On the side of the Bond Place Hotel (which is currently serving as a Dixon Hall shelter) at 65 Dundas Street East there resides a 28-storey-tall mural entitled We Answer The Call. This mural shines a spotlight on nurses nationwide. It amplifies their voices and depicts them at a scale that reflects their monumental impact on our country as a whole and our people as individuals.
The mural, created by artist collective OneDay Creative, depicts the diverse faces of four nurses looking out at the city’s skyline. Complementing the static image featured on the wall, and as a nod to the art and science in which the nursing profession is steeped, the mural also contains an augmented reality overlay, launched via QR code on mobile devices. The AR experience brings the nurses’ faces to life with voiceovers and links to stories from the front line and other Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) initiatives.
The work is acrylic on concrete and was created in 2021.
I discovered these on King Street East a couple of weeks ago while walking over to Sumach Street to photograph the Cube House (if you’d like to read that post you’ll find it here).
Above these supports lie the Richmond and Adelaide Street East overpasses:
Not underpass art per se, but very cute nonetheless
There is a small street in the Spadina Avenue/Richmond Street West area called Camden Street. While passing Camden Street this past weekend I noticed a flash of bright colour from a side alley there and decided I just had to explore further. What greeted me were some very colourful murals and artwork.
North Side
On the north side of Camden Street there is an unspectacular – actually rather dismal – parking lot. Here are the murals I found there (’tis a pity the tag vandals have damaged so many of them):
South Side
On the south side of Camden Street there is an unassuming, dark alley that displays some pretty impressive artwork. These cartoon-style murals remind of that Lichtenstein art that was so popular in the 80s.
The murals below were painted in 2006 by youth from the Cecil Harbourfront Community Centre as part of the City of Toronto’s Graffiti Transformation Project. These are seriously good:
In the same alley but not part of the City of Toronto’s Graffiti Transformation Project, are these pieces:
Frequently the best art can be found in the most unassuming places…. like this.
It’s time for another installment of what I’ve dubbed From The Vaults, which are TOcityscapes from several years past. These shots are from January 12, 2013 so I think they qualify as Vaults material.
For about 4 years in the early 2010s, there was a huge wooden hoarding/fence on the south side of Allan Gardens. The hoarding surrounded the main construction site of the Gerrard Watermain Replacement Project. Allegedly the size of 2 football fields (719 feet), the hoarding served as a massive art canvas for Toronto Aboriginal community artists.
Entitled The Nindinawemaaganidok/All My Relations Mural Project, the artwork was a visual representation of First Nations life and culture in Toronto. Led by nationally recognized and award winning artists Tannis Nielsen and Philip Cote, 21 artists from the First Nations community came together to design and paint the mural.
The mural depicted 5 different topics combined with Aboriginal history in the city of Toronto:
Aboriginal women who have been murdered or have gone missing across Canada
A time line of the creation story to present day
The North and South Indigenous nations coming together
Indigenous teachings
The importance of water
Here’s how it looked:
I couldn’t find any further history as to what happened to the mural after it was dismantled. At one point I heard it was to be auctioned off during the Pan Am games when they were hosted in Toronto a few years; I don’t know if that ever came to pass, though. At any rate, it proved to be an inspiring and beautiful mural for a number of years in Allan Gardens.
On the east side of the Parkside Student Residence on the corner of Jarvis and Carlton Streets, there resides a colourful multi-storey-high mural entitled Equilibrium. Created by Spanish street artist Okuda San Miguel in 2018, the mural was produced by the PATCH project, which works to strengthen communities through producing public art projects which transform public spaces into opportunities for civic engagement.
From the plaque on the mural:
A culmination of a multi-year international collaboration aimed at celebrating the diverse communities that host the work, this mural was painted in 2018.
Equilibrium references the universal balance between nature, humanity and knowledge. Spanish artist, Okuda San Miguel has incorporated a totem-style as used across a diversity of cultures throughout history. It is the artist’s intention that individual viewers should find their own meaning and personal connection with the work, but has thoughtfully selected colours and imagery that conjure feelings of positivity and unity.
