as I walk Toronto

Another circular route

Posted: May 15, 2022 in alleys, construction, graffiti and street art, intersections, old buildings
Tags: 33wallflower33, Broadview, construction, Don Valley parkway, DVP, Eastern Ave., foundry, Garfield, graffiti, heritage, hoardings, paste up, sketchrat, underpass park, urban ninja squadron, visual noise, water tower

From the West Don Lands, across Eastern, north on Broadview and then back west on Queen Street East to Parliament and the Distillery District.

below: Saved! Demolition of the old foundry building near the Distillery District. More on this story in a previous post from almost exactly a year ago. Also a paste up by 33wallflower33 of a well dressed woman throwing out Doug Ford’s head and paraphernalia such as beer can with “buck a beer” in it.

below: Signs of celebration on the fence around what ostensibly will be Eastern Avenue Affordable Housing (i.e. We’ll wait and see…)

bottom right: “Here’s why people are rallying to protect this Toronto heritage site from demolition. The provincial government has paused demolition of the Foundry site in the West Don Lands after an outcry in Toronto” From Toronto NOW.
bottom left: “Province starts demolition of heritage buildings in West Don Lands despite community backlash. Tearing buildings down ‘outrageous’ councillor says.” CBC News

below: A simple statement; a red paper heart tied to a tree.

below: Not all of it was saved… but at least they didn’t tear the whole thing down as originally planned…..

below: Ukraine symbol on a boarded up window

below: Smack! Urban Ninja Squadron paste-up along with a musical sketchrat.

below: The house with the two green cubes is still standing. Truth at the base.

below: A painted pillar in Underpass Park, with the pedestrian ramp up to Eastern Ave in background

below: A row of large rocks

below: The underside of the roof over the entrance to the condo is very reflective. It ‘mirrors’ the reflective ceiling of Underpass Park next door to it.

below: View from, looking east over Corktown Common, the south end of the Don River, as well as the ramp from the Gardiner Expressway to the Don Valley Parkway.

below: Eastern Ave and the DVP. Looking east.

below: Garfield the Cat just lying around

below: Northeast corner of Broadview and Eastern.

below: A row of old houses on Broadview still stand empty. It’s been years now since anyone has lived in them.

below: Just a bit north, at Queen Street East, another boarded up building. But this one is now in the middle of an active construction site.

below: In an alley behind Queen Street East.

below: A new view of Queen Street East has been opened up with the demolition of some of the buildings on the south side.

below: Northeast corner of Broadview and Queen East, once the home of Dangerous Dan’s.

below: Danger due to hole. On Queen East. The pyramid shaped roof is part of the Broadview Hotel at Queen and Broadview.

below: More danger…. watch out for spooky skeletons!

below: Riverside Common, a new public space on Queen Street East.

below: Looking back across the Don River from the bridge at Queen Street East.

below: Passing southbound under Queen Street East.

below: Looking north up Lower Bayview from Queen Street East

below: From almost the same vantage point as the photo above, but looking more west than north.

below: An Uber5000 yellow birdie on the wall of the Toronto Humane Society at Queen and River.

below: Painting of two fencers where the red wine seems to be winning.

below: Where Eastern Avenue meets Front Street, looking west towards downtown. The old brick building is now Toronto Police Services Division 51 headquaters. In a previous phase of its life it was Consumers Gas Station A, designed by Bond & Smith and built in 1898. Beyond Parliament Street and in the background is the blue Globe and Mail building.

below: The Porsche dealership on the northwest corner of Front and Parliament is now empty.

below: The southwest corner of Front and Parliament is entirely surrounded by plywood hoardings.

below: Another 33wallflower33 paste-up. This time she’s pinning Putin’s head to the ground.

below: And back to the Distillery District – and the new construction that is taking place at Front and Trinity, just north of the historic buildings.

‘Now You See Me’

Posted: May 14, 2022 in galleries
Tags: Chun Hua Catherine Dong, CONTACT, Danya Danger, Doris McCarthy Gallery, Gaëlle Elma, Leila Fatemi, Meryl McMaster, Onondaga Madonna, Scarborough College, Scotiabank CONTACT, UTSC, Vivek Shraya

an exhibit at Doris McCarthy Gallery, U of T Scarborough.

