Backgrounder: Passage & Play by Dan Bergeron and Gabriel Specter

Passage & Play by artists Dan Bergeron and Gabriel Specter invites viewers to celebrate water as a unifying element, acting as the thread that connects the multiple mural panels and varied viewpoints of the decommissioned ticket booths at the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal. 

Each panel presents a distinct subject, as well as a unique interpretation of water. These variations convey water’s movement, flow, and force, imbuing the mural with a dynamic quality that shifts with the viewer’s perspective. This sense of motion mirrors our own experiences with water—whether we stand still on land as water ebbs and flows or are carried by waves when immersed in it. 

On the north-west side of the walls, facing the street, migrating flora and fauna appear, such as monarch butterflies, purple loosestrife, yellow warblers and smallmouth bass. The south-east side of the walls, facing the park and waterfront, highlight human activities in and around the water, such as playing on the beach, kayaking, kite flying, and sailing. 

Commissioned by Waterfront Toronto, in collaboration with the City of Toronto and CreateTO. 

You can learn more about how we’re improving the ferry experience on City of Toronto’s website.

About the artists 

Dan Bergeron 

Dan Bergeron is a public artist who employs a range of styles, themes, and materials to activate and explore the meaning of our shared public spaces. The shape, texture, and location of a site—along with its history and current uses—dictate the form and content of his projects. Dan’s installations may be formally commissioned or independently initiated; some are temporary, while others are permanent. His public artworks aim to open a dialogue with viewers, promoting engagement through both intimate familiarity and wonder at the unexpected.  

Dan has left his artistic mark on cities around the world including London, New York, Toronto, Paris and Amsterdam. He has completed commissions for the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Royal Ontario Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto, and the Luminato Festival. His commercial clients include Converse, Nike, Adidas, and Vespa, and he has created public artworks for the City of Toronto, the City of Calgary, the City of Guelph, the City of Ottawa, the City of Richmond, BC, and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Dan lives in Toronto with his two young boys. Explore Dan’s work on his website.

Gabriel Specter 

Gabriel Specter is a long-time collaborator of fellow artist Dan Bergeron and is recognized for his anthropological approach to art-making. His paintings and sculptures explore the overlooked and everyday elements of urban life, drawing attention to the textures, signage, and patterns that shape our shared environments. Specter’s work documents the present by mining the past—seeking out objects, markings, and places that reflect collective histories, whether through a hand-painted sign, layers of weathered posters, or architectural motifs. His interventions often disrupt the expected, reframing the familiar through shifts in texture, language, or form. 

Gabriel has created site-specific murals and installations for institutions including the Museum of Contemporary African Diaspora Arts, the Royal Ontario Museum, the Department of Transportation NYC, the US Embassy, and the John Michael Kohler Art Center. He has also collaborated with commercial clients such as Prada and Apple. His first permanent public artwork, Transparent Geometry, was installed at Public School 746 in Brooklyn, New York in the summer of 2021. Gabriel’s murals span more than 15 countries, with multiple projects completed in Canada, the United States, and France. Follow Gabriel’s work on his website.