Public Sweat is a fusion between sauna culture and art. Its goal is to create social connections by sharing this experience with friends, family, and strangers. It’s the latest project from Art Spin, which presents contemporary art in unexpected spaces with unique public experiences.

I didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did. It brought back memories of my childhood. I grew up on a small resort in Northern Ontario, and the sauna was one of our guest favourites. My Dad believed in the restorative value of saunas, and we were frequent users. By the end of our 2-hour session, I felt relaxed, restored and grateful for the happy childhood memory as my Dad has since passed.

The sessions are timed, and the number of people is limited. We had a two-hour window to explore the 5 different saunas which was more than enough time. Each sauna only has room for 6 to 10 people, but we never had to wait longer than a few minutes to try one. There were hammocks and seating areas to relax, cool off and socialize between sessions. There’s even a cold bucket rinse, if you are brave enough.

Until Apr 30, 2023 at Harbourfront Center, Toronto Ontario