“Bringing together artists who consider the power dynamics of image-making in their distinct practices, Now You See Me includes Black, Indigenous, and artists of colour, who variously identify as women, femme, and non-binary. They use photography to explore issues related to gender and cultural identity, asserting themselves as directors of their own images to pose questions about the complex cultural and gender-related politics that underlie self-representation.”

The above quote comes from the Doris McCarthy Gallery website where you can find more information about the exhibit.

below: “Skin Deep” by Chun Hua Catherine Dong shows self-portraits ‘masked’ in Chinese silk fabrics, a gesture that implies submission.

below: A video by Vivek Shraya titled “Legends of the Trans” is a photoessay based on “Legends of the Fall”, a 1994 movie starring Brad Pitt. Throughout the essay, the main character, Tristan, wears a bindi (coloured dot) on his/her forehead.

below: Meryl McMaster juxtaposes a self-portrait with a hand written copy of a poem called ‘Onondaga Madonna’ written by Duncan Campbell Scott in 1898. Scott was the deputy superintendent of the Department of Indian Affairs from 1913 to 1932. He played a predominant role in the establishment of residential schools; under his direction the forcible removal of Indigenous children from their homes to attend residential schools was made compulsory,

below: Danya Danger presents three photos of women in embellished black leather fetish masks as she explores the relationships between sexuality, gender, and power.

below: Gaëlle Elma has a couple of large photos in this group exhibit. Her work deals with perceptions of sexuality, human bodies, and blackness.

below: Leila Fatemi has centered her exhibit around vintage postcards of Muslim women. Here they are printed such that the image depends on the angle from which you view the picture.

“Generated from different perspectives and experiences, these works share a reckoning with the historical and contemporary uses of the camera as a tool to perpetuate degradative narratives.”

portraits, larger than life

Posted: May 7, 2022 in events, public art
Tags: CONTACT, Contact photography festival, Cultural Turns, georgia, Jorian Charlton, King St. West, Metro Hall, Out of Many, photography, portraits, Tyler Mitchell

This year’s CONTACT Photography Festival showcases the work of a few photographers who focus on portraits. Two of these, Tyler Mitchell and Jorian Charlton, are shown here.

First, on the west side of Spadina near King Street is this large portrait:

It is “Georgia” by Jorian Charlton, a Toronto based photographer whose works centers around Jamaican-Canadians and their culture. There is also an exhibit of her work titled “Out of Many” at the Art Gallery of Ontario that can be seen until 7 Aug 2022.

Nearby is a series of portraits by American photographer Tyler Mitchell (b. 1995) is on display on King Street West by Metro Hall. This is “Cultural Turns”.

There are actually three parts to this exhibition. Unfortunately I do not have photos of the other parts but they are billboards at Dovercourt and Dupont as well as an indoor component at the CONTACT Gallery.

on hoardings, Queen Street East

Posted: May 3, 2022 in graffiti and street art, locations
Tags: Chris Perez, Elicser, hoardings, luvs, moth, mural, painting, Phillip Saunders, Queen St. East, rabbit, raccoon, steam, still life, turtle

The construction hoardings on the south side of Queen Street East between Broadview and the Don River were painted back in the fall of 2021.

below: At the east end, a dear with a rack of antlers beside a young woman in a bright and cheerful orange head scarf.

below: A face by Philip Saunders.

below: Elicser people

below: Yellow tea (or coffee?) pot with citrus fruit, still life by steam reflected on a shiny metal plate.

below: Closer up of the pinkish eye of a white rabbit

below: A large brown turtle slowly ambles by

below: A pigeon never looked so majestic!

below: A moth is attracted by the lights of traffic by the Queen Street East bridge

below: Luvs almost makes this little raccoon look cute!

