Archive for the ‘events’ Category

Winter stations 2023, as in previous years, is a collection of art installations along the waterfront at Woodbine Beach.  I went for a walk along the beach one very blustery Saturday morning.  There weren’t many of us there and I think that I was the only one who wasn’t accompanied by a dog.

below: ‘Delighthouse’, designed by British pair Nick Green and Greig Pirrie.

winter stations installation at Woodbine Beach, multicoloured wood lighthouse shaped structure

below: A shrine to the neighbourhoods of Toronto titled “The (Home)” designed by Canadian group, Scott Shields Architects

winter stations installation at Woodbine Beach, plywood hut with cut out on the sides spelling out the names of Toronto neighbourhoods. Different colours of plastic covering the names,

a portion of the wall without coloured names of Toronto neighbourhoods such as High Park and Lakeview

below: “Ripple Hut” designed by students from Toronto Metropolitan University’s Department of Architectural Sciences.

winter stations installation at Woodbine Beach, metal semi cylindrical structures with holes in them

below: Looking through one of the holes in “Ripple Hut” towards the curved yellow forms of “Surface Pavilion” which was designed by a Mexican team consisting of Cesar Guerrero, Ana Cecilia Garza, and Orlando Garcia .

looking through the holes of a metal art installation structure, beach

below: “Winternet”, just burlap between wood posts.   Designed, such as it is, by a team from University of Waterloo, Dept of Architecture.

winter stations installation at Woodbine Beach, burlap wrapped around wood posts forming a few burlap fences of about 6 feet in height

coloured muskoka chairs on the beach, with burlap fence in the foreground

below: “Life Line” – design team: WeatherstonBruer Associates – James Bruer, Nick Roland, Jacqueline Hampshire

winter stations installation at Woodbine Beach, long red tube leading to lifeguard station

winter stations installation at Woodbine Beach, round red circle with words drop ball here painted on it

winter stations installation at Woodbine Beach,

below: “Conrad” is a large raccoon designed by Novak Djogo and Daniel Joshua Vanderhorst; it is also a memorial to Conrad the real raccoon who died at the corner of Church and Yonge Streets in the summer of 2015.  Whether you love them, hate them, or are indifferent to them, raccoons are part of the Toronto scene.

winter stations installation at Woodbine Beach, large raccoon made of wood and semi-clear plastic

stones and flowers and a picture of a raccoon forming part of a memorial for Conrad the raccoon

_________________________

Some previous years’ installations:

2017 – Flotsam and Jetsam

Winter Stations 2019

Winter Stations 2020

On the waterfront – Winter Stations 2022

The Ex is back (whether or not you think Covid is over!)

looking through a window, a pile of corndogs for sale at the ex

young girl trying to hold onto bar and hang there as long as possible, while a young man with a stuffed banana tries to encourage her

people throwing wiffle balls, ball toss game, cne midway

mother and young son at ring toss game, while cne employee sweeps up rings from the ground

two kids eating pizza

young kids at the cne midway watching people on rides, looking up

young men dressed in black lined up along a counter, ball toss game at cne

two people waiting at a veggie corndog vendor, the vendor next to them is advertising pickle lemonade

two kids and two women at a ring toss game, small red rings over the neck of coke bottles

man in dark sunglasses and turquoise shirt, standing in front of wall of giant stuffies, pointing at someone

young girl with fedora, helping to clip large blue stuffie into a stroller

a young muslim boy watches people on a midway ride, cne

an older woman sitting at a crown and anchor betting game at the ex

mother, father, and son plying ring toss game at cne midway

a young woman in black top and blue jeans gets ready to hang from a bar as long as possible in order to try to win a prize

people watching a man hang from a bar

people watching a man hang from a bar

cne midway, a blue wall with a big ad for slushy bear, pastel colour flags on the roof

two men with daughters kneeling on stools, playing water shooter game at cne

buying fries

a young man has his arms around the waist of a woman as they watch at the cne

a young woman waits her turn for a cne midway ride

a man in a booth with the words fear this in yellow on the window, sitting and looking out at the cne midway

people at the ex, midway

people waiting their turn to get on a ride at the cne

people at the cne midway, lining up by ring of fire ride

back of a woman in a white baseball cap and very long turquoise dreadlocks, braids

people on the midway, a man shields his eyes from the afternoon sun

young people at the cne midway

More 2022 CNE photos on a previous post (around and around we go).

