A little dead end alley in Kensington and the graffiti I found there.
A chain link fence at the end of the alley.
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I love the way that the faces are incomplete compared to rest of the anatomy.
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The seemingly endless battle between graffiti artists and those who wantonly tag over their work.
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squares pieced together
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hidden doorway
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steaming
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chaos with stickers and scribbles
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grimacing skull by the fence
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Anti Rob Ford protest
A cold but clear November afternoon at Nathan Phillips Square.
people, signs, cameras, writing, chanting, speeches, media.
Step down or fall over.
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The city’s budget has gone up! Every year Rob has been in office.
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Nathan Phillips Square about 1:00 p.m.
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There was a good mix of people there, young and old.
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View of the crowd from part way up the steps just before they moved towards the front door of City Hall.
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Many creative signs. RoFo, the man from Monopoly, gravy train…..
It’s not about the drugs, it’s about the lies.
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Writing on the wall, about 12:40. I am not sure when the writing started, but when I first got to Nathan Phillips Square there wasn’t too much on the wall yet.
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Of chalk and signs
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A little bit later, a few more words on the wall as well as on the ground. Sashay away! Fraud Nation. No to Drugs. Harper + Ford = Corruption. Help yourself & help Toronto, Step Down.
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You smoked your own pipe. More writing on the upper wall.
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I assume that it became “Get Help”
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Etobicoke, Ford Co. most wanted.
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another view of the crowd
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…finally!
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Resting on the Archer
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Protesters, spectators and photographers. There were a lot of photographers! A lot of media, print, radio and television, were there too. Newstalk 1010 (where the Ford brothers had their radio show) had at least one person walking around with a microphone.
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Leading the chants
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Looking at the ones inside while the ones outside are reflected back
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wanted, A new Mayor! asap
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Writing in the square.
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I got him and he got me (I probably got the better photo!)
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#savetoronto #topoli #robford
With thanks to the Starbucks at Queen and Victoria where I was able to park myself and my laptop while I put this blog together. Wifi and an electrical outlet for the price of a tall coffee, can’t beat it.
Toronto Zombie Walk, Nathan Phillips Square,
26 October, 2013
The rain stopped just before the Zombie walk started but there was a very chilly wind blowing. The weather didn’t stop the zombies! It didn’t stop the fun either.
I met a zombie, and it was fun.
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keeping it in the family – like mother, like daughter
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zombie repose, by the archer
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A rat’s best friend.
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cute but bloodied
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They humoured me.
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even Pokemon was not spared.
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dripping blood, and the eyes…….great zombie eyes!
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an eye for an eye, oh wait, a pencil for an eye
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bulletproof
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screaming, blood curdling screams……
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one of the many great interactions between the zombies and their audience
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so much for the orthodontics
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even zombies need a break
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Rob Ford meets zombie
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paper people of Graffiti Alley
Three Bills
This is now a recurring theme in stencil/paper graffiti. Originally, the Bills were used in response to ‘post no bills’ signs on fences surrounding construction sites.
The Bills here, from left to right, are Bill Gates, Bill Murray and Bill Clinton
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In the fall of 2011, many of these Rob Ford stencils appeared in Graffiti Alley, amongst other places. They were the work of Toronto street artist, Deadboy. This might be the only one that remains in this alley.
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Leonard Cohen: “only one thing made him happy and now that it was gone everything made him happy”
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“I don’t do floors”
“Clean it up yourself”
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big ears and the astronaut
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I have not included all the stencils in Graffiti Alley as some have appeared in prior posts. See https://mcfcrandall.wordpress.com/2013/08/22/walking-graffiti-alley-again/
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alien in the alley
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With thanks to:
Georgette for her help with the three Bills
and Sally who recognized Leonard Cohen.
Saturday, 5th October
downtown Toronto
This is only a small selection of the art installations and exhibitions that were on display that night.
Bones, leg bones? Part of the ‘Indicator’ installation at Gareth Bate Art Projects, 401 Richmond St.
“Birds, bats, bees. Indicator species tell us when ecosystems are in peril. Bones, sugar, dripping honey – a meditation on catastrophe and connection.” The bones hung from the ceiling and the honey dripped down the walls.
Artists: Karen Abel, Jessica Marion Barr, Gareth Bate
A timeline of the life of Conrad Black in black & white woodcut prints as shown at a gallery at 401 Richmond Street. Artist, George Walker
silhouettes
at Much Music, Queen Street West
phones lifted skyward
Black & white art made using electric currents & little wires that spun in circles.