A signature element in the artist’s work, the Kaos star at the base symbolizes each individual’s internal compass. Regardless of origin each person must find their own path on Mother Earth (represented by the female figure in the work’s lower sections).
Representing the merging of humanity and nature, the avian-faced women reflect the need to balance these two worlds by holding the globe between them. The featured trio of faces represent the combined importance of knowledge and wisdom (grayscale), alongside innovation (coloured). Multi-coloured bodies are symbolic of diversity, while star-studded eyes reflect the inner universe present in each of us. The face on the globe depicts the eyes of the world watching humanity.
Connecting to the surrounding community, the foliage found throughout the design pays homage to the neighbouring Allan Gardens, meanwhile the angelic figure atop the work connects to the church to the east and serves as a symbol of freedom. A pride-inspired flag was integrated in response to the resounding support the project received from the Church-Wellesley community throughout its development.
The project was made possible through a collaboration among The STEPS initiative, Parkside Student Residence, Knightstone Capital Management, and StreetARToronto (StART), an initiative of the City of Toronto that supports, promotes and increases awareness of street art and its unique role in adding beauty and character to neighbourhoods across Toronto.
The Mural Slowly Takes Shape
Continuing to growA closeup of lower sectionMural’s titleArtist’s monogram
The Alleyway Of Dreams is a mural-filled alley in the eastern part of Toronto, running between Coleman Avenue and Danforth Avenue, just east of Main Street. The Alleyway of Dreams began by homeowners painting simple murals on their backyard garden sheds facing the alley as a way to improve the space, create more safety and beautify an ugly place.
The Alleyway Of Dreams was started by Mark Kerwin and Sarosh Anwar, two local Danforth Village residents. The project is about creating an art and cultural corridor in east end Toronto, embracing nature, human potential, freedom of imagination and community. The project was begun in 2013.
It was a nice sunny day when I visited this quirky and fun alleyway… here’s what I encountered:
As many know, Jimmy’s Coffee is a Toronto coffee shop. There are currently 9 locations in the city, most situated in hip and young neighbourhoods. While neither young nor hip, I’ve been to a few of the locations and found they have a unique interior decor and feel. The Jimmy’s at 84 Gerrard Street West, though, has the other locations beat – it has Jimmy Mount Rushmore!
In the fashion of the real Mount Rushmore, here we have Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Jimmy Buffett and Jim Morrison:
The mural was commissioned by Jimmy’s Coffee and completed in the summer of 2014. It measures 26 by 12 feet (approximately 312 sq. ft.). The brilliant artist who created this mural is Christiano De Araujo. Christiano is a self-taught artist born in Anápolis, Goiás, Brazil, but now living in Toronto. He is the founder of Toronto Artists Studio, a studio of visual artists, painters, digital artists and sculptors who design and produce murals and visual communication projects for audiences on a small and grand scale.
It was a crisp fall day when I started my Avenue Road photowalk at Bloor Street West. I made my way up Avenue Road, reached Dupont Street, then returned south until I hit University Avenue and Dundas Street West. Here’s a little of what I encountered along the way.
