Paint Your Faith

Location: South west corner of Church and Shuter
Date photo taken: 3 February 2013
Image 10 in the Mural Series

This colourful mural is called Paint Your Faith. It is a project by WonderCafe which is affiliated with the United Church of Canada. It is a joint effort by four graffiti artists, two from California - Chor Boogie and Siloette, and two from right here in Toronto - Mediah and Elicser. It was unveiled in September 2009. Interviews with the artists and info about the project can be found on the project's website.

Giant Panda

Location: Toronto Zoo

Date photo taken: 9 March 2014

There are lots of new things to see at the Toronto Zoo right now. There's a baby giraffe, a baby gorilla and of course Humphrey, the adorable polar bear cub. There is also Er Shun and Da Mao, two giant pandas on loan from China. Pandas are endangered and with less than 1600 animals currently living in the wild the study of captive pandas is considered crucial to ensuring their continued long term survival. Lots of different aspects of panda behaviour and care will be studied during their visit including nutrition and reproduction. The Toronto Zoo also prides itself on its behavioural enrichment programs - finding ways to positively stimulate captive animals and encourage behaviours which closely match wild ones - and they will be designing and conducting studies on enrichment activities for pandas. Er Shun and Da Mao will be in Toronto until 2018 when they will move west for a stay at the Calgary Zoo.

Ogre and Friend

Location: just off Brimley Road South
Date photo taken: 5 September 2013

I don't know anything about these guys except that I love them. I discovered them on the back of a concrete divider, one of two blocking the entrance to a disused road running off of Brimley Road South just up the hill from Bluffer's Park. If you know anything about them, please leave a comment!

Gupolo

Location: 129 Jarvis Street
Date photo taken: 17 March 2013
Image 2 in the Figures Series

This figure is called Gupolo and it is a common site in front of houses or government offices in Java. Its purpose is to protect the building and those inside from evil spirits. The snake being held by the figure represents the power of evil, which the Gupolo has mastered.

This particular figure is one of two that sit in front of the Consulate General building for the Republic of Indonesia on Jarvis St. The building opened in 1994 but Toronto has had an Indonesian consulate since 1982.