Today’s story begins back in 2007 when elicsr painted this mural behind a store that fronts on Eglinton East.
It depicts the bible story of the prodigal son. A very brief summary of the story – A wealthy king had two sons.
The younger son took his half of his father’s money, left home, and squandered the money. He fell into hard times. He realized that he would be better off as a servant in his father’s household than living in penury on his own.
So he returned home to repent. His father celebrated the return of the son and forgave him and his prodigal ways.
Fast forward to August 2016 when the alley became a canvas for 46 street artists and their Wall Expressions project, Go Big or Go Home. I walked the alley on Thursday and this is what I saw.
[Warning: a lot of the street art is text or abstractions which may not be your cup of tea. ]
below: Girl power skull with pig tails by dudeman.
below: Under the weather vane, a newer garage door painted with a mural by Mediah IAH aka Evond Blake.
below: Black and white owl on a branch by mska
below: SPUD bombs and swirls on the back of Eco Cleaners.
below: And another SPUD creation on the other side of the lane.
A few skulls seemed to have snuck into the painting!
below: ‘Mars Attacks’ by the ACK crew, wales, miles, noser, braes and tensoe.
below: Garbage bins lined up in front of a horus/tuffytats rose in blue and red.
below: A swirly wavy mix of colours brighten up a wooden fence.
below: Red head (and shoulders) man
below: The Men’s Salon Barber Shop now has a mska creature, complete with scissors in hand, by the back door.
below: Next to the barber shop is this mural, or at least this is part of it. The next photo….
below: … is the end of the mural. I’m not sure who painted it but the marks on this are: Mark One, BOB (or 13013) and xFLA,.
below: A mural for Loui by minus two (and others?)
below: More text and abstractions, this time by manic, roam and acuse. Loui gets another mention too.
below: In the foreground, a Nick Sweetman shrimp swims across a mural with help from peru and ctr.
below: A closer look at that shrimp
below: Another large mural with more than one photo. At one end there’s a zas possum hanging out, spray paint can in hand – possibly up to no good?
below: And at the other end there’s another animal that is usually nocturnal, a raccoon. An animal that is no stranger to Toronto!
below: Look up, way up! There’s a dog on the roof.
below: Swimmer with a bathing cap looking at you, by sparr
below: Phil wrote his name on a garage door.
below: Sofe in orange and green tiger stripes
below: Two more garage doors.
below: Bright colours stand out on the side of this garage near the entrance to the lane.
below: Rozy, from the other side.
below: someone beginning with the letter m? (m–?) and lerch.
below: Big fat P in pink by bias? at number 153
below: And last, a little snail
This project had help and support from Toronto Police (53 division), Stephensons Rental, Dominos Pizza, and StreetARToronto.
video of the event on vimeo
as I walk Toronto 