There is a railway bridge over Lawrence Avenue West just to the east of Weston Road (close to Weston UP Station). The walls beside the sidewalk on both sides of the underpass have been painted with street art designs of flowers, birds and animals. The murals are the result of a collaboration between Que Rock and Alex Bacon.
Another Weston mural – Out and About
Another recent Weston blog post – A little piece of Weston
The TTC subway tracks cross above the Humber River at Old Mill station. The concrete pillars that support the subway bridge have been covered with many watery blue First Nations themed murals.
below: The artist, Philip Cote, described the story behind this image on the ArtworxTO website (see link); like all cultures, the Anishinaabe have an origin story. In the beginning there was just Spirit. “And that spirit decided to send signals out into the universe and waited for a response. And when no response happened that spirit called the signals back and said, “As you come back to me, create light in the universe”. And at that moment they had light and dark in the universe. And that is the beginning of the Anishinaabe cosmology. Everything for Anishinaabe is made of light and dark. Everything we look at has a spirit, everything, the ground, the rocks, the sand, the trees, the birds, the plants, everything is… and even our sun and our Mother Earth and the moon, they all have a spirit.”
connecting with thousands of galaxies in the universe
The blues of the water, the Humber River, were painted by Kwest. Water is the Underworld in Ahishinaabe cosmology and the Guardians of this Underworld are the fish. Another artist, Jarus aka (Emmanuel Jarus), painted the fish.
Most of the paintings have a well defined circle. This is the boundary between water and earth, between the spirit world and the physical world. But there are connections between the two worlds – all living things are connected and we are all connected to the Spirit World.
These pictures also appear on another blog, Eyes on the Streets
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
There is a large construction project underway adjacent to the Ashbridges Bay water treatment facility between Lakeshore Blvd and Eastern Ave. The whole site is surrounded by plywood hoardings. In mid-September, Wallnoize 2020 took over the area and painted water themed murals on a large portion of the hoardings. More than ninety artists participated in this project, all coordinated by Cruz1.
Let’s take a walk around the site, starting by walking east on Eastern Avenue towards Coxwell, south across the park, and then back along Lakeshore. I suggest that you’re sitting down since I tried to cover all the murals and it might take a while!
below: Painted by Danielle Hyde
below: Trina Moyan‘s horse has a mane like many brightly coloured feathers. “‘Water Spirit Horse’ – Nehiyaw Mistatim (Plains Cree horse).“
below: Portrait of a street artist in pink and white by Keitha Keeshig Tobias
below: by Siezswift
below: ‘Nibi Manitous’ by Cedareve. The water spirits are are shapeshifting between human and animal.
below: “You are Loved” in a heart dripping with water in the center of a mural that is the product of the combined efforts of Shawna Howe and Monique Aura. Rainbows and dancing stars.
below: A head in the water by Shina
below: Bird and flowers by Jennifer, her first solo piece
below: This picture of a bald man snorkeling was painted by still_hungry
below: He looks like he’s made of water and he looks like he’s on a skateboard. Painted by 3tr_t
below: Floating away, floating with the fish in a pink bathing suit. Painted by Ghazaleh
below: by Francis Pratt, the poolboy cares apparently
below: Branislav Dordevic‘s mural suggests keeping an eye on the water and ice, warm and cold.
below: Water being poured into three tall clear glasses because we’re all thirsty for clean water, a mural by Julia Antohi
below: A green god with his trident – either Neptune the Roman god of the sea or Poseidon his Greek counterpart, by tongbokes
below: After the green god, is a more somber toned mural with the words, 1752, Mi’kmaq Nation, Take care of the water.
below: A mermaid in a jar by Yasaman Mehrsa. Has she been captured? Is she in a protective bubble? Do mermaids live in glass houses?
below: Surfer dude by broguymanz and a green throw-up on purple by Lukas Byra
below: “Be Like Water” by Adrian Hayles and what could be blue sea serpent, or a blue Chinese dragon, by Avril Wu
below: A mermaid of another sort, with skulls and burning candles, brought to life by Oriah Scott.
below: Bomi (aka bomitosangrantes) painted the lines and white dots that cover this corner
below: It’s not that easy to see, but the grey letters that look like stones in water along a rocky shore were painted by Getso. In the foreground is what looks like a mountain of flowing water (by bareket)
below: This pink striped octopus with stars in its eyes is the work of Jieun June Kim. Did you know that October 8th was World Octopus Day?
