Mercer Union facts for kids
| Established | 1979 |
|---|---|
| Location | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Type | Contemporary Art |
| Public transit access | Lansdowne station |
Mercer Union is a special place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It's an artist-run centre that started in 1979. Its main goal is to show and support contemporary art, which is art made in our time.
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What is Mercer Union?
Mercer Union is run by artists themselves. This means artists have a big say in what art is shown. It's a place where new and exciting art ideas can be shared. The centre helps artists show their work to the public. It also helps people learn about modern art.
How Mercer Union Started
Mercer Union was created in 1979 by a group of artists. These artists wanted a place to show art that was new and different. Some of the founding artists were Michael Balfe, Peter Blendell, and Ric Evans. The first location was on Mercer Street. This is how the centre got its name, "Mercer Union."
Moving to New Locations
Over the years, Mercer Union has moved to different spots in Toronto. After Mercer Street, it moved to King Street West. Then it went to Adelaide Street West and Lisgar Street. In 2008, the gallery found its current home. It is now in the Bloor and Lansdowne area. This area is in the west part of Toronto.
A Unique Art Project
In 2007, Mercer Union showed a very interesting art piece. It was by a Canadian artist named Michel de Broin. His artwork was called "Shared Propulsion Car."
This art piece was an old Buick car. But it was not a normal car anymore! The engine and inside parts were taken out. Instead, it had a special system. This system used four bicycle pedals and brakes. People could pedal the car like a giant bicycle.
An Artistic Ride
Staff from the gallery took the car for a ride. They drove it on Queen Street West in Toronto. It was a fun and unusual sight. However, the Toronto police stopped the car. The driver received a ticket. The police thought the car was not safe to drive.
A Victory for Art
Later, the case went to court. The charges against the driver were dropped. This meant the ticket was cancelled. Artist Michel de Broin was very happy. He said it was a win for "the right to go slow." His special car was also driven in New York City. There, it did not cause any problems. This shows how art can make people think and talk.