…. and up and down, and back and forth….

people with concerned looks on face as they free fall in a ride at the CNE

Riding fun at the CNE midway!

a man in a red t shirt sits in a booth as he controls a ride at the Canadian National Exhibition, a ring with riders whizzing past

a young girl and her mother spinning in a red round pod at ride at cne

mother and daughter screaming and laughing on roller coaster ride

a young couple are harnassed into a ride at the cne while they wait for it to start

many people sitting on Egyptian boat, pharoah, ride at the Canadian National Exhibition, as it swings to one side and they are near vertical in the air

young asian couple enjoying a roller coaster ride, laughing, leaning into each other as they go around a corner

two young men watch a ride

an older couple having a good time on the alpine crossing ride as it spins around, the ex,

two men working at the cne in red shirts, helping to make sure that young riders are strapped in safely to their seats

a man watches a spinning ride at the ex, as people are standing as they spin

screaming and hair flying as ride goes around picture of a woman with a snowboard, cne midway

three young people in prone position in a ride at the cne

three young men on a flying ride over the midway at the c n e

nearing vertical at a ride at the cne

young people enjoying a ride in green pods at the cne

people at the ex, on midway rides

two men holding hands as they get ready for a free fall ride at the ex

young women laughing as they go around in circles on a ride at the cne midway

a young man in white framed sunglasses, midway ride at cne

hanging up in the air, midway ride at cne

painted sculptures at Distillery District, abstract people shapes, reflective sunglasses, head band scarf, red shirt with Spanish dancer pictures on it

I came across these colourful sculptures at the Distillery District this past weekend. There are thirteen of them, all painted by different artists.

painted sculptures at Distillery District, abstract people shapes

painted sculptures at Distillery District, abstract people shapes, Frida Kahlo

painted sculptures at Distillery District, abstract people shapes, Marilyn Munro type face, Mickey mouse stencils on body

a row of painted sculptures at Distillery District, abstract people shapes, 6ix Art Outdoor exhibit

painted sculptures at Distillery District, abstract people shapes, people walking past and looking at them, outdoors

grey haired woman taking a picture of painted sculptures at Distillery District, abstract people shapes

painted sculptures at Distillery District, abstract people shapes, Asian woman standing beside one with pink head scarf, 4 eyes, and a turquoise top

Artists:

Alex Garant,
AlfAlfA,
Caitlin Taguibao,
Clandestino Art,
David Anthony,
Fatspatrol,
Gosia Komorski,
Jacquie Comrie,
Jieun June Kim,
Michael Sparaco,
Natasha Kudashkina,
Peter Triantos,
Que Rock,
and Yen Linh Thai.

little colourful plastic windmill attached to mirror of firetruck, also 2 yellow balloons and 1 green balloon

Dancing in the streets.  Pride 2022.

Toronto Pride Parade 2022, start of route, man in long pink gloves posing with woman in hat with flowers on it

people sitting on scaffolding over sidewalk by construction site to watch pride parade, two have rainbow flags

person in costume at pride parade, hair wig made of ribbons, big puffy skirt, ribbons in curls as collar

group cheering and blowing whistles, arms up, getting ready for pride parade, TD canada trust group in green t shirts with rainbows on them

stuffed tiger with rainbow garland around it, on front of a motorcycle

group dancing, choreography, with pink puffs in each hand, practising before the pride parade

group dancing, choreography, with pink puffs in each hand, practising before the pride parade

young girl helping to hold white banner, marching with pride, other hands holding the banner too, toronto pride parade 2022

