Once A Sea (where stone turns water into clouds) Vernissage

Please join us for the opening reception of Once A Sea (where stone turns water into clouds) by artist Karen Miranda Abel, an exhibition presented at the Atelier of Akb Architects as part of the 2026 DesignTO Festival.

Reflecting on the elements of earth and sky in relation to the duality of timelessness and fragility, a conceptual garden of sculptures is brought to life with water collected from waterfalls of the Niagara Escarpment biosphere.

Guided by elemental form, the exhibition centers on the intrinsic value and complexity of the natural phenomena of the Niagara Escarpment. Atmospheric water sculptures in glass, paired with stone and sand-cast bronze forms, generate spatial tones under a skylight, signalling a correspondence between the visible and invisible—even when water appears still, its molecules are constantly in motion. Tending to seasonal phases of dark and light, contemplation and transformation, the composition of works creates visual connections with water through reflection, evaporation, and condensation in a fluid engagement with space, transmitting an elemental infinitude.

The artist acknowledges the support of Akb Architects, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Government of Ontario.