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The Ring

  • Corten weathering steel
  • 2021
  • Ryerson University (east of the Gould Street and Nelson Mandela Walk intersection), Toronto

About the artwork

A large-scale public artwork colloquially known as The Ring was installed on campus in September 2021, honouring the Dish With One Spoon Territory, the land on which the university is built. Designed by Matthew Hickey and Jacqueline Daniel of Two Row Architect, the three-metre tall steel sculpture is located east of the Gould Street and Nelson Mandela Walk intersection.

The sculpture emerged from the thoughtful and ongoing work of the university’s Truth and Reconciliation Strategic Working Group in collaboration with members of Ryerson’s Indigenous community.

The Ring’s graphics, made by small perforations, incorporate the Seven Grandparent teachings and their animal symbols: Humility, Courage, Honesty, Wisdom, Truth, Respect and Love. Surrounded by stars and the constellation Pleiades, these pictographs also depict the lunar moon phases. The Ring is oriented with the cardinal directions (North, South, East and West) so that the pathway through its opening faces east, representing creation and new beginnings; and west, representing knowledge and wisdom.

Manufactured by Mariani Metal Fabricators, The Ring is made of Corten weathering steel, a type of material that is less processed and more likely to change with its environmental conditions; its exterior has been left untreated deliberately to allow the weathering process to continue.

The installation of such a prominent and permanent art piece on campus is one of many ways the university is working to implement recommendations from its 2018 Truth and Reconciliation Report, which includes the important practice of acknowledging the traditional territory and presence of Indigenous peoples on this land.

About the artist

Matthew Hickey is Mohawk from the Six Nations First Nation and is a licensed architect with 12 years of experience working in an on-reserve architecture firm. He received his Masters of Architecture from the University of Calgary and his Bachelor of Design from Ontario College of Art and Design, winning both the Alberta Association of Architects Presidents Medal and the Medal for Best Thesis, respectively.

Hickey’s focus is on regenerative design – encompassing ecological, cultural, and economic principles. His research includes Indigenous history and the adaptation of traditional sustainable technologies to the modern North American climate. He currently instructs at OCAD U, for the OAA and the Canada Green Building Council.

Jacqueline Daniel is an intern architect at Two Row Architect. She is a graduate of University of Michigan’s master of architecture program and holds a BA in architecture from the University of Toronto.
Two Row Architect is focused on guiding the realignment of mainstream ways of thinking on their journey towards Indigenous ways of knowing, being, design and architecture. The steel sculpture is one of a series of public art pieces at the university that will come to fruition throughout 2022.

Fun facts

  • The story of The Ring was featured on Ryerson’s University’s The Forefront (season 2, episode 2), a podcast that showcases how Ryerson is tackling the big issues facing Canadians through bold research, innovation, and collaboration. The episode is called “How art can heal.”
  • This year, the university is taking part in the City of Toronto Year of Public Art initiative, with a series of installments and exhibits. The Ring is one of the installments and is in honour of The Dish With One Spoon Territory, the land on which the university is built.