As the sun set on Toronto’s east end, a group of rugged contractors heaved an enormous pink hat over a large wooden frame that would eventually form the shape of a pussy hat, the iconic symbol of the Women’s March that immediately proceeded the inauguration of Donald Trump.

The hat is an art installation called “Pussy Hut,” which has space for several people to fit under its roof, and has earflaps that slope onto a wooden bench, making a comfortable seat for people to talk, ideally about feminism and women’s empowerment.

“The Women’s March is something we completely support, and, as designers, we wanted to participate,” said Martin Miller, an architect from New York who designed the hat with his partner Mo Zheng.

Miller worked with 15 others, using their arms instead of needles, to knit the fabric to make the hat.

It is only one of the art installations that make up the Winter Stations Design Competition on Toronto’s eastern beachfront. Artists from around the world submitted designs to be built on top of lifeguard stations, which are typically dormant in the winter.

The competition is in its fourth year, and this year’s theme is “RIOT.”

The installations will be set up and ready to use by Family day. On Thursday evening, contractors had set up four of them. The other three were created by people at OCAD University, Ryerson University and the University of Guelph, respectively.

One installation is a white wooden frame shaped like a funnel, covered by pinwheels that spun when the wind blew; another an obstacle course with revolving red pillars that rotate when pushed. The other installation up Thursday is a black-and-yellow striped box, with massive speakers jutting out. With the crank of a handle, the speakers emit a booming sound that can be heard down the boardwalk.

Beachgoers took to the installations warmly, observing, taking pictures, and walking through and under the artwork. Dogs were especially intrigued by the art.

“It's great to see how the public interacts with each of the items,” said Sarah Huxold, a contractor from Annex Works, a company that helps to build the four non-university installations.

“It gives you something to do besides sitting at home in the winter and watch TV. Get outside! Get into your community!” she said.

“It's really good use of it; it's not stuck in a gallery,” said Bobby Gadda, a contractor who has spent the week setting up installations.

For all the physical labour involved in the job, Huxold says that logistics is one of the toughest parts of her job.

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“(It’s) figuring out how we’re going to build it within a budget and within a timeline,” said Huxold.

With many of the artists far away, the contractors communicate with the artists through email as they build.

“We want their input, too, because we want to execute their vision.”