below: Like the words say, Kizmet the original Toronto raccoon, Radcliff is his name. I don’t think he’s going after the cranes even though that’s what it looks like. Swimming away from Radcliff is a Sedna, a curving woman by Angela Aulia.
below: A KERZ throw-up to the left of the BUBZ wildstyle with the tam-wearing duck with a bottle of water on top
below: A “Clew” throw-up by Clewin77
below: Three colourful fish swimming in the waves by Poonam Sharma
below: Blackbird flying along with the moon in different phases is the work of Natalie Very B. On the right, the wildstyle text-based mural was painted by spud1
below: A watery wildstyle by Trevor Goodwin (aka Horus)
below: The white eyes are a bit disconcerting – awake? asleep?- but otherwise she’s colourful. Kizmet32 again.
below: Burner on the left and Poser on the right
below: The happy grinning lobster with a fish on each arm is Gentle Giant aka big_doz261. The other mural is by onerzeus
below: A little fish nears the blue head at the end of the CRUZ tag in this Cruz1 mural.
below: by Rusty (aka gutter_crew_guru), If anyone would like to attempt an interpretation, I’d love to hear from you. There’s a lot of detail in the mural that is fascinating yet creepy. Happy Halloween!
below: A collaborative effort between Rowell Soller and @tenneshaskyers
below: A very realistic looking creature in the water painted by Cesar Ar.
below: Mural by Julie Amlin
below: The work of invader.zima
below: Horizontal stripes of fish and water in a basket, or woven onto fabric, by Dakota Brant beside a Octo-Godess-Sea-Witch Lady by Katrina Canendo
below: A vintage scuba diver among the weeds, by silestyle161
below: Two whales swimming in the ocean, an orca on the left by Ren Lonechild of Red Urban Nation. The whale on the right was painted by Camila Wong and she describes it on instagram as “Inspired from the Great Hokusai artwork, expressive waves with colourful brushstrokes and whale represent overcoming challenges in your life“.
below: Three Nick Sweetman green moray eels looking at SADAR‘s (aka blazeworks) mechanical octopus.
below: Two murals made with text. FATHOM on the left and the creative efforts of RUN (Red Urban Nation) Artist Collective
below: Ashbridges water treatment facility with the wall.
below: Looking in the other direction.
below: Calligraphy by Kreecha (right) and a painting by Art Child (left)
below: Two figures nose to nose with their reflections in the moonlight, by Julii McMillan. The nail polish matches the blues of the water.
below: Victoria Day painted the very pink woman with grey hair who is surrounded by lily pads and little green dinosaurs? eels? To the right is Clean Water text by SKAM
below: A lovely orange octopus by Spyone beside a man partially submerged in the water, Rise Up by James (aka mistersoy)
A white boat with many portholes sails past, while on the right, by Andrea Rodriguez (aka Andrea Cataro) a pink dolphin and a grey walrus swimming underwater.
below: Abstract and sort of geometric, in teal and purple, by David Baron
below: A wonderful woman with turquoise dreadlocks in a turquoise sea under a pink octopus wearing a tophat. This mural was painted by Désiré Betty
below: A blue, purple, and white sea monster by Andre Castro looks towards red and purple text by mr_tensoe2
below: By dat_dude_stu
below: Something other-worldly by fongkikid
below: By mr. Water
below: Swirls by Flip surround a slightly greenish woman with hair that merge into the waves. The woman’s face was painted by @gosiakomorski One Love – Don’t let hate win.
below: Luvs crocodile with crocs floating in the water to the right of a small elfin(?) woman with long pink hair by @monicavcao
below: At the end of the painted section of the hoardings is this old green car, “little deuce coupe” surrounded by skulls, a dudeman ‘trademark’ of sorts.
Back in the early spring of 2019, I wrote about accessing the East Don path from Moccasin Trail.
below: Last week, the view from the east side of the tunnel under the DVP leading to Moccasin Trail Park.
Now, in a different year and a different season, I have explored more of that trail starting at the north end, near Lawrence Avenue and the Don Valley Parkway (DVP). Originally, Lawrence Avenue curved south down the east side of the ravine before it crossed the Don River. The remains of part of that road provide access to the East Don path at Charles Sauriol Conservation Area. Sauriol (1904-1995) was a Canadian naturalist who played a leading role in conserving many natural areas in the province including the Don Valley.
