August 2010 - Canada

Francisco Castro Lostalo, AIESM Agent in Canada, organized the “Spirit of Diversity” International Sculpture Symposium in the city of Toronto, Canada. This has been the world’s first international sculpture symposium to use recycled marble as its primary working material – the Italian Carrara marble panels removed from the façade of Toronto’s First Canadian Place .
The 2010 symposium took place at the outdoor park space at First Canadian Place (100 King Street West) from August 20 to 31.
The 2010 events (a preview to a larger-scale symposium in 2011) included the “Spirit of Diversity” International Sculpture Symposium and the “Our Fragile Planet” Painting Exhibition, and the raw material (white Italian Carrara marble panels each weighing 200 pounds)was a donation to symposium organizer Toronto Art Visions by First Canadian Place property owner Brookfield Properties Corporation and restoration expert Clifford Restoration Limited. Brookfield Properties Corporation has undertaken a major rejuvenation project to remove and replace approximately 45,000 marble panels from the exterior façade of First Canadian Place with white fritted glass panels.
The International Sculpture Symposium, which was open for free public viewing during the creative process, featured on-site creation of small and medium-sized sculptures and a multi-paneled mural and individual paintings, painted in resin on marble.
The 2010 participants included two Canadian artists and a delegation of five Costa Rican artists sponsored by the Costa Rica Tourist Board and the Costa Rica Ministry of Culture and Youth.
Participating Sculptors:
Francisco Castro Lostalo (Canada)
Janet Candido (Canada)
Renán Calvo Chaves (Costa Rica)
Participating Painters:
Francisco Castro Lostalo (Canada)
Elisa Morera Arce (Costa Rica)
Florencia Madrigal Orué (Costa Rica)
Mariamarta Pacheco Coto (Costa Rica)
Sebastián Mello Salaberry (Costa Rica)
The theme of the event, “Spirit of Diversity” meant to celebrate Toronto’s cultural diversity, to recognize the need to use our planet’s resources wisely and to unite artists from international locales to share their artistic expression.