The Forks, Winnipeg – This year the humble warming hut will be elevated to a whole new level with an inaugural art and architecture exposition on Assiniboine Credit Union River Trail.

The Warming Hut: An Art +Architecture Exposition on Ice has just completed its preliminary design phase. Five teams, each consisting of prominent architects and landscape architects paired with an artist, have been given a mere nine thousand dollars to create and construct their individual warming huts. The event has attracted the attention of some of the city’s best architects and artists, as well as a few of the world’s best.

“This event is really intended to showcase art and architecture in a setting that is otherwise reserved for the mundane and practical,” says Peter Hargraves of Sputnik Architecture, one of the organizers of the event. “It’s an intentional exploration of human experiences. In the same way we feel cold and warmth these huts are meant evoke feelings and create dialogue.”

The idea came from a group of young architects and artists who were fascinated by the idea of creating an exhibition on ice. He took that idea to Manitoba Homecoming 2010 who provided the spark to ignite the exposition.

“This new event is a perfect fit for Manitoba Homecoming 2010 and we’re really excited to be a part of it,” says Kevin Walters, Executive Director, Manitoba Homecoming 2010. “Showcasing our local talent keeps with our theme of featuring all that is great about Manitoba. This is just one more reason to come home in 2010. This is a first for Manitoba and a first for Canada. It will be something to see.”

The huts are as varied as the architects and artists who are creating them.

“This exposition is going to be like nothing the city has ever seen. There are orbs of light, seven million dots, crumpled structures and fir boughs,” says Paul Jordan, Chief Operating Officer, The Forks. “This has never been done anywhere else in Canada and it really is an honour to have it taking place at The Forks.”

Pre-fabrication work is to begin on January 25 at The Forks. The area around the Canopy will house the structures as they are finished from January 28 – 30. The public is welcome to view the pieces as they are being completed by their teams. Once complete each piece will be pulled down on to Assinboine Credit Union River Trail where they will stay for the duration of the winter.

It is intended that this event will continue and grow in to next year and become a signature event during Saison Voyageur, the celebration of Winnipeg in winter.

“We see this becoming an annual event that eventually morphs into a competition, not an exposition,” says Jordan. “This should attract the best architects in the world because it allows them to play in a medium that many of them don’t normally, ice.”

An event is being planned for January 28, 2010 to showcase nearly completed huts at The Forks.

The Warming Hut: An Exposition of Art +Architecture on Ice is made possible through the generous support of Manitoba Homecoming 2010, The Winnipeg Foundation, The Manitoba Association of Architects and The Forks.

Background information and plans for each hut are included with this release.

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For further information contact:
Clare MacKay Karen Ilchena
Manager, Marketing and Communications Publicist,
The Forks North Portage Manitoba Homecoming 2010
Phone: 987-4360 Phone: 781-5944