Selections from the Synopsis of Categories - Toronto, ON - Abstract Public Sculptures on Waymarking.com

These aluminium ladders appear to be randomly stacked against the window and wall in the lobby of Metro Hall. You can see this sculpture from the outside of the building and you can also go in to take a closer look. There are words, also in aluminium, on every rung of each ladder which will keep you reading for quite a while. I was here on a Sunday and the building was open. Visiting on a Saturday or Sunday might let you have a better look around as it should be free of the government employee traffic.

Metro Hall is at 55 John Street in Toronto on the east side of John. It is located south of King Street West, north of Wellington Street West, east of Spadina Avenue and west of University Avenue.

This is one of the pieces of art (#3) featured on The City of Toronto's Art Walk - Toronto's Outdoor Art Gallery: (visit link)


"Selections from the Synopsis of Categories
Micah Lexier, 1992
New York-based Canadian artist Micah Lexier created this sculptural installation to acknowledge the function of the building in which it is housed. The 26 metal ladders casually arranged and stacked in the lobby of Metro Hall simulate an active work site, a specific reference to the City of Toronto’s municipal employees who work here carrying out the administrative tasks and operations essential to the functioning of the city.

Four-hundred different words selected at random from the “Synopsis of Categories” section of a thesaurus were waterjet-cut into the rungs of each ladder.

The integration of words and ladders refers to language and architecture as constructed vocabularies that express and define human identity."

Title: Selections from the Synopsis of Categories Artist: Micah Lexier Media (materials) used: Aluminium Location (specific park, transit center, library, etc.): Metro Hall, 55 John Street, Toronto, Ontario Date of creation or placement: 1992

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Date Logged Log   10/08/2011 ras258 visited it