OCAD U CAREER LAUNCHERS

2025 Tonkin Liu,

Fabrication Apprentice

OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers is excited to partner with Tonkin Liu on an exciting Career Launcher opportunity for students interested in learning more about public art. Tonkin Liu is a UK multi-disciplinary design studio, who have been delivering award-winning architecture, sculpture, and landscape, winning 23 RIBA Awards in 22 years. They put emphasis on place-making, connecting people to nature, and pioneering innovative construction techniques. 

Up to three (3) candidates will be selected to participate in a multi-day architectural model-making and fabrication workshop run by Tonkin Liu during the week of March 17, 2025. The Fabrication Apprentices will be working independently and alongside students from Etobicoke School for Arts and be compensated $1,333 each (including material and travel costs) to produce a scale-sized prototype of Tonkin Liu’s Sunscopes artwork.

This opportunity is a great fit for a current student or recent graduate looking to gain experience in public design and planning, public art, large-scale sculpture, and more. It will also be of interest to students or recent graduates who are interested in education, collaborative work, and team building. Faculty mentorship from OCAD U will be available.

PROJECT DETAILS

Tonkin Liu has been commissioned to develop the public art for Lanterra Developments'  Notting Hill Condominiums in Etobicoke, located between Royal York Road and Scarlett Road on the north side of Eglinton Avenue West at 4000 Eglinton Avenue West. More information about the site and project here. 

Tonkin Liu is seeking current students and recent grads from OCAD U with an interest in fabrication, public art, community engagement and environmental/urban design to take part in the exploration of key details in the artwork Sunscopes for Lanterra’s new project in Etobicoke. In this multi-day workshop Tonkin Liu will be teaching the participants their studio’s working methodology and OCAD U Fabrication Apprentices and ESA students will engage with these ideas/techniques as part of a series of explorations, creative exercises, and prototype development. OCAD U Fabrication Apprentices participating in the workshop will create a prototype of Tonkin Liu’s Sunscopes artwork that ESA Students will then photograph and film under different lighting and weather conditions. It will be an opportunity for all participants to learn more about how a site-specific project is researched and developed. This week-long process explores both the tactile and the ephemeral, focusing on how light and time alter materials. Through experimentation with prototypes, new techniques and materials are often discovered.

SCOPE OF WORK

• Be available to attend all four (4) in-person workshop days below (Mon., Tues., Wed., Fri.)
• Collaboration between Tonkin Liu, other Fabrication Apprentices and ESA students
• Fabrication of a scale sized prototype of Tonkin Liu’s Sunscapes artwork
• Research, discussion, presentation

TIMELINE

Monday 17th March
• AM: Tour of the Soheil Mosun workshop (Location: Soheil Mosun workshop; Attendees: ALL)
• PM: Tonkin Liu to present the design of the artwork (Location: Soheil Mosun workshop; Attendees: ALL) 

Tuesday 18th March
• AM: Construction of the prototype begins (Location: OCAD U; Attendees: OCAD U)
• PM: Continued construction of the prototype (Location: OCAD U; Attendees: OCAD U)

Wednesday 19th March
• AM: Continued construction of the prototype (Location: OCAD U; Attendees: OCAD U)
• PM: Continued construction of the prototype (Location: OCAD; Attendees: OCAD U)

Thursday 20th March
• AM: Prototype to be tested against different weather elements (Location: ESA; Attendees: ESA)
• PM: Continued weather element testing of the prototype (Location: ESA; Attendees: ESA)

Friday 21st March
• AM: Documentation of weather element testing of the prototype (Location: ESA; Attendees: ESA)
• PM: Final presentation (Location: ESA; Attendees: ALL)

APPLICATION SUPPORT

The OCAD U RBC CEAD is committed to promoting substantive equality for equity-seeking groups that are under-represented in the creative sector. We encourage applications from first-time applicants to the program and graduates of equity-seeking communities including racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities / expressions. Applicants are welcome to advise the CEAD of any accommodations needed to ensure you have access to a fair and equitable process. 

Applicants who need assistance with their submissions are invited to connect with the RBC CEAD for Advising support. Click here to learn more about how to book an advising appointment.