by Christine Donnelly

At this year’s Radiant Dark exhibition, a pile of 100% wool felt disks have (so far) been traded for a travel pack of Crest, a toonie, a 20% off coupon for Preloved and half a pack of Yasmin 28 birth control pills. Located in Commerce Court West (essentially the grand lobby of the CIBC office tower), Radiant Dark 2010 focuses in on the notion of Assets and Values – the appraisal and value of things that are important to us.

It’s an unusual venue. Bank machines are veiled by large woven panels of plastic webbing created by Toronto artist, Soon Cho. An enourmous bank logo burns in burgundy and yellow above a grouping of bottle lights by Brothers Dressler. All the regulars from the Queen West Art scene are there, except this is 199 Bay St.

“I think it’s great,” said Brent Cordner an industrial designer for Luflic and the artist who designed a black lamp made out of recycled newsprint. “This venue brings our design work to a broader audience… (On Queen West) you get a party, everyone drinks your booze and nobody buys anything.” Surrounded on all sides by windows he admits, “The venue could be seen as cold… but from the outside it’s actually a great display”.

Andrea Holmes is a banker who happened upon the exhibit after leaving her office in one of the surrounding towers. She likes the idea. “Banks need as much creativity as possible,” she says sipping her white wine. “It’s a stagnant culture. That’s why things have hit the wall. They haven’t been creative. They haven’t reinvented themselves.” She tosses a ballpoint pen on the growing pile of tokens of exchange and pockets a felt disk on her way out the door.

Radiant Dark runs until January 24, Commerce Court West, Ground floor lobby, 199 Bay St.

Photos: Daniel Rechstaffen inside Brent Cordner’s lamp, Felt discs, Light bottles by Brothers Dressler, Soon Cho design