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Though they have lost the benefit of an outdoor space in which they can exhibit their works of art, Sculptors Society of Canada (SSC) members have plenty to look forward to now that they have settled into their new home.

The society has operated out of the Canadian Sculpture Centre for the past 15 years. The centre recently moved from its Merton Street location in Davisville Village to 500 Church St. when the owners of the former site needed the space for their own use.

While the centre's former home had a courtyard, that feature could at times be almost as much of a curse as a blessing.

"We had beautiful outdoor sculptures there but we were vandalized a lot," said Judi Michelle Young, sculpture centre spokesperson. "We had a 10-foot piece of granite craned in - and granite's very hard to damage - but it was smashed. Every single piece that wasn't granite was smashed, pushed over or graffitied."

Young said the sculpture centre's Merton Street location was part of the Heritage Toronto walking tours program but noted pieces had to be refurbished for the tour each year. Nonetheless, she said the outdoor courtyard was a much-beloved feature of the centre's old home.

While the new location does not offer passersby an opportunity to take in sculptures in an outdoor setting as they walk past, there are definitely other features that make the tradeoff worthwhile.

"We're on a main street now, with more walk-in traffic and definitely a lot more activity," Young said. "It's unfortunate that we don't have a courtyard but it's a really beautiful space and we're happy to be down here."

The gallery remains a prime exhibition grounds for contemporary Canadian sculptors and is the only gallery dedicated entirely to promoting sculpture in the country, making it the ideal home for the SSC. Both share a mandate of bringing sculpture to the fore in the Canadian art world.

The Canadian Sculpture Centre is currently showcasing BodyWorks, an exhibit featuring examinations of the human physique in a variety of mediums ranging from wood to stone to plaster. BodyWorks will run at the centre through Friday, Sept. 5.

The centre is also presenting its 13th annual juried Graduating Sculpture Student Exhibition at Gallery 1313 at 1313 Queen St. W. until Saturday, Aug. 23.

In September, the SSC will celebrate its 80th anniversary both at its current location and at the John B. Aird Gallery at 900 Bay St.

Visit www.cansculpt.org for details on the Sculpture Centre, the SSC and current and upcoming exhibits.