Where Walls Meet Sky Toronto Opens at St. Anne’s Anglican Church

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Toronto’s historic St. Anne’s Anglican Church will reopen to the public for the first time since a devastating fire in 2024 with Where Walls Meet Sky, a free, site-specific contemporary art exhibition.

Curated by Toronto artist Rui Pimenta, the exhibition opens on August 22nd and runs through September 13th. It will feature works by 12 Canadian artists working across sculpture, installation, photography, and multidisciplinary practices:

Sacha Bassil
Sandra Brewster
Julia Campisi
John Dickson
Sofia Escobar
David Jensenius
Gareth Lichty
Eunice Luk
Roda Medhat
Noel Middleton
Mary Catherine Newcomb
Max Streicher

About Where Walls Meet Sky

Where Walls Meet Sky explores what can emerge in the aftermath of destruction. Through themes of renewal, resilience, memory, and rebirth, the exhibition reflects on how communities, ecosystems, and structures adapt and regenerate following upheaval.

Although profoundly altered by fire, St. Anne’s remains an important part of its neighbourhood, continuing to serve both its congregation and the wider community. Fire and its capacity to both destroy and regenerate is also one of the exhibition’s central themes.

The church’s fire-scarred interior becomes a place for reflection, gathering, and artistic exploration. Rather than focusing solely on what was lost, the exhibition considers what remains and what may come next.

With portions of the building now open to the sky, the boundary between interior and exterior has been transformed, making the visible sky a powerful metaphor for change, possibility, and renewal.

“St. Anne’s occupies a special place in Toronto’s cultural and architectural history, but it is also a living community space,” says curator Rui Pimenta.

“This exhibition is not about memorializing what was lost. It is about recognizing what remains, what persists, and what new possibilities emerge when a community comes together after a profound event. St. Anne’s has long welcomed concerts, art exhibitions, and community gatherings. It understands the value of community in a way that embraces both the religious and the secular, creating a space where people can come together through culture, reflection, and shared experience.”

Beyond its role as a place of worship, St. Anne’s has long held an important place in Canadian cultural history. Renowned for its murals by J. E. H. MacDonald and fellow members of the Group of Seven, the church has served as an important intersection of art, architecture, spirituality, and community.

Where Walls Meet Sky continues that legacy by inviting contemporary artists to engage directly with the site and its evolving history.

Other Exhibition Activities

Bricks to Bread

Visitors will be invited to share freshly baked flatbread prepared by Sacha Bassil, owner of Flour Power Saj.

The bread will be made using a sculptural oven constructed from bricks recovered from the church grounds following the fire, transforming remnants of destruction into an experience centred on hospitality, nourishment, and collective renewal.

When: Saturdays and Sundays, 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

Musical Performances

The exhibition will also feature musical performances on select dates, including concerts and a choral performance, with additional programming to be announced.

Vita Contemplativa

When: August 22nd at 8:00 pm.

A Concert in the Ruins of St. Anne’s Anglican Church

When: August 27th at 8:00 pm.

Supporting the Restoration of St. Anne’s Anglican Church

Admission to Where Walls Meet Sky is free, but visitors are encouraged to support the ongoing restoration and preservation of St. Anne’s Anglican Church through donations.

Donations can be made through CanadaHelps by selecting “General Fund” from the designation options.

As always, you can keep up with all the fun happenings in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area on efosa.