Event: Feeling Like a Kid Again at FIGMENT!

FIGMENT Toronto Festival Recap

This time in July I was enjoying the beautiful hot sunny weather on Toronto Island while participating in my first FIGMENT Festival with a friend of mine. FIGMENT is a creative arts festival where visitors are encouraged to participate and interact with the art, and it was the perfect way to spend a beautiful summer day!

Now in its third year in Toronto, FIGMENT is a grassroots effort, organized and run entirely by volunteers and is growing in size and popularity.

Imagining the Gardens of Waste by Cyril Williams

FIGMENT began in July 2007 as a free, one-day participatory arts event on Grosvenor Island in New York Harbour. It has now grown to events in over ten cities with Toronto being the first Canadian city to participate. FIGMENT believes in several principles and tries to address certain key issues with their barrier-free policy of access to the arts for all. FIGMENT believes that art should be open and accessible to all, which is a firm belief of mine. The events are free and they accept no corporate sponsorship, so there is no pressure to buy anything. FIGMENT also believes in 'Leaving No Trace' and they strive to leave a place in better shape than they found it. Almost all volunteers I saw carried a plastic garbage bag, and could be seen picking up litter throughout the day.

Sphinx and Fish by Geordie Lishman

Mad Tea Party by Amanda St. Michael

I had so much fun at FIGMENT Toronto and I'm already looking forward to next year. I had fun drumming on a canoe drum, battling the Evil Dr. Sausage in an epic water fight with stuffed animals (I won:), skipping through a fun house, and walking among some of the fabulous art installations. It was an amazingly fun day for two big kids (like my friend and I) and small kids alike! I'm definitely adding FIGMENT Toronto to my annual summer festival to-do list!

P.s!: Toronto Island is full of fun things to do! After FIGMENT, we visited the petting zoo, walked around the beach, and met some amazing people while lounging and having a drink in one of the patio bars.

P.s,

Melanie!