The section of Kristiinankatu will once again transform into a summer street at the beginning of June. The street will be closed to car traffic and will feature benches and plantings. As a landmark, the cat sculpture Toivo-kissa will be erected on Toivo's name day, June 4th.
An art piece was sought for the summer street as part of the pop-up art program application organized by the City of Turku earlier this year. The selection fell on a collaborative work by visual artist Johanna Sinkkonen and graphic artist Jone Mutka, inspired by a beautiful idea of hope (toivo in Finnish). The inspiration for the piece came from the artists' joint trip to Japan.
- The Japanese Maneki Neko is a cat figure that invites and brings good luck. Toivo-kissa honors this Japanese folklore as well as Finnish folklore about cats as messengers of forest and land spirits. We were inspired by the Japanese cultural way of seeking happiness in life and creating constant glimpses of hope in everyday life, says Johanna Sinkkonen.
One common Japanese wishing method is to write a wish on a beautiful ema plaque and hang it in a public place. This will also be realized on the summer street. In June, the artists will organize three lucky charm workshops, where residents can write or draw their wishes on a cat-shaped lucky plaque and attach it to the sculpture. This way, the sculpture will become a crystallization of the thoughts and wishes of Turku residents for the future of Turku.
- Saturday 14.6. from 12:00 to 15:00
- Tuesday 17.6. from 15:00 to 18:00
- Saturday 28.6. from 12:00 to 15:00
No pre-registration is required for the workshops.
The cute cat sculpture will delight passersby in the city center. throughout the summer. In addition to Toivo-kissa, the summer street will be decorated with colorful plantings and benches.
- The summer street invites you to relax in the hustle and bustle of the city center. Enjoy your summer lunch or ice cream on the benches of the summer street while enjoying the surroundings, tips Marie Nyman, landscape architect of the City of Turku.
Car through traffic will be restricted on the summer street section from June to August. Access to properties and service traffic is allowed from Linnankatu. Parking halls at the end of Kristiinankatu (P-Hansakortteli and P-Centrum) can be accessed via Eerikinkatu.
Illustration of the Toivo-kissa sculpture: Johanna Sinkkonen and Jone Mutka
The base of the Toivo-kissa sculpture comes from Johanna Sinkkonen's Think Pink sculpture, a gigantic pink flamingo, that is displayed by the Halistenkoski rapids until 1.6.
Further collaboration between culture and circular economy can be seen at ReTurku Circular Economy Carnival organized by Creative Circular Cities project in Runosmäki 9.–15.6.