Jon Sasaki: Everything in Balance – Niagara 2026
About this Event
Over the course of several hours in the outdoor lot behind the Niagara Artists Centre, Sasaki will assemble a large, suspended mobile sculpture, incorporating objects contributed by visitors. Each object must weigh 5 lbs or less, and act as a stand-in for something that is important to the contributor – not a treasured, sentimental object or irreplaceable family heirloom, but something that might symbolize a personal set of values or priorities. For example, a person who is interested in cooking or food security might arrive with edible plant cuttings. Someone who values responsible journalism or the printed word might bring a copy of last week's newspaper. Throughout the performance, as new objects arrive, they will be added to the suspended armature, incorporated carefully into its overall structure, with thought and care taken to avoid tipping and affecting its equilibrium. The sculpture will be in constant flux. Every new object will necessitate a rebalancing of its overall assembly. Every contributor's “important things” will belong, and the constant reconfiguration of objects to accommodate new, disparate additions will be the focus of the artwork. Everything In Balance will strive to place everyone's “important things” in a state of harmonious coexistence.
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Contribute your object to Everything in Balance
We are seeking objects that can act as a stand-in to symbolize a personal set of values or priorities. For example, a person who is interested in cooking or food security might arrive with edible plant cuttings. Someone who values responsible journalism, or the printed word, might bring a copy of last week's newspaper.
Each object must weigh 5 lbs or less. Please note that objects will not be returned upon completion of the project. Treasured, sentimental objects or irreplaceable family heirlooms are not recommended!
Keep an eye out for the Culture Days/Cultural Services table at the St. Catharines Farmer's Market where you can contribute your objects on Sept. 10, 12 & 17 from 9am to 1pm! You can also contribute your object at any time during the performance on Sept. 18!
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This program is part of the Ontario Culture Days 2026 Creatives in Residence series, and is curated by Dave Dyment.
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Everything in Balance is part of the 2026 Niagara Festival Hub made possible by Tourism Niagara-on-the-Lake, the Province of Ontario, the Tourism Partnership of Niagara and the Ontario Arts Council. We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, and producing partners Niagara Artists Centre and the City of St. Catharines.
This event is part of the Ontario Culture Days 2026 Niagara Festival Hub. To see all Niagara Hub events from September 18 - October 4, 2026, click here.
Registration policy: To help make our events available to as many people as possible, we may accept more registrations than the event’s capacity. Admission is available on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be guaranteed once capacity is reached.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
CAD 0.00
