#StClairMural: 12 Storey Community Inspired Mural Set to Transform Yonge & St Clair in Summer 2016

TORONTO, ON --(Marketwired - March 09, 2016) - Continuing in their spirit of transforming our city streets, the award-winning public arts organization -- STEPS -- is thrilled to be invited to collaborate with internationally celebrated artist PHLEGM to produce Toronto's newest public art landmark, a 12 storey mural at the heart of the city's busy Yonge & St. Clair community.

As owners and managers of all four corners of this dynamic intersection, major partner Slate Asset Management L.P. ("Slate"), a Toronto-based commercial real estate owner and operator, will be hosting this new work on the western facing wall of 1 St. Clair West as part of a wider campaign to foster a vibrant culture and revitalize the neighbourhood.

Known for leveraging unlikely spaces for the production of community-engaged artwork, this project is part of STEPS' larger efforts to engage Torontonians in dialogue on issues of public space and urban design, while fostering new cultural spaces, particularly for emerging local artists. This will be the organization's second installation that makes use of a large vertical canvas, in a city that is ripe with opportunity for such projects.

This currently un-named work is being dubbed #StClairMural in the organization's outreach for community input on how to best reflect the neighbourhood. With insights being captured both online and in person at local gathering points and transit stops, Torontonians are encouraged to provide their insights at: www.stepsinitiative.com/stclair throughout the month of March.

Informed by community generated reflections on the St. Clair neighbourhood, PHLEGM's design concepts will be revealed in late spring, and all partners look forward to celebrating the unveiling of this new cultural landmark in collaboration with the wider community in Summer 2016.

With a strong mandate to build the capacity of local emerging artists, this is STEPS' first international project and one they hope will foster cultural dialogue and attract global attention to the city's homegrown street art scene. In addition to adding some much needed vibrancy along this busy commercial strip, internationally acclaimed artist PHLEGM's new work is expected to attract cultural tourism to the area.

This project is being generously supported by Slate, while STEPS is still soliciting sponsors to help make this project a reality. #StClairMural comes strongly endorsed by Ward 22 City Councillor Josh Matlow. Reflecting on the site as the highest point in an otherwise flat Toronto, the Councillor shared that "Yonge and St. Clair is one of Toronto's most desirable neighbourhoods, and creating a landmark piece of public art in collaboration with one of the world's most influential street artists, reflects the area's unique geography."

About the STEPS Initiative
STEPS is an award winning public arts organization that has been responsible for some of Canada's most iconic works -- including the World's Tallest Mural, located in downtown Toronto in which they have engaged thousands of Torontonians. Their social enterprise PATCH is a full-serve art agency, with a unique focus on collaborating with landowners and developers, as well as local artists, to transform underutilized spaces into an ongoing curated exhibition. www.stepsinitiative.com // Twitter: @STEPSinitiative // Insta: @stepsinitiative

About the Artist: PHLEGM
PHLEGM is well known for his fantastical scenes depicting mythological beasts, curious contraptions, and shrouded figures. His work includes a narrative component that leaves the viewer guessing at how the depicted situation came about and where it might lead. His work is instantly recognizable and can be found across the world adorning high profile institutions, houses, factories, and in the many interstitial spaces found in cities everywhere. While he calls the UK is home, PHLEGM's distinctive work can be found across Germany, Norway, Sweden, Croatia, Australia, New Zealand, Tunisia, the United States and the Azores. Insta: @phlegm_art

About Slate Asset Management L.P.
Slate is a leading real estate investment platform with over $3.0 billion in assets under management. Slate is a value-oriented company and a significant sponsor of all its private and publicly-traded investment vehicles, which are tailored to the unique goals and objectives of its investors. The firm's careful and selective investment approach creates long term value with an emphasis on capital preservation and outsized returns. Slate is supported by exceptional people, flexible capital and a proven ability to originate and execute on a wide range of compelling investment opportunities. Visit slateam.com to learn more about Slate.

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