Here, the Alexander Milne family first settled in 1832. Over time, a woolen mill and a sawmill were built, other families moved in, and the village of Milneford Mills was born; it thrived until the early 1900’s. The old woolen mill remained derelict until it was demolished in 1946. Between Hurricane Hazel floods in 1954, and the expropriation of land to make way for the DVP construction, most traces of the village have disappeared.
below: All that remains is one house. It’s been behind chainlink and “under renovation” for MANY years. When I went searching for any kind of story about this house, I discovered a blog post from 2011 about Charles Sauriol Park and the house was fenced in then. Apparently it was covered in graffiti back in 2008/9. I’m not sure that Mr. Sauriol would be impressed.
below: The Rainbow Bridge from the north side.
below: The trail passes underneath the Canadian Pacific (CP) tracks.
below: Footings for the CP bridge
below: As the trail crosses land owned by CP Rail, it is covered by a metal frame canopy. It’s difficult to see in this photo but there is a series of small laser-cut metal artworks between the grey railings. The whole structure is “A Walk in the Woods” and it is the creation of both Robert Sprachman and Arnaud Boutle.
below: Farther down the trail is another railway bridge. This is the same line that goes north to Oriole GO station and beyond. The scaffolding under the bridge is for the construction of another canopy similar to one under the CP bridge (above) as well as an art installation.
below: Part of art installation “High Water Mark” by Robert Sprachman that is almost complete. There are 15 rocks each with a year on them. The height of the rock on a metal pole represents the height of the flood water on the Don River that year (but is not an exact height). There are four rocks in this picture and from left to right are 1926, 1934, 1942, and obscured (the last is behind the wood. Ooops).
below: Oak leaves
below: Backs of houses overlooking the park
below: A chickadee holding onto a dead flower as it eats the seeds.
below: Fish. Yes there are fish in the Don River, about 21 species apparently. This one, salmon?, although large is unfortunately also dead. Over the past 30 years the Don River has received a lot of TLC which has helped to reduce the level of industrial pollution as well as the amount of litter and trash found along the banks.
below: We were told “It’s not the best time” when we asked if we could continue on the trail. South of here the trail is a construction zone. Eventually (soon? I may have visited a little too soon?) the path will join with those farther south so that there will be a continuous trail from Lawrence to the lake. In the meantime, this is Wynford. You can exit here, or retrace your steps back to Lawrence. Next time!
Albert Jackson Lane is a small alley that runs south from Harbord Street.
below: What is happening to Harbord Fish & Chips? (Albert Jackson Lane is on the right).
below: Looking down the alley, the first impression is that it is rather nondescript but a few bits of colour suggest that walking down the lane might be worth the effort.
below: A purple and teal fish by birdo, aka Jerry Rugg
below: Part of “Secret Garden” by Emily Kouri
below: An older mural that completely covers the garage and the fence on both sides. I am not sure who the artist is.
below: This character is well known – a poser bunny.
below: The Toronto skyline and its reflection in Lake Ontario in a mural by Mel Coleman.
below: A talking head, a square head on TV. I love the bunny ears on the TV – who has those anymore!
below: At the end of the alley, a house with major renovations in progress.
Back in November, before I went away, a friend and I ventured out to Long Branch because we had heard that there was a new Nick Sweetman mural on 30th street. Just north of Lakeshore Blvd., 30th street passes under the railway tracks. This is where the new mural is. It’s a collaboration with fellow artist Phil Cote and it’s nearly 500 feet long.
below: North of the railway tracks
Photos of the mural, in no particular order:
a butterfly
some turtles
two birds in flight – all of a redwing blackbird and part of a cardinal
a bee on two orange flowers
some fish
a fox, a duck with duckling, and a purple owl
a cute furry animal
… and hiding under the tracks in a place where it’s difficult to take a picture is this large moose (elk?).
Edwards Gardens
ZimSculpt is the name of the exhibit now on at Edwards Gardens. Placed around the gardens are a large number of stone sculptures by Zimbabwean artists. There are also small pieces on display inside a tent-like structure near the parking lot. All items are for sale along with some baskets and jewellery. Here are some of the sculptures:
below: Giving Advice by Boet Nyariri, carved in springstone
below: (after the garden was watered!), Mother and Son, by Joe Mutasa, carved in springstone.
below: Nesting Cormorant, by Lucknos Chingwaro, springstone
below: Windy Day by David White, opal stone,
below: Evolving, by Edmore Sango, opal stone.
below: Shoal, by John Gutsa, springstone
below: Free Flow, by Stuart Chapenga, springstone
ZimSculpt lasts until the end of September.