‘Seeing Evergreen’

Posted: May 2, 2022 in people, public art
Tags: Dvid Crombie Park, interviews, Jamii, people, photography, portraits, Seeing Evergreen, THe Esplanade

“To know a forest you start with the roots”

“Seeing Evergreen” is an exhibit presented by Jamii Twelve older residents of the area were paired with local youth to share their stories. The results of these conversations, along with portraits of the participants, are on display in David Crombie Park on The Esplanade.

below: All the posters have a large portrait on one side

below: On the other side is a small picture as well as the words written. Posters with portraits and stories of four – Victoria, Naomi, Stella, and Carol-Anne

below: Nancy and Chet, their pictures and stories.

below: Posters with the Toronto skyline behind.

way up Yonge Street

Posted: April 14, 2022 in construction, history, intersections, locations, stores
Tags: Arzon Super Market, businesses, Centerpoint Mall, Communist Party, construction, Cummer Ave., development, graffiti, Happy Nowruz, multicultural, Newtonbrook, Papa Cafe, posters, Seoul Plaza, signs, stencil, stores, Tirgan, Ukraine, vacant lot, Yonge St.

between Steeles and Drewry/Cummer.

Once it was the hinterland but now it feels like the city just goes on and on and on….

below: In 1955 this was the view looking south on Yonge from just north of Cummer/Drewry. This was the center of the community of Newtonbrook, named after the Newton Brook Wesleyan Church founded in 1857. A general store and post office were opened here in 1863 on the northeast corner of Yonge & Drewry (possibly the buildings on the right side of this photo).

black and white photo of yonge street looking south from Cummer

photo credit: James Victor Salmon, found on Toronto Public Library website (public domain).

below: It’s not taken from exactly the same viewpoint (traffic!) but this is what you see looking south on Yonge Street now.

below: Looking north up Yonge Street from just south of Cummer/Drewry. The large house is on the southeast corner of Cummer and Yonge.

old black and white photo of yonge street,

photo credit: Tim Chirnside, found on Toronto Public Library website (public domain)

below: The intersection of Yonge and Cummer (to the east) and Drewry (to the west) today. The large house in the black and white photo above would be on the far right of this picture.

below: Yonge Street is also Provincial Highway 11.

below: It is a major transportation/transit route.

below: Happy Nowruz! or in other words, Happy New Year! It is the Iranian New Year; the beginning of spring; a new day! The banners were by sponsored by Tirgan, an organization that “promotes cross-cultural dialogue between Iranian-Canadians and the global community at large.”

below: There are many other cultures that are well represented in this part of the city.

below: Like so many parts of Toronto, there is a lot of redevelopment taking place. Blue and white development notice signs are everywhere.

below: To be (possibly) replaced by 25 storeys, 347 residences and a daycare.

below: Seoul Plaza with it’s Korean BBQ restaurant and other businesses (not all Korean) – also with a development notice sign in front. I’m not sure of the size of the development but it looks like your average 20ish storeys on podium condo.

below: Looking south from Moore Park Ave

below: Looking north to the intersection of Yonge and Steeles. Steeles Ave has been the northern boundary of the City of Toronto since 1953. All of the tall buildings in this picture are north of Steeles and are in Thornhill (York Region).

below: Pro Ukraine stencil graffiti.

below: I’m not sure what the spring will do but someone has been putting up a lot of posters for the Communist Party.

waterfront

Posted: April 10, 2022 in construction, locations, public art, waterfront
Tags: Aitken Place Park, Alice Aycock, anser, bench, Between the Eyes, billboards, boats, condos, eyes, ferries, fish, John Fung, Lake Ontario, Merchants Wharf, Nbii Dodem, Paul Figueiredo, public art, Que Rock, queens quay east, Redpath Sugar, reflections, Richard Deacon, sculpture, seagull, Sherbourne St., Shore Stories, sugar beach, Sundial Folly, Water Clans, waterfront

Let’s follow the fish! 🐟 It’s pointed east along Queen’s Quay and by coincidence that the direction I’m headed too… 😃

The seagull is not amused.

below: Harbour Square Park with “Sundial Folly” at the water’s edge. This art installation is the work of John Fung and Paul Figueiredo. It has recently been cleaned up. The sphere is hollow and there is a walkway that runs through it. An opening at the south side (water side) acts as a sundial.

below: Looking east from Harbour Square towards the Westin Hotel tower and the park by the ferry docks.

below: Tour boats and ferries still under wraps for the winter months.

below: “Shore Stories” a mosaic located by the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal. It was made in 2012 by youth from the community under the guidance of AFCY (Arts for Children and Youth, an organization that may or may not still exist).

