If you missed it then, or you’re living in the city and really itching to get back into a saun, you’ll be happy to know that Public Sweat is back! At least, it’ll be back at a smaller scale as part of other events in the coming weeks.
Since arts organization Art Spin concluded the event last year, they “took a long time to recover and… have been busy dreaming and scheming for future art + sauna events,” as indicated in recent communications. For co-curators Rui Pimenta and Layne Hinton, this involved “making sauna whisks, taking tent saunas on camping trips, and using every opportunity [they] can to jump in the lake.”
Through their contemplations, it was decided that a splash of water needed to be thrown onto the hot stones of Toronto’s summer festival circuit.
Listen to music from Kin'Gongolo Kiniata's Afro-punk rumba to the Colombian analogue synthesizer duo Indus. Tuck into flaky kottu roti and fresh, fruity freezies. And as the day lingers on, head in for a couple sessions in the wood-fired mobile sauna.
The first of these is Mixto Festival, taking place at Trillium Park (near Budweiser Stage) from Saturday July 13th until Sunday July 14th. The festival, which is free this year, offers “immaculate block party vibes… [It’s] niche and experimental yet accessible. [It’s] inclusive and underground but safe and friendly.”
Listen to music from Kin'Gongolo Kiniata's Afro-punk rumba to the Colombian analogue synthesizer duo Indus. Tuck into flaky kottu roti and fresh, fruity freezies. And as the day lingers on, head in for a couple sessions in the wood-fired mobile sauna. Mixto Festival is on from 3:30 PM to 10:00 PM each day.
The next chance to use the saun is at Wavelength’s Summer Thing on Saturday August 10th, also located at Trillium Park. Side note: Wavelength also partnered with Estonian Music Week last year for its art party night. Here, the park will be transformed by art installations, live painting, and an indie market, with a soundtrack provided by glam rocker NYSSA and the power pop tunes of Daniel Romano's Outfit.
Both Summer Thing and Mixto are part of Trillium Park’s SummerSeries, which is a lineup of free, all-ages events featuring music, arts, and cultural programming on the shores of Lake Ontario. At both events, participants are encouraged to bring their swimsuits and towels to join in on a first-come, first-served basis.
Drink plenty of fluids beforehand, as this is a properly hot sauna that hovers around 90 degrees Celsius when it’s stoked nicely.
The sauna in question, called Mobile Sweat,is created by artist Chris Foster, Public Sweat's Co-Director and Technical Director. The sauna was once a trailer and has been repurposed with the addition of benches, an outside feed sauna stove, and ambient video art displayed on a screen inside. Drink plenty of fluids beforehand, as this is a properly hot sauna that hovers around 90 degrees Celsius when it’s stoked nicely.
Once again, Public Sweat and Art Spin are placing familiar sweat bathing traditions within the diverse cultural landscape of Toronto, for all to enjoy and appreciate.
