It seems that everywhere you go in TORONTO street artists have been at work. The city is now home to some of the best murals and public art in laneways, streets and parks – (if you don’t mind my saying) anywhere.
<‘HOME’ by Sean Martindale & Joshua Barndt, 251 Ranee Avenue, created in 2012> To help find many of these art works & to discourage tagging, StreetARToronto (StART) & Civic Hall Toronto have created an easy-to-use online map. The current database is focused on work painted from 2012 to 2018.
<By Shayone Panth, Danforth Avenue at Paramount Road, 2012>
<By Dan Bergeron and Paul Aloisi, 550 Bayview Avenue, 2012>
<By Community Centre 55, GRIP Crew, 147 Lee Avenue, 2018>
<BELL utility box, by Andre Kan, Torresdale Avenue at Finch Av. West, 2015> In addition to identifying the artist & organizations responsible, the database includes stories and themes behind each unique piece of art. Individually and collectively these murals were designed to celebrate TORONTO’s motto “Diversity Our Strength”.
<By Aisha Ali, Purdon Drive @ Wilmington Avenue, 2015> Additional filters will be installed and the growing database will be updated regularly to add more artwork, so check back often! To learn more – https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/streets-parking-transportation/enhancing-our-streets-and-public-realm/streetartoronto/ . . . . . StreetARToronto – The Map! – https://streetart.to/
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.>
D for Dummy
‘TORONTO STREET ART STROLLS’ is a beautiful guide book to the alleys, streets and underpasses of our city, where a multitude of muralists practice their art. Nathalie Prézeau, camera in hand, toured 43 neighbourhoods and came up with a 192 page guide to cafes, patios, shops – and the whereabouts (with maps) of TORONTO’s finest public murals.
The book includes over 1,100 photos of street artworks and how to get to them.
This is the third walking guide book Nathalie Prézeau has produced. The other two sold out quickly and made the Globe and Mail bestsellers list. Copies might be available at Spacing on Richmond Street West.
When three artists from the Essencia Art Collective unveiled their Lawrence Avenue West underpass creation some locals weren’t entirely pleased. A few found it scary – and as usual in this town – city council got involved. Councillor FRANK DI GIORGIO: “On public space I think, for myself, it should be a little more picturesque. I don’t think you take underpasses as a place where you try to communicate artistic messages. You’re trying to beautify things.”
Artist FIYA BRUXA, co-designer of the mural: “It’s an ode to Mother Earth, to all of Earth’s beautiful creatures and magical realism.” GILDA MONREAL (also known as Fiya Bruxa) said it’s meant to convey a warning about climate change and environmental destruction.
The opposite wall of the underpass, also painted by the Collective, is bright and cheery. No controversy there. Over 2,000 people signed a petition to keep both murals.
Toronto Savvy 