Yue Moon Public Art

Yue Moon 2021: A Community-Based, Multimedia Public Art Program

Image of Chinese lanterns. Middle lantern is black with red tassels hanging off. There are images of ox, flora, and Chinese writing. Lanterns to the left and right are red with gold tassels. They contain rectangular drawings with ox, koi fish, and writing that reads "BE KIND / BE SAFE / BE COOL / 2021".

Yue Moon II Lanterns, 2021 Heritage Toronto Awards Public History Nominee. Image: Mila Bright.

Photograph of night art exhibit on a winter street. Projected display on a red brick wall shows a white circle with a red ox in the middle and a yellow circle above it. On either side are vertical rectangles with gold borders. Writing in the rectangles reads "BY / DIANE GALAPON". Red and gold circular lanterns are on either side. There is terracotta style roof awning design at the top. On the sidewalk is a large red metal light display made of dragons and a large red metal pole with intricate carved designs at the top. Both are emitting light. A medium sized dark metal deer sculpture is also on the sidewalk. The background contains several small businesses and the CN Tower.

Yue Moon II Animated Light, 2021 Heritage Toronto Awards Public History Nominee. Image: Mila Bright.

Project Organization: STEPS Public Art

Date of Release: December 4, 2020

Yue Moon (meaning full circle, completion, full moon) is a community-based, multimedia public art program developed in partnership by Chinatown BIA and STEPS Public Art. This collaborative art-making experience culminated in two distinct yet connected community-engaged public art installations animating the streets of Toronto’s Chinatown as part of the 2021 Lunar New Year celebrations. Building upon last year’s Yue Moon 2020 public art installation, artists PUFF Paddy and Meegan Lim return with the new addition of Winnie Truong to celebrate the 2021 Lunar New Year and the Year of the Ox while navigating the challenges of COVID-19.

Winnie Truong led an online workshop series introducing participants to illustration and basic stop-motion animation techniques that reflect on personal, cultural, and historical themes tied to the Lunar New Year. The artwork created by workshop participants led to Animated Light, a collaborative animation piece that was showcased as a large-scale outdoor digital projection at Chinatown’s Huron Square (450 Dundas St. West) where visitors could experience within safe distances.

PUFF Paddy led a community-based public art lantern project co-created alongside virtual workshop participants who developed original artwork for the final pieces. Lanterns were displayed at local shops and restaurants in Toronto’s Chinatown to brighten the winter months and support the community’s small businesses.

Additional Project Team Members:

Winnie Truong, Lead Artist

PUFF Paddy, Lead Artist

Meegan Lim, Artist Assistant

Linda Zhang, Artist Advisor

Chinese Gospel Church Toronto, Community Partner

Cecil Community Centre, Community Partner

OCAD Centre for Emerging Artists and Designers (CEAD), Community Partner