Posts Tagged ‘equilibrium’

Ecology and Equilibrium

Posted: October 24, 2026 in graffiti and street art
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As you walk west on Carleton Street from Sherbourne, this is the view – Allan Gardens on the left and downtown Toronto straight ahead.  One of the dominant features of this view is the large mural; it was painted by Okuda (aka Okuda San Miguel) in 2018 and is called “Equilibrium”.

Carleton Street, looking west from Sherbourne, towards Homewood and Jarvis streets, tall buildings, including one with a mural on it,

A little bit farther west, and another mural comes into view.  As you get closer to Homewood, look right and look up.

north side of Carleton Street, looking west from Homewood, mural straight ahead, and mural on the right on 140 Carleton Street

northwest corner of Carleton and Homewood

A giant maple tree in autumn foliage now grows up the south wall of 140 Carleton Street.  This is a much newer mural, “Ecology of Us”.  Jarus painted this wonderful 22 storey tree this past month.

22 storeys high, mural, tree trunk, some branches and some autumn leaves

It is best viewed from Allan Gardens where the trees are also wearing their October finery these days.  In fact, the tree in the mural is based on one of the maple trees here in the park.

mural, with people sitting on a bench in the dog park at Allan Gardens, looking at mural,

view of Ecology of Us mural, by Jarus, from Allan Gardens, with two large trees blocking the view of the lower part of the mural

The “Ecology of Us” project is part of the StreetARToronto (StART) Monumental
Program.  This program funds large-scale, high-rise building murals across Toronto in collaboration with building owners (in this case, WJ Properties).

“Equilibrium” can also be seen from Allan Gardens.  It pokes its head up over the roof of one of the greenhouses.

view over the top of one of the greenhouses in Allan Gardens, mural Equilibrium, other tall buildings,

To see the whole of “Equilibrium”, you have to walk over to Jarvis Street because Grace Toronto Church, and other buildings, are in the way.

Grace Toronto church is in front of the Equilibrium mural and partially obscures it

Equilibrium, on the southwest corner of Jarvis and Carleton

woman pushing a stroller past the bottom part of mural, Equilibrium, by Okuda San Miguel

part of mural, Equilibrium, by Okuda San Miguel, naked woman in a bird mask

part of mural, Equilibrium,

equilibrium

Posted: July 25, 2018 in graffiti and street art
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A new mural in town,
Equilibrium, by Okuda San Miguel, aka Okudart

below: As seen from Sherbourne street.  It’s tall!  23 storeys tall in fact.  Not just a new mural but also a new landmark.

a man walks up Sherbourne street, on the sidewalk, past a vacant lot, in the background is the back of some older brick buildings and beyond that is a tall building with a mural on it, equilibrium by okudart

below: As seen from Allan Gardens.

Allan Gardens conservatory with its glass dome roof in the foreground, tall buildings in the background. The side of one of the background buildings has a colourful mural on it with a rainbow striped background

below: It’s painted on the side of the Parkside student residence (once the Primrose Hotel) on the SW corner of Jarvis and Carlton streets.   It looks finished although the ropes and lifts are still in place.  No one was painting when I walked past this afternoon.  The artist, Okudart, has already signed the piece.

car stopped at street light at Carlton and Jarvis. Behind the car is a very tall mural, bright colours, geometric shapes, some human like figures too, with blue conical noses, equilibrium by okudart

below: The very top portion.  A blue conical beak and feathery wings on a female human like figure who is sitting on three large heads.

very top part of mural, equilibrium by okudart

below: Just a bit lower on the mural – more beaks but this time they look like carrots.  A black and white globe with a mouth in Africa.  One blue eye in the Atlantic Ocean and one orange eye in Asia.   Is that a man on the left?

middle section of mural, equilibrium by okudart

below: Under the globe another female figure with a blue nose.  Nude but discreetly so.

lower portion of equilibrium by okudart

The background of the mural consists of large rainbow coloured stripes on top and black on the bottom.  These were painted by local artists before Okudart finished the piece.

below: Street level

street level part of mural, equilibrium by okudart

below: The church across the street does not have stained glass windows.  The colours are reflections from the mural.

part of mural, equilibrium by okudart, reflected in church windows across the street from it

part of mural, equilibrium by okudart, reflected in church windows across the street from it

The mural was part of the STEPS Initiative Program and it also involved StART (StreetARToronto), the owners of the residence, and a number of other partners.