below: The “egg beaters” at 1 Yonge Street are now behind a fence. The installation is actually called “Between the Eyes”, and is by Richard Deacon.

below: It’s 830km to Kapuskasing and even farther to Cochrane, just keep following Yonge Street northwards.

below: “A Series of Whirlpool Field Manoeuvres for Pier 27”. by Alice Aycock

below: The walkway along the waterfront comes to an end where a very high concrete wall separates Redpath Sugar from the public space.

below: Que Rock murals, water theme, “Water Clans (Nbii Dodem)” four panels at Redpath Sugar.

below: Pink umbrellas and sugar filled ships, at Sugar Beach.

below: Queens Quay East at Dockside

below: Sherbourne Commons

below: New construction on Queens Quay East where many parts are being made of wood. A new park, Aitkens Place Park lies between the new building and the waterfront.

below: Vacant lot on the corner of Queens Quay East and Small Street.

below: At the foot of Parliament Street.

below: Anser eyes

below: Sweet and salty at the Distillery

Clandestinos in a hidden corner

Posted: April 5, 2022 in graffiti and street art
Tags: baltimore oriole, blackberries, blueberries, Bruno Smoky, butterfly, cherry blossoms, clandestinos, raspberries, Shalak Attack

…. of downtown Toronto.

Shalak Attack and Bruno Smoky have painted another large colourful mural. This one features two women, a baltimore oriole, and many fruits and flowers.

below: Close up of the bird, a baltimore oriole

below: Adorned with leaves, flowers, and fruit – blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Lots of cherry blossoms and another bird too.

The Original Peace Treaty

Posted: April 4, 2022 in graffiti and street art, public art
Tags: Anishinaabe, colours, healing, indigenous, mural, peace, Que Rock, Quentin Commanda, TO Live, Turtle Island

There is a large mural (40′ x 50′) in downtown Toronto on the west wall of the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts on Front Street East. It was painted by Quentin Commanda, aka Que Rock.

below: Commanda’s “Artist Statement” – see below the picture to read the transcription.

Artist Statement:

This mural is meant to be a visual healing experience. The seven rings around Grandfather Sun represent the seven Grandfather teachings of the Anishinaabe people: Wisdom, Love, Humility, Respect, Honesty, Courage, and Truth. There are many layers of sacred geometry patterns on the mural.

The skyline includes the medicine-wheel teachings, Grandmother Moon and the 13 grandmother clan systems. The turtle shell represents North America’s creation story, the 13 full moons per year, and the seven grandfather teachings.

The entire mural also represents the original Peace Treaty of the Six Nations on Turtle Island (North America). The story of the Six Nations Treaty starts with the original five Nations of Turtle Island: the Plant Nation, the Insect Nation, the Bird Nation, the Fish Nation, and the Animal Nation. All five Nations had to agree to let the Human Nation live here on Mother Earth. All five Nations agreed to be humanity’s teachers and the Human Nation was invited to share the land.

The Human Nation was given instructions on how to live on Mother Earth, walk gentle on Mother Earth, learn one new thing every day, and share with one another. These are some of the original instructions given to the Anishinaabe people. The bear represents a Medicine Clan. The Mukwa (bear) is a healer, it is the only animal who communicates with all Six Nations.

The bottom panel represents my story from the past, present, and future. The first character with the microphone is the future and present me. The second character represents my past as a native child with my dog Miangun and the path of healing I have taken to decolonize myself back to the Anishinaabe child I was born to be.

My mother is a residential school survivor and so was my father. I am no different than the 215 children found in Kamloops, B.C. I survived to tell you this story and share my experiences. My community is still here and so am I.

The Artist is from Nbiising or Nipissing First Nation, his traditional name is Manitou Nemeen (Spirit Dancing) and he is from the Miangun Dodem (Wolf Clan).

The orange background on the mural represents the missing/murdered Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island.

The mural was commissioned by TO Live

pillow fight 2022

Posted: April 3, 2022 in events, people
Tags: fighting, fun, laughing, nathan phillips square, people, pillow fight, pillows

The spring pillow fight at Nathan Phillips returned this year. It was a smaller turnout than in pre-covid times but there was still lots of energy and enthusiasm! Family fun too – all ages welcomed and included.