brings enthusiasm and dedication to her work and is always excited to further develop her passion for urban design, public space and wellness.

Follow along on Instagram

You stand at the intersection of the Garrison Creek and the Gardiner Expressway. Together with a friend, roleplay a conversation between them. 

First: choose who will play the Gardiner Expressway / Garrison Creek. 

For the Garrison: You once flowed up Trinity Bellwoods, through Christie Pits all the way to St. Clair. You’ve been buried for a century, but destroying a river isn’t easy. You return during storms; as water levels rise, you become powerful again.

You have been gone too long. You are (pick one): 

• Furious
• Dismayed
• Disoriented

What do you say when you first awaken? 

What did it look like when you were last here? 

What do you miss? 

For the Gardiner: Your construction demolished neighbourhoods and paved over parks. Now, you carry commuters and stand between the city and the water. The view from atop you is beautiful, but people can only admire it when stuck in traffic.

All you do every day is watch construction and listen to car radios. You are (pick one):

• Bored
• Serene
• Resentful

Catch the Garrison up on what it has missed. 

Together: Take turns describing your surroundings: construction sites, animals, or objects that feel out of place. 

Soon, the Garrison will flood this place. Do you want to destroy these things? Preserve them? Create something new? 

How does the Gardiner feel about this? Find one thing you agree on. 

How would things be different, if you were not built or buried? 

You get along like old friends, but you know that one day the Garrison will wash away the Gardiner. Do not acknowledge this until you leave.

When you leave: Thank the Garrison and Gardiner, or apologize (your choice).

About Tiny Games

Six designers have created games that can be played throughout the Play Path, ranging from contemplative interactive challenges to role-playing, rituals, and more! The games take the form of ground vinyl prompts, with longer instructions online that can be accessed using the QR code or URL. Visitors can read these installations and play the games on the spot at any time, finding new, playful ways to experience the trails, nooks, and architecture that make up the city.

Tiny Games was inspired by the 2011 project of the same name by Hide&Seek. You can learn more about it here.

About the Artist

Kaelan Doyle Myerscough is a trans/nonbinary critical creator, game designer and academic interested in the theory and praxis of worldbuilding. They make games and organize game jams about speculation, complex collaboration and rethinking the relationship between play and locality. As of Spring 2021, they are currently co-authoring a textbook on critical worldbuilding and remotely pursuing a PhD in Cinema and Media Studies at the University of Chicago.

Follow along on Instagram and Twitter

Inspired by surroundings,
Create a dance move starting with one part of your body.
Create another with same or different part.
Repeat.
Find your groove!

Take in the sights, sounds, scents,
tastes, and sensations of the Bentway.
Let the surroundings inspire you.

Create a dance move
starting with one part of your body.
Let the move travel through as much or
as little of your body as you want.

For example, move your head from side to side,
Or turn your head so your body follows.
Lead with your shoulders, arms, knees or hips.
What about your chin, nose, elbow or toes?

Trace the skyline, artwork, or
something else in your surroundings.
Poses count!
Pose, before, during or after your move.

You can play on your own
or play with other people.
Move at the same time or take turns.
Play follow the leader!

You can even put moves together
and create a routine.
How about a dance-off?
Groove to your moves!

Can you guess what inspired a move?

How many laughs, smiles and giggles did you give and get?
Too many to count?
Everyone wins!

About Tiny Games

Six designers have created games that can be played throughout the Play Path, ranging from contemplative interactive challenges to role-playing, rituals, and more! The games take the form of ground vinyl prompts, with longer instructions online that can be accessed using the QR code or URL. Visitors can read these installations and play the games on the spot at any time, finding new, playful ways to experience the trails, nooks, and architecture that make up the city.

Tiny Games was inspired by the 2011 project of the same name by Hide&Seek. You can learn more about it here.

About the Artist

Alicia Payne is a professional actor and published writer whose credits encompass theatre, film, television and radio. Her memberships include ACTRA, CAEA, Dramatists Guild of America and Playwrights Guild of Canada where she served as President. Alicia participated in group art exhibitions such as The Honest 6ix Artist Residency at Toronto for Everyone (2017) and the Canadian Forces Artist Program Exhibition at The Diefenbunker Museum (2015-2016). As an artist educator and adaptive facilitator, Alicia works in school, organizational, and community settings. She is a cofounder of Arbez Drama Projects. Alicia believes playful moments can help build community.

The bones of the city are alive.
A great monster sleeps here,
invisible to those who don’t look.
You must delay his awakening.

Worlds exist outside of ours. Looking closely, you can catch glimpses of them. 

The Bents of the Gardiner are halls of an ancient serpent’s cavern. Jormungand, the snake of myth, slumbers here.

Every day someone must perform a protection ritual to delay Jormungand’s awakening.

Today, it is you.

The Ritual

Find your Tools

A Stick or, a Gesture [something you can wave]

A Written Word  [something you can say]

A Shape on the Ground [something you can stand inside of]
If Possible A Friend [to hold hands with]

Perform your ritual.

Walk around your Shape, tracing it with your Stick or performing your Gesture.
Step inside your Shape.
Close your eyes. If possible, hold your Friend’s hands.