The Prince Arthur Condo 38 Avenue RoadThe Prince Arthur Condo, 38 Avenue Road I’ve always loved this entryway – so elegant, dramaticNew Condo Construction: 183 Avenue Road Construction on the northeast corner of Avenue Road and Pears Avenue in Yorkville. This is a proposed 10-storey mixed-use condominium building designed by BBB Architects for K P Isberg.Hazelton Lanes Residences 55A Avenue RoadGalerie de Bellefeuille 87 Avenue RoadFuture Site of “The Webley” 121 Avenue RoadBike Memorial For Adam Excell On the corner of Avenue Road and Davenport Road. Adam Excell was riding his bike on Avenue Road, near Davenport Road on June 13, 2015, when he was struck and killed by a car that did not remain at the scene.David Drebin Mural On the northwest corner of Avenue Road and Davenport Road. David Drebin is a Toronto-born professional photographer.David Drebin Mural & “Super Convenience” Northwest corner of Davenport Road and Avenue RoadThe Hare Krishna Temple The Hare Krishna Temple is located at 243 Avenue Road. The building is the former home of Avenue Road Church. It was built in 1899 and was originally the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant. The building was designed by Toronto architects Gordon & Helliwell.The Church of the Messiah 240 Avenue Road. This Anglican church was founded on March 24, 1891 by members of the Church of the Redeemer further south on Avenue Road. The building, and the rectory next door, were designed by Gordon & Helliwell, the same architects who designed what is now the Hare Krishna Temple across the street.Fall Leaves Somewhere on Avenue RoadMural Outside Havana Coffee Bar 233 Davenport Road, southwest corner of Davenport Road and Avenue RoadFlower Markets Avenue Road, south of DavenportGiant Ring Outside Louro & Sons Jewellers, 104 Avenue Road“Mixer” These cast bronze figures are entitled “Mixer” by sculptor An Te Liu, a Taiwanese-Canadian artist living and working in Toronto. “Mixer” envisions its installation as a stage inhabited by a pair of cast bronze figures engaged in dialogue with passersby, hotel visitors, and each other. Bold and distinctive in silhouette and richly finished in a lustrous deep gold patina, the sculptural ensemble forms a vivid and iconic tableau establishing the Park Hyatt as a singular destination. As a public artwork, “Mixer” is monumental in scale – visible from afar and instantly recognizable. Open and intimate, the work invites visitors to experience the artwork fully and in the round. People become a critical part of the scenography, which unfolds within the architectural proscenium and extends out into the city.
“Mixer” finds shape and expression in the rich history of Park Hyatt Toronto, merging classical figurative allusions with industrial, artisanal, and organic forms culled from glassware, vessels, and couture. The forms also stem from a reinterpretation of the artistic legacy of Henry Moore, a seminal figure in the history of the modern era in Toronto. “Mixer” captures the allure of social encounters and celebrates imbibing in all the senses. They form a continuity between the illustrious past of Park Hyatt Toronto and its present renaissance as an exemplar of elegance and luxury. An Te Liu’s inspiration for this work comes more specifically from an archival photograph of the Park Hyatt Rooftop Lounge, commonly known as “The Rooftop bar at Park Plaza,” years ago. An Te Liu would visit during his years as a student at the University of Toronto – understanding its’ social significance as a landmark in the city. Park Hyatt Toronto invites visitors to experience the artwork in the round, as this ensemble of works seems like an encounter or conversation. The hotel program inspired this meaningful concept as a place of social convergence, where friends and strangers crossLillian Massey Building Building used by University of Toronto, 125 Queen’s Park“Freedom Fighters” Queen’s Park“Freedom Fighters” Queen’s ParkFall Leaves Queen’s ParkAl Purdy Statue, Queens’ Park Al Purdy was a 20th-century Canadian free verse poet. Purdy’s writing career spanned 56 years. His works include 39 books of poetry; a novel; two volumes of memoirs and four books of correspondence, in addition to his posthumous works. He has been called the nation’s “unofficial poet laureate” and “a national poet in a way that you only find occasionally in the life of a culture.”Iranian Demonstration There was an Iranian demonstration happening that day at Queen’s Park, and this guy was ripping up and down Queen’s Park and University Avenue with his balloons and flagU of T’s Schwartz Reisman Innovation Centre 112 College Street, at University Avenue“Happy Lunar New Year” Canada Post box at University Avenue and Dundas Street WestThe United Building 481 University Avenue. On the corner of University Avenue and Edward Street. Converting into luxury condos.The United Building 481 University Avenue. On the corner of University Avenue and Edward Street. Converting into luxury condos.
Yes, it needed To go. I lived nearby and would pass this hospital many times over the years. Looking forward…