face painted person, with sparkles on face too, holding a sign with all the colours of the LGBQT flag, with words be proud, born this way

man in grey hair, silver crown, bending over to talk closely to woman in hat covered with multi coloured flowers, start of pride parade

rainbow striped ankle socks, and running shoes with red, yellow, and blue on them, standing on a sidewalk box to get a better look at passing pride parade

young woman tying orange balloons to a pride parade float, NDP float, she's wearing orange too

marilyn munro air kissing, under rainbow umbrella, white dress and gloves and sparkly silver purse

kids playing in bubbles while a man in a yellow t shirt walks past, on a street,

it gets better canada on purple t shirts, holding hands, people, pride parade

placard at pride parade that says protect bipoc queer kids

great dane dog with a group getting ready to walk in pride parade

large letters S and I made of balloons in a pride parade, held by a man in yellow with white hat

3 teenage girls plus another woman standing on side of street watching pride parade, temporary tattoos on their legs,

three young people holding a rainbow type flag over their heads as they watch pride parade

two men in pink at pride parade

two wagons full of trojan condom packages

two people at pride parade, one in rainbow striped shirt and the other in rainbow netting outfit with stickers over nipples, thong underwear under neath

member of skule university of toronto engineering school in pride parade

people with signs at pride parade, pflag group, totally rad mum and dad, labels are for canned soup, love is love

women cheering and taking photos while watching pride parade

some members of triggerfish in their speedo suits, dancing with red fans

plastic fuzzy garlands on front of a fire truck

man with rainbow bandana around head, and scarf on back as well as many bracelets, holding small Canadian flag, dances in the street for pride parade

crowds on scaffolding, many levels up, at Yonge and Bloor

policeman and crowd at pride, lots of bubbles in the air

a boy holding a Canadian rainbow flag, small girl beside him with sunglasses lowered

woman in magenta glasses and cowboy hat laughing with woman with rainbow bandana over her head

getting ready for pride parade, man with gold collar and not much else, woman in red sari, tattoos, drinking from bottle

people up on scaffolding to get above street level to watch pride parade

woman watching pride parade is holding a small dog with a rainbow bandana around its neck

back view of two people hugging, one in a plaid shirt and the other in a rainbow t shirt

Toronto Pride Parade, person with tattoo on upper arm holding an orange sign that says we love trans youth. Tattoo says In a dream you saw a way to survive and you were full of joy

little plastic windmills in different colours with little pride flags as decorations on a float in pride parade

Photos from Dyke March 2022

And we’re back! After missing two years because of Covid, Pride is back in Toronto.

dyke march banner at the beginning of a parade, purple and orange stripes, carried by 5 women, on Yonge Street

Hot! ( 30+ C and sunny) but it didn’t seem to slow anyone down!

two women on motorcycle waving to crowd

dyke march in toronto, woman in tight blue suit and on roller skates, another with orange hair walking a dog, another on roller skates stopping to pat dog

motorcycle rider dressed in black with helmet, with woman on back in thong and see through stockings, posing on back of motorcycle

two kids in bike helmets that say love is love watching dyke march

dyke march, two women holding protest signs, one says abort the supreme court and the other says protect reproductive rights

women holding banner for ontario coalition for abortion clinics, pro choice, dyke march 2022

giant coat hanger being carried in front of banner for ontario coalition for abortion clinics, dyke march

Dykes on Bikes, bicycle riders

person blowing bubbles, dyke march

bike rider blowing kisses to the crowd

dyke march, people with trans flag walking beside someone in an inflatable unicorn costume

dyke march 2022 people marching, one in a green hat, one with rainbow sleeves

placard that says dyke lives matter

people holding protest signs in dyke march, keep lesbians safe from fascists

womens health float in dyke march with women dancing beside the car

women dancing and marching in dyke march

dyke march, people carrying placards re reproductive rights, dear scotus I just met you this is crazy a clump of cells is not a baby, also a pink sign that says abort the forced birth

two women in matching red pants and rainbow striped tops dancing in parade, and laughing with other people

woman with gray and lavender hair in dyke march

woman wearing mask and blowing bubbles in dyke march

woman carrying flag in dyke march

a group of women standing on sidewalk watching parade

people watching dyke march on yonge street

three women in orange vests walking parade route with crowds on the sidewalk

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:

very large photo titles Georgia, pasted on brick wall, black woman rubbing her tummy,

