There are two large murals by Nick Sweetman that cover both sides of Bathurst street as it passes under the 401 highway. The murals are a collection of animals – birds, frogs, cows, cats, foxes, bats, tigers, and more. This blogpost is a selection of images from those two walls.
Kitsch. Such a great word. From the Merriam-Webster dictionary: ” kitsch, the various bits and bobs of popular culture—fuzzy dice, plastic flamingos, cartoon-themed plastic lunchboxes, etc.—that enjoy widespread popularity but don’t hold much cultural esteem.”
And where is a great place to find fine examples of these bits and bobs? A thrift store. Maybe you’ll recognize one or two of them!
below: A snail on a bare baby fairy bum and bears playing accordions, oh the things that people will collect! The bears are from Cherished Teddies which were very big in the 1990s. There were a vast number of them for all occasions, all seasons, and all ages.
below: Can you read this little piggy’s expression? I am afraid that is confuses me, …but the coffee cups are nice. I made a small mistake and googled this image – to my horror, you can get a 12 piece pig/piglet set with the pigs in different “cute” poses, of which this is one, for about Cdn $80 on Ebay. Google it as your peril!
below: This one almost came home with me! The glass that is, not the frog. Sorry Mr. Frog.
below: More confusion – she’s kinda cute in a kitschy kind of way. The little person at her feet though – is this a mother and child? Or is this an angel watching over a child? Mother Nature dressed in lavender and feathers?
below: Wise advice, especially if it comes with glittery pink cowboy boots!
below: He’s not listening; he’s not taking good advice…. he needs to buy some shoes….
below: Another anthropomorphic animal…. a long eared rabbit this time. She’s wearing a hat and a dress and very blue footwear. She’s also wearing a surprised expression that makes you wonder what the goose said or did.
below: I’ve got one hand in my pocket and the other’s carrying something blue….
below: A smart purchase! A steal at $3.99
below: All that Mardi wanted was to be gras…..
below: Maybe it’s the hair? …. but I suspect that no one is going to mistake me for Wonder Woman!
below: Not really kitsch, but that’s a lot of weird looking bikini undies!
Have fun! And maybe find a bargain or two while you’re at it!
Late August in Toronto means that the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) is in town. Today, since Labour Day weekend is upon us and summer is drawing to a close, I thought that I’d post this year’s crop of photos from the Ex. Food, games, rides, and people watching fun!
below: Elsa parades through the CNE grounds
below: Family games
below: An arm down, and just three feet, on number 21
below: The excitement (and terror?) of CNE rides.
below: On the Skyride with the CN Tower in the distance
below: Riding high above the minions.
below: Elvis Stoyko carried the Canadian flag at the closing of the ice skating & aerial acrobatics show at the Ricoh Centre.
below: Choose a ducky to see what prize you’ve won!
below: Beer bottle targets and the mess that results.
below: Rainbow coloured versions of the poop emoji were very popular this year.
below: Some people have more luck than others!
below: Gathering the spun cotton candy
below: Only a few can sleep through the crowds and noise of the Ex!
as I walk Toronto 