A pumice raft is an ecological phenomenon that usually follows an underwater volcanic eruption. Amongst the lava, plumes of pumice stones slowly float to the surface of the ocean. If the wind is calm the individual stones form what some sailors have reported as floating islands that appear out of nowhere. The pumice raft has even been known to ferry flora and fauna to new shores. More than an illusion on the horizon, a pumice raft represents a vessel, a conduit, a vehicle; its very constitution cultivates an environment where things can come together in the spirit of collaboration.

Pumice Raft is also a federally registered non-profit organization in Tkaronto/Toronto ON, Canada. Incorporated in 2018, Pumice Raft's activities begin from an ecological activist approach to the display of visual art and the facilitation of related education. This means that the guiding principles of the organization are rooted in a conception of place that begins with the protection of people and the planet. A more extensive organizational history can be read here.

The physical space of Pumice Raft currently resides on the land of the Haudenosaunee, the Huron-Wendat, and the Anishinabewaki ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᐗᑭ. Located on the first floor of a light industrial building at 348 Ryding Avenue, Pumice Raft sits in Toronto's present-day Junction neighbourhood. Nearby to the west, the Humber River (Niwa'ah Onega'gaih'ih) flows south towards Lake Ontario (Niigani-gichigami).

Pumice Raft is also part of a larger networks of arts spaces, galleries, and museums in Toronto visible here. The activities of Pumice Raft do not occur in isolation but rather unfold around deep social relations. The intimate interplay between artists, writers, curators, organizers, advocates, activists, colleagues, friends, lovers, and mentors is what allows the network to bloom.

Board of Directors
Jake Vogl
Erin Reznick
Felix Rapp
Parker Kay, executive director

Expert Advisory Board
Luis Jacob
Aamna Muzafar

For any and all inquiries please contact Parker Kay at pumice[dot]raft[dot]space[at]gmail[dot]com

Artists and Collaborators in Order of Appearance:
Stephane Gaulin-Brown
Shannon Garden-Smith
Craig Spence
Ben Freedman
Cotey Pope
Daniel Rotsztain
Kathleen Taylor
Fan Wu
Katharina Cameron
Cadence Planthara
Ekow Stone
Hiba Abdallah
Michael Abel
Graeme Wahn
Michael Freeman Badour
Nicole Coon
Jenni Crain
Lili Huston-Herterich
Michelle Homonylo
Leeay Aikawa
Nabil Azab
Gart Darley
Tom Dean
Rosemary Flutur
Sky Glabush
Ella Gonzales
Vincent Larouche
Manden Murphy
Native Art Department International
Nick Schutzenhofer
Dana Slijboom
Mégane Voghell
Fan Wu
Chris Mendoza
Garrett Lockhart
Luis Jacob
Cason Sharpe
Maddie McNeely
Ashley Diana Culver
Ellen Schwartzel
Ameen Ahmed
Maria Hupfield
Sanna Wani
Gabrielle Marceau
Tanya Cothran
Dylan Millerd
Jordan Prosser
Jay Shuster
Ali Pinkney
Jennifer Bonnell
Jean Marc Ah-Sen
Simon Fuh
Benjamin de Boer
Nicholas Hauck
Eddy Wang
Simon Rabyniuk
sarah koekkoek
Denise Solleza
Maggy Hamel-Metsos
Gord Peteran
Jon McCurley
Hannia Cheng
Shima Raeesi
Ami Xherro
Casimir Ernest Gasser
Jeremy Jansen
Esther Sibiude
Faith Arkorful
Angel Callander
Nora Rosenthal
Sennah Yee
Rowan Lynch
Jesse Marcelo Sarkis
Riley Duncan
Connie Wilson
Esmé Hogeveen
Andrew James Paterson
Lee Suksi
Georgia Dickie
Megan Mi-Ai Lee
Paula McLean
Meagan Christou
Vanessa Rieger
Jack Copple
Nathan Donovan
Fatine-Violette Sabiri

Documentation/Photography by:
Alex Willms
Ben Freedman
Brendan George Ko
Ananna Rafa
Clea Christakos-Gee
Brittany Carmichael
Jordan Prosser
Daniel Froidevaux

With Installation Support from:
Craig Spence
Max Ito Chandler
Doug Moore
Daniel Griffin Hunt