Posts Tagged ‘strength’

They aren’t easily seen from any street but there are now 20 colourful figures leaping and dancing their way along the west side of Bridgepoint Hospital.   You will encounter them if you walk on the path that runs between Gerrard East and Riverdale Park.

below:  Perched high above the Don Valley, they run, jump, leap, dance and celebrate movement of the human form.  They are sculptures by Canadian artist Bill Lishman (with help from Richard Vanheuvelan).

brightly coloured sculptures of figures in various active poses, made of loosely woven metal, a purple woman leaping, an orange man on his back about to catch of blue woman who is leaping head first through the air, and others as well, along the side of a building, the DVP runs beside in the background and the Bloor Viaduct bridge across the valley is in the distance

below: A yellow goggle-wearing snowboarder leaping over the bushes is the first sculpture you come across if you are walking up the path from Riverdale Park.

yellow metal sculpture of a young man in goggles

below: Two of the twenty different figures form ‘The Lambada’ (a dance style originating in Brazil in the 1980’s) by Richard Vanheuvelan.

a purple male figure in metal sculpture is dancing with a woman made of red metal, she is bending backwards while he supports her.

below: More dance, this time ballet in red, blue and purple.   Strength and grace.

sculptures of three figures in ballet poses, one in blue metal, one in red metal and one in purple. Dancing in a garden outdoors

below: ‘The Three Muses’ pose overlooking the city.

outdoor sculptures of three women dancing, one is red metal, one is orange metal and the last is yellow metal. Downtown TOronto skyline is in the distance

top part of a blue metal sculpture of a man, showing his head, with long hair flowing out behind, one arm raised. The glass windows of a building are behind him, outdoors,

The sculptures were a generous gift from the Tauba and Solomon Spiro Foundation and were originally designed in memory of businessman and philanthropist, Max Tanenbaum (1909-1983).

 

 

Amnesty International Toronto Organization is a group that works in the to raise public awareness of human rights issues. One of the projects that it supports is ‘Project: Urban Canvas’.  This project involves 30 murals.   One mural for each of the articles in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a United Nations

Urban Canvas was begun in 2008 which was the 60th anniversary of the UDHR. Not all of the murals are complete yet.  Two of those that are finished are located on Parma Court near Victoria Park and O’Connor.

One celebrates Article 19 which states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

A large mural on a red brick building, painted to celebrate the United Nations Universal Declaration of HUman Rights.  This one includes the words strength, love, respect, unity.  It shows a 5 people engaged in various activities. painted by Michael Reyes as well as  Fozi, Humera, and Sabeehah

part of a mural showing a boy and girl holding hands as they run.  Also, in the top right corner is a black man with a microphone.   The words 'love' and 'freedom' are also written on the mural.

Part of a mural showing a black man's face.  The words strength and respect are written there.  Also 4 white stars, and the words "hoping after the stress everything is okay."

The words say “hoping after the stress everything is okay.”

 

The other mural celebrates Article 3 of the UDHR. 
“Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.”

mural illustrating article 3, it shows people

blog_parma_3

 

website for Amnesty International Toronto Organization Urban Canvas project

This project is also supported by the Working Women Community Centre,  the United Way, and the city of Toronto.

 Other murals in this project on this blog: