stackt LOVE

stackt has taken unused land and transformed it into an experience of curated discovery. Designed entirely out of shipping containers, at stackt you'll engage in new experiences, find new products and form new perceptions. It's an ever changing and evolving cultural marketplace that will feed your curiosity.

“As we build vertical communities, there hasn’t been a ton of attention to what’s happening at the ground level,” says Jacquelyn West, who is in charge of Stackt’s arts programming. “Stackt creates a space for community to intersect and create those bonds that help us feel connected to the place we live.” NOW Magazine, April 2019.

“this will be a place of community commerce and belonging”

— Jacquelyn West, Global News

published interview with Global News:

While the market’s appearance is all black for the time being, Stackt’s lead artist has plans to change the design of the space to make it more colourful and community driven.

“We were really looking to build a contemporary cultural hub,” said Jacquelyn West, arts and community lead at Stackt. “What we’re hoping to do is really create a welcome place.”

West said the space will transform with new elements like walkable murals and contemporary art installations.

“This unique space continues to safely bring our community together to enjoy creative marketplaces, entertainment, and art.”

— Toronto Mayor John Tory

Toronto Star

excerpt from the article:

Jacquelyn West, Stackt’s head of art and culture, says people “want spaces that can really serve a mutual value to the public, to the artists, but also to the business they’re trying to operate.”

West says the market selects artists who showcase differing viewpoints, styles and backgrounds. Many will have one thing in common: their work is photogenic or offers interactivity….

“This is a sign of the times,” says West. “Artists are understanding what audiences (or the sponsors) are drawn to and are looking for. They are looking for it to go viral or become an icon of that moment.”

West says that more and more, artists are integrating user experience into their practice, thinking about photographic sightlines or how a piece might be visually recorded. “It definitely is more of a consideration and maybe even a key foundation to building new work.”

Vogue mention

Vogue features artist Maryam Keyhani’s installation at Gardiner Museum’s SMASH, an exhibition directed by Jacquelyn in June 2018. 

“Handle with Care” is a collection of ceramic works based on fantastical hat creatures. Each their own character, form and size yet they coexist together. The collaboration between artists Maryam Keyhani and Dasha Valakhanovitch was commissioned for SMASH: We Are More. In this body of work the artists explore characters through materials and shapes to create surreal objects that are complex but lighthearted. (Which is what the world could use right now!) A series where all these characters come together and form a world of their own.

Interview about SMASH: We Are More

Check out the interview that describes the art program approach for June 2018's SMASH Contemporary Art Party at the Gardiner Museum.

(excerpt) "What are you looking forward to most about the event?

Throughout my career, my favourite projects have been the ones that catalyze a grand collaboration of the creative community and showcase artists who shape modern culture. The program for SMASH brings together exceptionally talented artists and creatives from Toronto and Montreal. It’s an experience inspired by the beauty of the Gardiner Museum and the creative energy of the Toronto/Montreal corridor. This year’s robust art program builds on our reputation as one of the great contemporary art parties in Toronto, and I can’t wait to see it IRL."

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Reimagined Spaces: Torontoist Interview →

An in-depth interview with some of the placemaking creatives actively pushing a new agenda in Toronto's high stakes space game. Jacquelyn was invited to share her perspectives, excerpt below:

“The creative economy outperforms the general economy in Toronto. Our cultural exports (especially in music) are world-renowned. The use of empty and subsidized spaces enables Toronto to incubate talent authentically, build community and exchange ideas,” said Jacquelyn West, who ran Rally Ossington, a first-of-its-kind placemaking project designed to spark the local creative economy and act as hub for ideas, creative entrepreneurs, and cultural showcase.
Continued here

Rally Ossington Feature

"One space in the city, however, reigns supreme in the world of pop-up shops and events - that's Rally on Ossington."

Rally Ossington was a mixed use cultural and retail incubator focused on contemporary culture, art and the City's creative community. Concepted and directed by Jacq West. See it here.

Be it resolved: Is Toronto a Playground for the rich?

Be it resolved: Is Toronto a Playground for the rich?

Panelists: Shawn Micallef, Andray Domise, Jacquelyn West and Mackenzie Keast, hosted at West’s “Rally Ossington”

Torontoist spoke with panelists from "“Be it Resolved: Is Toronto a Playground for the Rich?,”  Andray Domise, Shawn Micallef, and Jacquelyn West about why Toronto is particularly affected by income inequality, the ramifications for our growing city, and what we as individuals can do to create a more equitable community. 

"West feels that we as citizens haven’t demanded the returns we’re owed from the city’s lucrative period of development. “Our neighbourhoods are effectively disappearing to the highest bidder. In Toronto our systems of control have not kept pace with growth, and an appetite from land-owners for quick dollar bills supersedes long-term consideration of the people who inhabit our city. We have left the design of our modern urban communities to developers who for the majority, are seeking the quickest and highest return per square foot.” " Continued here.

VOGUE: Guide to the Cultural Capital

Jacq's seminal project Hermann & Audrey included in the VOGUE magazine round-up of Toronto’s best cultural finds. Labeled an “Arbiter of Cool”, the Hermann & Audrey gallery space and artist collective was highlighted in this cultural guide of the City. See the whole list here.