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”.

outdoor exhibit, portraits of black people, King St West, by Tyler Mitchell

people walking past, on sidewalk, outdoor exhibit, portraits of black people, King St West, by Tyler Mitchell

3 of the portraits in Cultural Turns exhibit outside Metro Hall, on the left a couple - man in pink shorts has his arm around the womans shoulders

Tyler Mitchell photograph of two women and a bike

part of outdoor exhibit of work of Tyler Mitchell photographer

a portrait by Tyler Mitchell of a black woman with big white sunglasses and a white jacket open enough to show lots of cleavage

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.

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.

people participating in pillow at nathan phillips square, outdoors, fighting with pillows, man with yellow over his head like a banana

people participating in pillow at nathan phillips square, outdoors, fighting with pillows, two boys, with father laughing in the background

people participating in pillow at nathan phillips square, outdoors, fighting with pillows, girl wearing Andersen Maple Leafs jersey on adult shoulders waving pillow

people participating in pillow at nathan phillips square, outdoors, fighting with pillows, young girl smiling

girl on shoulders of another person, laughing, man with long hair in the foreground

pillow fight

people participating in pillow at nathan phillips square, young girl in yellow top and pink shoes is laughing, she is holding a pillow

people participating in pillow at nathan phillips square, outdoors, fighting with pillows

people participating in pillow at nathan phillips square, young man in leather covid mask, another an shielding his eyes

people participating in pillow at nathan phillips square, outdoors, fighting with pillows, man in a bathrobe and beret, fighting with a pillow with Montreal Canadiens pillow case

young women watching a pillow fight at Nathan Phillips square

people participating in pillow at nathan phillips square, outdoors, fighting with pillows

people participating in pillow at nathan phillips square, outdoors, fighting with pillows

people participating in pillow at nathan phillips square, outdoors, fighting with pillows, woman with long red hair laughing as her picture is being taken

people participating in pillow at nathan phillips square, outdoors, fighting with pillows, man with his toque over his eyes

people participating in pillow at nathan phillips square, outdoors, fighting with pillows, man with his toque over his eyes, a man with orange pillow case making faces at another person taking his picture

pillow fight

people taking pictures at the pillow fight

people participating in pillow at nathan phillips square, outdoors, fighting with pillows

people participating in pillow at nathan phillips square, outdoors, fighting with pillows

people participating in pillow at nathan phillips square, outdoors, fighting with pillows, young man in pink hoodie

people participating in pillow at nathan phillips square, outdoors, fighting with pillows, boy in green jacket and black covid mask

three older women having their picture taken together at Nathan Phillips Square

people participating in pillow at nathan phillips square, outdoors, fighting with pillows

people participating in pillow at nathan phillips square, outdoors, fighting with pillows, red headed kid

people participating in pillow at nathan phillips square, outdoors, fighting with pillows

people participating in pillow at nathan phillips square, outdoors, fighting with pillows


below: After the fighting, a pillow toss to celebrate.

people participating in pillow at nathan phillips square, group toss of pillows in the air at the end of the fight

from King Street West

2 black and white stickers on a red newspaper box

below: Palace Arms hotel on King Street West at Strachan

pinkish Palace Arms Hotel boarding house at King and Bathurst, with new TTC streetcar beside it

below: Southeast corner of Strachan and Wellington

southeast corner of Bathurst and Wellington, pale pink three storey building on the corner, newer glass and steel condos behind

below: She’s looking in the window

little blond doll with orange dress on top of a small stone birdbath shape outside a building, she looks to be looking in the window

below: Harry Rogers worked for the city of Toronto in various capacities between 1921 and 1971.   He was Commissioner of City Properties in the 1960s.  Has this sign been here since then?