The brains are back! Close to 50 brains decorated by different artists can be seen in about a dozen locations around this city throughout the summer.
This year they are 2-dimensional, not three. They are much flatter. Above, making an interesting companion to the fabulous pink dress is “Enigmatic Glitter” by Donald and Elaine Rafelman Creative Arts Studio at Baycrest. When we picture art together it lights a spark and evokes a glitter of hope.
below: At Nathan Phillips Square, from left to right: “Pop Art” by Mary Ann Grainger, “No Brainer #Repainthistory” by Andrea Bolley, “Neon Future” by Steve Aoki, “Get Me Out! by Hate Copy (aka Maria Qamar), “Mental Vacation ” by Birdo, and “My Mind is Swimming” by Gina Godfrey.
below: “Power in Growth” by Amy Jeffreys in the Distillery District. Persevere and grow. Every human is capable of harnessing strength from their weaknesses. In this piece, the tangled roots represent the inner struggles and complexity of one’s thoughts.
below: “Memory” by Colin Nun at Nathan Phillips Square. “This type-based piece represents disconnect, dead ends, and memories lost to brain disease. It is inspired by the loss of the artist’s grandfather to Alzheimer’s disease and was created as a tribute to his memory. Take a close look to find a hidden word in the piece. What do you see?”
below: “The Mind’s Eye” by Dave Bagley at Yonge and St. Clair. Concentric rings of birds, fish, and diamonds radiate from the center.
below: Close up of the above, clearly showing the two seahorses in the center as well as the repeating yellow fish and blue birds. According to the artist, “I believe all of humankind share an organic Wi-fi that connects everyone, all we need to do is turn on the switch… is yours on?”
below: “Puzzled” by Harm Huibers on Grist Mill Lane in the Distillery District. The design of the brain is complex and intricate; when it’s complete, it’s a beautiful puzzle. Diseases like Alzheimers take pieces out of the puzzle.
The project is sponsored by Yogen Fruz and Pinkberry and is in support of the Baycrest Foundation. Baycrest, a leader in research into brain health and aging, is celebrating their 100th anniversary this year.
You can find pictures of all of the 2018 brains online at the brainproject.ca as well as descriptions of the brains and the artists behind their creation.
Tinirrusiangit is an Inuktitut word that means “their gifts” or “what they gave”. It is the name of the latest exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario features the work of two Inuit artists, Kenojuak Ashevak (1927-2013) and her nephew Tim Pitsiulak (1967-2016). Ashevak (1927-2013) was born in southern Baffin Island although she grew up on the land in the traditional, semi-nomadic hunting lifestyle, living in igloos and skin tents.
In the 1950’s she developed TB and ended up, against her will, in a hospital in Quebec City This was not a happy time in her life. She had just given birth when she was forcibly transferred; the baby was adopted by a neighbouring family. Several of Kenojuak’s children died while she was in the hospital. One of the ways of passing time at the hospital was making arts and crafts such as beading and doll making.
When she returned to Kinngait Nunavut (previously Cape Dorset), she learned printmaking. She was also one of the early members of the West Baffin Eskimo Collective which became Kinngait Studios.
Ashevak was the first internationally known Inuit artist. Her most famous piece, ‘The Enchanted Owl’ 1960, was used on a Canadian postage stamp in 1970 in honour of the Northwest Territories centennial. Owls were one of her favorite subjects.
below: Ravens and Owl, 1979, stonecut and stencil on paper, by Kenojuak Ashevak
below: Happy Little Owl, 1969, stonecut on paper, by Kenojuak Ashevak
below: Untitled, 2004-5, pencil and felt tip marker on paper, by Kenojuak Ashevak
Tim Pitsiulak, born in Kimmirut Nunavut, was a hunter and a painter. He started drawing as a young boy and although he tried carving and jewelry making, most of his artwork centers around depicting everyday life in drawings and paintings.
below: GoPro Hydrophone, 2016, pastel on black paper, by Tim Pitsiulak. Here, the artist (the hunter) throws a GoPro camera into the water to record the sounds and images of the animals in the water.
“What more could I ask for, than for people to notice what we have up here? This is the best thing about being and artist and a hunter.” Tim Pitsiulak quote on the wall at the AGO.
below: Swimming with Giants, 2015, by Tim Pitsiulak. Beluga whales swimming with a bowhead whale.
The exhibit continues until 12 August 2018
as I walk Toronto 