Dundas West Third Thursdays

Canada’s Daily Secret has named Hermann & Audrey's project, Dundas West Third Thursdays, as one of their favourite things to do in Toronto.  The indecision struggle is real, but on the Third Thursday of each month the decision is easy.

Huffington Post Canada

Huffington Post Canada interviewed NXNE Art Curator & Festival Director, (and Hermann & Audrey Creative Director), Jacquelyn West. The article mentioned the new art program as a part of the NXNE Festival is “Something with imagination. Something with heart. Something that makes you feel.” Also, calling Hermann & Audrey’s Creative Director “a passionate city builder.” Hermann & Audrey took the reigns of NXNE’s Art portion this year for the first time in the festival’s history. Huffington Post Canada pushes the latest Canadian and world news content covering politics, business, lifestyle and the viral web.
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1LoveTO

Curated by Jacq West and executed by an amazing crew at Hermann & Audrey, the urban interventions of NXNE Art produced 20+ new permanent outdoor works in Toronto. 

Global News

Global News mentioned the “urban takeovers” happening around the city as a part of NXNE Art, noting how “a number of artists will take over parts of the city. The article stated “NXNE Art will recreate Toronto’s iconic Graffiti Alley between Niagara St. and Tecumseth St. with murals by Toronto and Detroit-based artists.” The article served as a look inside the street art program to span across Toronto, curated and produced by Hermann & Audrey. 

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Yonge Street touts impact of outdoor art program

Yonge Street Media online took note of NXNE Art 2014 transforming the city of Toronto, “one alley at a time.” The article detailed that art “…is one of the only mediums with the capacity to shift the narrative of a city street, to transform a dark and desolate alley into a destination of beauty, a passageway that not only promotes foot traffic, but also enhances the safety of the entire area…” while noting “that’s exactly what is happening now [with NXNE Art]…throughout the city.” Yonge Street is a weekly online magazine named after the Toronto region’s main street and the spine that ties us altogether with a mission to see the future in what is working well in the Toronto region today.

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Best of Toronto: The NXNE Art Opening Reception presented by Samsung Canada

A first in the history of NXNE, Hermann & Audrey produced and curated the art portion of the festival. Best of Toronto mentioned the NXNE Art Lounge as a part of NXNE Art 2014 in their online blog, stating “The North by Northeast (NXNE) festival is generally known for its music, but [at the NXNE Art opening reception], art took centre stage.” The article further noted that “the installations at NXNE Art’s opening reception showcased art and technology together at their finest.” Best of Toronto covers the best in Toronto in Fashion, Food, Arts, Culture and events.

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Interview with Curator

Crave Online aimed to get an inside perspective from Jacquelyn West, Creative Director and Producer at both Hermann & Audrey and NXNE Art 2014, as “so many of the projects that are in the queue [for NXNE Art] this year get people involved.” The article sat down with Jacquelyn to discuss how NXNE Art would provide “compelling projects…kicking off a revitalization of the area by bringing art into the public realm.” 

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NOW Magazine for NXNE Art

The Hermann & Audrey produced NXNE Art Festival was featured on NOW Magazines' must-see list for NXNE 2014. Jacquelyn acted as Curator/Art Festival Director for NXNE Art.

FASHION Magazine

FASHION Magazine online published an article about Hermann & Audrey’s Life Cycles 2013. Life Cycles is an interactive, engagement-based art showcase and community event program about bicycles and the people who ride them. The magazine noted that “the artworks explore the bicycle as a vehicle for expression of personal style, as well as an action towards a sustainable future and unifier of community.” FASHION Magazine is filled with up-to-the-minute news from the runways of New York, London, Milan and Paris. As well as delivering the best finds in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton, FASHION Magazine continues to introduce readers to the personalities behind Canada’s fashion and retail scene.

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National Post: Worthy 30

Jacquelyn West, was mentioned in the National Post’s annual “Worthy 30″ report. The Worthy 30 is a regular social round-up on notable personalities in Toronto. Jacquelyn described as an “agency director whose list of clients have ranged from stars such as K’naan and Kanye West to companies like Reebok and H&M. Rather agreeable.”

VICE Magazine

VICE checked out Toronto’s Nuit Blanche 2012, and came across the work of Hermann & Audrey. There, the ever-witty members of VICE intended to note what makes the difference between art and garbage, beginning with Hermann & Audrey’s installation that involved framed artwork in a local park. Trees were lit with romantic lights and hundreds of frames hung from branches revealing love letters between two people for everyone to see. VICE enjoyed the “artsy” side of the installation, saying, “because they posted it to a tree, and not to the wall, it is art. See how this works? Winner: Photo on a tree.” 

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Toronto Star features Artist Panel

he Live-Art Panel, part of Hermann & Audrey’s CONTACT Photography Festival exhibit, was featured on The Star online where a panel of photographers and marketing types discussed the current state of the photographic industry as an art form. The Toronto Star is Canada’s largest daily newspaper, with the largest readership in the country.

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