401 Richmond Street
bkies, bikes, bikes
spraying in the spotlight
On Dundas West near Beverley Street
‘The rose is without why’ by Boris Achour.
This is a short poem written by Johannes Scheffler aka Angelus Silesius, in the 17th century. The words are written with fluorescent lights and is more than 300 feet long. It was bright enough to light up the square.
upper level, Nathan Phillips Square
Nathan Phillips Square
Nathan Phillips Square
On the left – ‘Forever Bicycles’ sculpture by Ai Weiwei lit in pink and purple. There are 3144 bicycles.
On the right – ‘Crash Cars’ by Alain Declercq consists of two driverless cars.
posing
These metallic figures were not part of Nuit Blanche. They are part of a sculpture close to the Court House on University Ave., just north of Queen St. West.
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This year the long August week-end (Aug 3, 4 and 5) was warm and sunny. Like most summer week-ends in Toronto, there was lots going on. On both Sunday and Monday afternoon I dropped by the IRIE festival at Nathan Phillips Square.
There was a small but appreciative crowd at Nathan Phillips Square on Sunday afternoon for the IRIE festival.
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Samba Squad performing on Sunday afternoon.
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They were called the TD dancers and they were one of the opening acts on Monday afternoon.
Their performance was twelve minutes of non-stop, high energy movement.
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Seeking shade and a place to rest.
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There were not a lot of cameras clicking away during the performances that I saw. One exception were the four men with their long lenses that stopped by for a few minutes, took some photos, and left. I thought of African safaris as I watched them.
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Photo op in light blue.
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There were also a few vendors selling food & drink, clothing, and jewelry. Mostly it was a pleasant way to spend some time on a sunny summer afternoon.
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Dundas Square, Sunday July 28
I happened upon this festival this afternoon. It was crowded but everyone seemed to be having a good time.
Many people were out at Dundas Square this afternoon enjoying the perfect summer afternoon.
There were displays and activities. You could make buttons, practice calligraphy or try your hand origami.
Catch a bobbing balloon with a tiny hook!
T-shirts were some of the things that were available for sale.
There were also masks for sale.
Many woman wearing kimonos in all colours and variety of fabrics. Some men were wearing the male equivalent (sorry, I have forgotten the name). There was a kimono fashion show as well.
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Streetfest, part of the Beaches International Jazz Festival, was held 25, 26 and 27 July this year. About 2 km of Queen St. East is closed to traffic so pedestrians can enjoy the music provided by many bands representing a diverse array of music genres. On both Thursday and Friday evening when I was there the weather was perfect and the atmosphere was fun. I hope that I have been able to capture the spirit of the event!
Music, food, shopping, and most of all, people watching!
Queen St. East, early in the evening
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Music
jazz/blues
Erin McCallum and her backup band
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God Made Me Funky
He, and his group, got the crowd moving!
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Dr. Draw – It was very difficult to catch the intensity of this performance and I’m sure I haven’t done him justice.
Juice (name of the band)
The boys in the band are looking a bit pink but I like the perspective & angle of the crowd.
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There was music to dance to
Dancing to the music
and he danced his way down the street……
slow dancing
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And music to join in with
He almost stole the show.
There were so many wonderful moments.
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The were some odd musical moments as well
My apologies to the band, Phusion, as it is almost unfair to include this photo. The girl’s mother set up the shot.
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There were a lot of photographers milling about during this set. Most of them were middle aged men.
There was lots of food.
food trucks
Gorilla Cheese food truck
Beach Boys food truck
The donut truck was parked in Kew Gardens
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The ice cream man.
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Food for sale from local restaurants
Serving up thai food outside the Cha Da Restaurant
Wonderfully creative carved melons on display.
and drink…..
water & pop selling entrepreneurs
And young entrepreneurs too!
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There were people of all kinds
….characters
What would a street festival be without a Vulcan?
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kids
…not quite sure about all this…..
happy kids
big sunglasses, a fedora, and a big smile!
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It was a time for families
Family time
A great evening to be out.
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and a time for friends
An evening out with friends too.
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very flat indeed!
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Looking west Queen Street East, late on Friday evening.
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Getting late, Thursday evening.
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Taking photos of people I don’t know has never been my forte. Kensington is one place in the city where it’s easy to practice!
two smoothies
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Faces on posters and faces on the street
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Kensington has its regulars
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and Kensington has lots of visitors.
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