We went exploring. With a three year old. A three year old who is starting to explore the world as only a three year old can. One who gets joy from ‘balancing’ on the green line as we walked the Lower Don Path.
We were walking with a purpose – to find ‘Monsters for Beauty, Permanence and Individuality’ by Duane Linklater. This is a collection of cast concrete gargoyles, replicas of those on Toronto buildings, that is now on the Lower Don Trail. Last week I saw them from the subway as it passed across the Bloor Viaduct so I knew approximately where to walk.
The Lower Don Trail only has a few access points – we entered by Riverdale Park and walked north.
below: Renovations of the underside of the bridge at Bloor/Danforth have just been completed and already one piece of graffiti has appeared.
Just a bit farther north, and on the west side of the path we encountered the artwork. It’s a scattered arrangement of some interesting pieces. If left in place, some future archeologist of the future might stumble upon it and be totally mystified.
Today I got myself tied up in knots as I fought with words as I tried to write this post. How do I describe the thoughts behind the installation? Should I talk about the meaning of gargoyles vs grotesques?
But then I realize that I should just leave it be. Be content.
After all, what was more important was that the blocks turned out to be the perfect size for a three year old to stand on and roar like a lion. We played. And it was fun.
as I walk Toronto 