TTC Sherbourne: Custom Tile Production Almost Complete

Over the last few weeks we’ve been completing the fabrication of the approximately 14,000 custom ceramic tiles needed for the  Sherbourne Community Mosaic.  The final artwork, to be located throughout Toronto’s TTC Sherbourne station, will total 400 square feet in area.
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The equilateral triangle tiles are hand-made from Earthenglass™, a blend of 100% recycled glass with clay and porcelain and are produced by Interstyle Ceramic + Glass in Burnaby, BC.

We’ve developed 12 bespoke colours for the mosaic tiles that have been inspired by the paint palette of Canadian painter, Tom Thomson.​

Thomson once had a studio in the Toronto neighbourhood where the mosaic will be located.​

After the tile bisque has been fired once in the kiln the coloured glazes are carefully sprayed onto the triangles.  The tiles are weighed to ensure the correct amount of glazing has been applied.​

The glazed tile bisque is loaded onto trays ready to be feed into the giant kiln​

The giant kiln.​

Even though they look delicious these tasty treats are not for eating.​

Grey and Red tiles lined up to get fired.​

The glazed bisque tiles are then re-fired in the kiln at temperatures over 1,200 degrees Celsius – that’s HOT!!!​

The beautiful new ceramic tiles are now ready to be assembled into the Sherbourne Community Mosaic!​