old bent no parking sign on side of building, .H.H. Rogers, commissioner of parking

below: Part of Garrison Crossing pedestrian bridge

looking southeast over railway tracks, Garrison Crossing pedestrian bridge, and downtown highrises in the background

behind metal fencing on Garrison Crossing bridge, tents for homeless

CN Tower and downtown Toronto buildings from Garrison Crossing bridge (looking east)

GO train on tracks, repair and maintenance trucks parked beside the tracks, CN Tower and downtown Toronto in the background

below: Yellow wild flowers growing in the field between the two sections of Garrison Crossing bridge. Looking east to downtown Toronto.

field of yellow wildflowers at garrison common, with view of CN Tower and Toronto skyline in the background

below: There are more than wild flowers between the bridges!

glass and steel condo development at garrison common

below: Sun bathing at Garrison Common, just outside Fort York

Garrison Common by Fort York, woman sun bather in bikini, art exhibit on fence surrounding the fort

below: On the fence between Fort York and the Bentway there is a series of images that I happened upon the day I walked this route. This is GradEX 106, the work of graduating students in OCADU’s Graphic Design and Illustration program.  My apologies to the few students whose work I inadvertently missed.

below: Michael Hu, Shahrzad Soroosh, Lydia Lam, and Dan Waites

part of exhibit of OCADU graduating students work from Illustration program, 4 students, Michael Hu, Shahrzad Soroosh, Lydia Lam, and Dan Waites,

below: Aidan Wilkins, Merryn Connelly-Miller, Vincy Lam, and Rebecca Michie

OCADU Gradex work by students graduating in Illustration, work of 4 students on display, Aidan Wilkins, Merryn Connelly-Miller, Vincy Lim, and Rebecca Michie

below: Leann Mei Foon, Tina Shan, Ivan Nikitin, and Emmily Fay Fin

OCADU graduating student work by 4 students,Leann Mei Foon, Tina Shan, Ivan Nikitin, and Emmily Fay Fin

below: Valerie Poon, Radha Joshi Raulgaonkar, Alan Zhang, and Sid Sharp

graduating students art exhibit, OCADU, graphic design and illustration, work by 4 students, Valerie Poon, Radha Joshi Raulgaonkar, Alan Zhang, and Sid Sharp

below: Joy Kim, Victoria Tao, Mia Debbas, and Emily Dakin

OCADU graduating student work by 4 students, Joy Kim, Victoria Tao, Mia Debbas, and Emily Dakin,

below: Lucy Hong, Thamara Perera, Tianshu Kuai, Jenny Lynne Castillo, Reyhaneh Mohammadi, and Caroline Icardo

a section of fence around Fort York with artwork on it, exhibit of OCADU gradex for graduating illustration students, work by six students, Lucy Hong, Thamara Perera, Tianshu Kuai, Jenny Lynne Castillo, Reyhaneh Mohammadi, and Caroline Icardo

below: Fence on west side of Fort York

a section of fence around Fort York with artwork on it, exhibit of OCADU gradex for graduating illustration students

below: More of the OCADU exhibit on the fence between Fort York and the Bentway

OCADU art display on fence between Fort York and the Bentway

below: Caitlin Todd, Alizah Hashemy, Lina Wu, and Lisanne Van Der Oort,

graduating students art exhibit, OCADU, graphic design and illustration, work by 4 students, Caitlin Todd, Alizah Hashemy, Lina Wu, and Lisanne Van Der Oort

below: Jon Owen, Joanne Lee, Kyle Miron, Vuoni, Selina Serok Park, Sarah McIntosh,

last six panels in graduating students art exhibit, OCADU, graphic design and illustration, work by Jon Owen, Joanne Lee, Kyle Miron, Vuoni, Selina Serok Park, Sarah McIntosh

below: Liam Marks, Daniel Mendez, Daniel Melnyk, Haojun Gong, Jingyi Dong, and Mika Parial

six panels in graduating students art exhibit, OCADU, graphic design and illustration, art by Liam Marks, Daniel Mendez, Daniel Melnyk, Haojun Gong, Jingyi Dong, and Mika Parial