Spin, staying inside your Shape. Say Your Word until you hear the honking of a horn or the call of a bird.
This sound means your ritual has succeeded.
Delay Jormungand’s awakening one more day.

For A More Efficient Ritual, You must pay attention to the world around you.
Listen to the sound of the traffic. This is the rumble of Jormungand’s stomach. How hungry is he? What will he feed on when he arrives?
Feel the wind on your skin. This is Jormungand’s breath. How close is he? Will you have time to prepare?
Look at the sky. The weather is in Jormungand’s mood. What is he feeling? Will you be able to appease him?

Record your ritual. The next time there is a thunderstorm you may perform it to comfort yourself.

About Tiny Games

Six designers have created games that can be played throughout the Play Path, ranging from contemplative interactive challenges to role-playing, rituals, and more! The games take the form of ground vinyl prompts, with longer instructions online that can be accessed using the QR code or URL. Visitors can read these installations and play the games on the spot at any time, finding new, playful ways to experience the trails, nooks, and architecture that make up the city.

Tiny Games was inspired by the 2011 project of the same name by Hide&Seek. You can learn more about it here.

About the Artist

Allison is an artist and game designer with an MFA in Interactive Digital Media and Game Design from New York University. She has a passion for Live Action Role Play, Immersive Theatre, and becoming the best Escape Room Player the world has ever seen. Co-founder of Soft Chaos (soon to be one of Canada’s first game studio cooperatives) she’s spent nearly a decade making eclectic games and installations that have shown in festivals and venues around the world.

Follow along on Twitter

Along the Play Path search for and photograph, sketch, or otherwise record out-of-the-way parts of the city that you might not have noticed before:

• Graffiti. Can you understand what it means?
• Distant billboards. Meant for drivers, but visible to all.
• Locked doors or barriers. Don’t trespass, just notice.
• Secret numbers / instructions for people other than you. What are they for?

Select things that you think will last different amounts of time:

• Days
• Weeks
• Years
• Generations

Once you have at least 5 (more to make the game harder):

Put them in order according to when you think they’ll be gone.

If you’re with a friend you can work together, or compete and each make your own predictions.

(Decide for yourself what it means for something to be ‘gone’. E.g. is graffiti gone if it’s covered up by new art, or only if it’s erased by the city?)

As often as you like, come back and check on them, taking new photos/sketches if you want, but recording the actual order as best you can. How close were your guesses? If you challenged a friend, who was closest?

If you think it will outlive you, find someone to inherit the task.

~

P.S. I’d love to see what you find, and you may want to record your findings for your future self anyway. Use the social media hashtag #BeforeTheyreGone for things you find (including the order in which you think they’ll go), and #AfterTheyreGone for things that aren’t there anymore.

–droqen

About Tiny Games

Six designers have created games that can be played throughout the Play Path, ranging from contemplative interactive challenges to role-playing, rituals, and more! The games take the form of ground vinyl prompts, with longer instructions online that can be accessed using the QR code or URL. Visitors can read these installations and play the games on the spot at any time, finding new, playful ways to experience the trails, nooks, and architecture that make up the city.

Tiny Games was inspired by the 2011 project of the same name by Hide&Seek. You can learn more about it here.

About the Artist

Droqen is an ADHD-saturated game designer who’s spent 25 years honing the craft of using his brain to make computer games, video games, card games, street games, word games, tabletop games, regular games, zines, and little tiny worlds made of pixel art.

Find Jimmy! is a tiny game about finding little Cat Eye stickers hidden throughout the Bentway’s Play Path.

There are 6 Cat Eyes hidden somewhere near all the fun games scattered around. While exploring the Play Path, keep your eye out for Jimmy’s favorite spots!

Find all 6? Share your photos using #PlayingInPublic!

About Tiny Games

Six designers have created games that can be played throughout the Play Path, ranging from contemplative interactive challenges to role-playing, rituals, and more! The games take the form of ground vinyl prompts, with longer instructions online that can be accessed using the QR code or URL. Visitors can read these installations and play the games on the spot at any time, finding new, playful ways to experience the trails, nooks, and architecture that make up the city.

Tiny Games was inspired by the 2011 project of the same name by Hide&Seek. You can learn more about it here.

About the Artist

Kris Piotrowski is a video game designer & creative director at Capybara Games.

Follow along on Twitter

Six designers have created games that can be played throughout the Play Path, ranging from contemplative interactive challenges to role-playing, rituals and more! The games take the form of ground vinyl prompts, with longer instructions online that can be accessed using the QR code or URL. Visitors can read these installations and play the games on the spot at any time, finding new, playful ways to experience the trails, nooks, and architecture that make up the city.

Tiny Games was inspired by the 2011 project of the same name by Hide&Seek. You can learn more about it here.

About the Hand Eye Society

The Hand Eye Society is a Toronto not-for-profit dedicated to supporting and showcasing videogames made primarily as a form of creative expression.

We aim to provide exhibition opportunities, education, creative support, mentorship, knowledge sharing and inspiration to artists, enthusiasts, and the game-curious in Toronto.

Founded in 2009, it is one of the first videogame arts organizations of its kind in the world.

Follow along on Instagram and Twitter