Bob Marley One Love Experience exhibit in Toronto

August 8, 2022

Canada’s cultural capital is Toronto where the largest concentration of Jamaican immigrants reside, including several of Bob Marley’s relatives.

These factors, no doubt, played a huge part in the decision to bring the ‘Bob Marley One Love Experience’ to Canada’s largest city this summer.

Jonathan Shank, the Chief Executive Officer of Terrapin Station Entertainment that collaborated with the Marley Family to present the exhibit, said Toronto was the consensus for the immersive exhibition to make its North American debut.

“We thought this was a natural place to start as there is a large Jamaican and Caribbean Diaspora and this is a hub for activities,” said the exhibition’s Director & Producer. “Bob also loved Toronto.”

Marley first appeared on stage in Toronto at Massey Hall in June 1975 in support of ‘Natty Dread’, the first album recorded as ‘Bob Marley & the Wailers’ after Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh left the group two years earlier.

He made subsequent appearances in May 1976, June 1978 and the last in November 1979.

Bob Marley (Photo contributed)

For the last 22 years, Marley’s birthday – February 6 – has been proclaimed Bob Marley Day in Toronto.

Originally from Pennsylvania where he was turned on to Marley’s music by his dad who played it in his car, Shank cut his teeth in the entertainment business in New Orleans where he interned for runway producer and music legend Kim Fowley who sent the Tulane University graduate to Los Angeles with business cards that read, ‘Hire This Guy’.

He managed Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart, produced benefit shows and earned a Grammy Award 13 years ago for his role in creating the ‘Global Drum Project’.

Shank conceived the idea for the exhibit three years ago while driving with a friend to Los Angeles International Airport.

“I asked my friend to get out a piece paper because, swirling in my mind, were a few ideas like the forest, the silent disco and the giant record which are some of the main things that are part of the exhibit,” he pointed out. “When I talked to Cedella and Ziggy (Marley’s children) about the forest and some of the immersive ideas, they were really into that because that is what brings the energy and vibe of Bob. We just built on those ideas.”

The exhibit launched in London, England last February.

“We have been wanting to launch a Bob Marley touring exhibit for many years and we were thrilled to see it come to life and debut in London which had a very special place in daddy’s heart,” said Cedella Marley who is the Chief Executive Officer of Bob Marley Group of Companies. “The experience can be enjoyed by all generations and we look forward to continuing to spread daddy’s music and message to the globe.”

What was it like working with the Marley family to stage the exhibit?

“Humbling and inspiring,” Shank said. “They pushed me in positive ways to put all of this together. The fact that they had the slightest bit of trust in me to do this says a lot. They are a wonderful group of people and the whole experience has been amazing.”

The Bob Marley exhibit is one of the largest and impactful projects Shank has done.

“I have worked on other legacy projects for significant artists like Otis Redding and Linda Ronstadt and this exhibit is an expansion of that creativity,” he said. “I have never built an exhibit of this size before, but I have worked for legacy artists who have left an impact on culture. That is what Bob Marley does. He brings people together and he has impacted culture in so many ways.”

The exhibit features unseen Marley photographs and memorabilia while immersing visitors through his unique lifestyle passions, influences and enduring legacy.

Music Room (Photo by Craig Sugden)

The ‘One Love Music Room’ commemorates Marley’s achievements through accolades and giant art installations, a multi-sensory experience is discovered in the ‘One Love Forest’ and fans can honour and rejoice in Marley’s musical catalogue at the ‘Soul Shakedown Studio’ that is a live listening experience.

The Beautiful Life section (Photo by Craig Sugden)

‘The Beautiful Life’ section allows fans to delve deeper into Marley’s other interests, including soccer and the ‘Concrete Jungle and Fan Art Expo’ is anchored by French-born street artist Mr. Brainwash artworks.

Concrete Jungle and Fan Art Expo (Photo by Craig Sugden)

Opened on July 1 to the public, the exhibit runs until August 14 at Lighthouse Artscape, 1 Yonge St.