Also at the Bentway is an art installation called ‘Playing in Public‘.  This is part of ArtworxTO, Toronto’s year of public art 2021-2022.   Three of the installations are shown below – they will remain at the Bentway until 26th September 2021.

below: ‘Nil:Nil’ by Studio F Minus

part of Playing in Public, an art installtion at the Bentway, two screens looking like smartphones play videos of kids kicking soccer ball. a real ball passes through a see through plastic tunnel between the screens

below: ‘Double Dribble’ by Esmaa Mohamoud

many different sizes of basketball hoops with chains mounted at different heights along the Bentway, part of art installation Playing in Public

below: ‘Big Red’ by Assemble

part of Playing in Public, an art installtion at the Bentway, small red slides with steps, in front of the old rusted metal walls near the entrance to Fort York

Yonge and Dundas and thereabouts

below: Part of a large relief sculpture on the wall of the northwest entrance to Dundas subway station of life sized figures on their way –  Terra cotta artwork by William McElcheran from 2015.

part of relief sculpture at Dundas subway station, a man holds on to his hat as he hurries along

below: Ryerson Image Centre,

photographs of famous Canadians on the outer wall of Ryerson Image Center, with woman sitting on the concrete surrounding the reflecting pool by the entrance to R I C

There is a photography exhibit outside the Ryerson Image Centre showcasing three winners of the New Generation Photography Award, Chris Donovan, Dustin Bron, and Curtiss Randolph.

below: ‘Boy in the Window’ by Chris Donovan

a black and white photo by Chris Donovan with reflections of a boy in a window and street scene below, on display outside Ryerson Image Centre

below: A second, “Objects in Mirror” also by Chris Donovan

black and white photo of cars, Chris Donovan, on exhibit

below: ‘AC 2019’ by Dustin Brons

below: ‘Horizon 2017’ by Curtiss Randolph.  First in a short series involving a staged drama at this intersection.

a coloured photo of a corner of an intersection with a gas station on it, Horizons, houses, apartment building in background

below: The statue of Egerton Ryerson is gone.  There is graffiti on the walls where the statue once stood.

place where statue of Egerton Ryerson once stood, a single tree, graffiti on the walls of the building

below: On the Bond Street side of the Ryerson building is another photography exhibit.  This is Maximum Exposure 26, an annual exhibit of pictures by Ryerson’s School of Image Arts students.   There are 28 very diverse photos included here.

large collage pf photos on wall of Ryerson Image Centre, Maximum Exposure 26, work of graduating students

below: Food Pantry.  Take what you need; Donate what you can.

Free food pantry, shelves with glass covered doors for food to exchange, it is almost empty

below: In the alley behind the Lutheran church and Ryerson.

alley behind Ryerson Image Centre with large murals of green bike and blue bike, also with a person asleep in the alley by the church

below: Peace, hearts and respect written on the green bike.

below: The old white building on the northeast corner of Victoria and Dundas is still there and the mural by Emily May Rose with its cute raccoons survives.  If only the real raccoons were as lovable!

below: Looking east on Dundas.  There is talk of renaming Dundas Street.

below: Yonge Dundas Square is now filled with hearts.  There are pink heart shaped seats to sit on and pink hearts on the ground too.  Each heart on the pavement has something about Toronto to love – street art,  endless streets to explore, the Jays, great architecture, always changing, and more.

a man stands beside his Christian religious display at Yonge Dundas square while he talks to two men about Jesus

below: Keep looking up!

Yonge Street, looking up at banners on metal poles, tops of some highrise buildings,
below: Another part of a large relief sculpture on the wall of Dundas subway station