A brightly coloured mural by Spanish street artist OKUDA is taking its place on a blank wall, facing traffic-heavy Jarvis Street at Carlton. The project is a partnership among STEPS (a public art-funding charity), the City of TORONTO’s StreetART program, and the owners of Parkside Student Residences. The city provided $50,000 as part of its Graffiti Management Plan. The Residences are housed in a former 1970’s-era Brutalist hotel, not far from the University of TORONTO, OCAD University, George Brown College and Ryerson University in or near downtown.
<ABOVE – street level sketching on JULY 7TH>
<ABOVE – the finished mural on July 13th. This work of art has become a landmark, and can be seen clearly from several blocks away.>
Seems everyone knew about it except the people diagonally opposite at 130 Carlton. Instead of leafleting every owner the mural people (City, owner of the building being painted, artist, etc.) simply contacted the property manager who did nothing. To say it’s overpowering is an understatement!