The last time I ventured into a Toronto ravine on my own the path was a icy so I didn’t go far. Now the ravines are clear of snow and ice – just watch out for the mud! I was under the railway bridge at Summerhill (just east of Yonge St) this past weekend and I encountered a number of people and faces.
UPDATED: Construction here has finished and the hoardings have been removed. These murals no longer exist.
A couple of years ago, the city started a project to replace the water mains that run under Gerrard Street. As part of that project, a section of Allan Gardens was dug up to provide access to the underground mains. The site was barricaded by wood hoardings. These hoardings have since been covered by a large mural titled ‘Nindinawemaaganidok / All My Relations’. Twenty one artists contributed to the painting of the mural.
The north side of the wall:
Four themes appear in this mural, Community, Water, Anishnawbe Teachings and History of the Land. Animals such as buffalo, deer, wolves, turtles, and beaver are common motifs.
The east side of the wall:
below: Sky Woman
South side (along Gerrard Street):
West side:
If construction goes according to plan, the hoardings should come down by the end of May 2015. As to whether or not this deadline will be met is anyone’s guess.
The artists: Tannis Nielsen, Phil Cote, Natasha Naveau, Rosary Spence, Gwen Lane, Angela Malley, Judy Rheume, Gary M. Johnston, Amanda Murray, Rebecca Baird, Cotee Harper, Graham Curry, Briana Stone, Lyndsey Lickers-Nyle Johnston, Isaac Weber, Honey Smith, Shelby Rain McDonald, Paula Gonzalez-Ossa, Kalmplex, Adrion Corey Charles, Ron Razor and Steven Henderson.
Link to more information (as well as a video) about this project
Street art and murals
close to the intersection of Niagara Street and Graffiti Alley.
below: A mural on the side of a house on Niagara Street.
Some of the paint is starting to peel but otherwise it is in good shape.
Signature at the top right seems to be Robert Rian Cruz. Other names are written on the bottom left: doz, nose, cora, anto, wizwon, flur, and markis
below: Make It by Aaron Li-Hill
In Graffiti Alley but visible from Queen St. West at Niagara.
Graffiti and street art murals seen in Cyril Lane recently.
below: Rear entrance to Kaisar Guesthouse and Spic & Span Laundry
below: Annie doesn’t look very pleased to be behind bars!
below: Lee Matasi, aka Avers, was an artist and skateboarder from Vancouver.
In 2005, just before his 24th birthday, he was murdered in downtown Vancouver.
Repainting a wall in Graffiti Alley
Borden Street becomes an alley south of College Street. It runs along the east side of Kensington Community School, then makes a turn and runs part way along the south side of the school. All of the garage doors have been painted with pictures and murals.
below: The most northerly garage door has a sign that indicates that the murals were a gift to the children of Kensington Community School from the Kensington Market Action Committee. They were painted by a number of different artists.
North end of the alley, looking towards College Street.
below: Hey and Hello, by J. Stanton
below: A painting by lexr in 2012, Hey Markusiel.
The sign on the gate refers to the Yinka Dene Alliance, a coalition of six First Nations groups from northern British Columbia who organized to stop the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline being built through their territory.
below: Street art piece by Cam Novak
below: Max and the Wild Things by ACS Murals (Annex Creative Services Murals)
below: Another ACS mural
below: The next four pictures are from a mural that covers a couple of garages. From left to right.
Quickly, before the leaves grow back and obscure the mural!
The Garrison Creek mural is on King St. West at Sudbury Ave.,
close to the railway overpass.
On the north side of King St. West
Cecil Harbourfront Community Centre,
a Graffiti Transformation Project,
painted in 2004
Birdo street art on the side wall of Amato Pizza,
corner of Borden and College Streets.
Back to Graffiti Alley for the first time this spring… well, for the first time since the snow melted since I’m not sure you can call it spring yet!
Here are a few poser and abm crew bunnies that I saw.
I went back to Graffiti Alley the other day.
When I was just east of Niagara Street I noticed these eyes looking at me.
A small blue Stickman sneaks into the photo too!
Three faces painted on a garage door by Jon Todd.
by Jimmy Chiale
…and a mouth too!
Links for more information
as I walk Toronto 