Gardiner East Dismantling

 

Location: Lakeshore Blvd between Carlaw and Leslie

Date photo taken: 1 May 2021

In 1999 Toronto City Council voted to demolish the eastern-most portion of the Gardiner expressway. This section served no real purpose, having been built to link up to a Scarborough Expressway that was never built. When it was demolished in 2001 the work involved a reinvention of this section of the Lakeshore. It was designed to accommodate more traffic capacity but also included bicycle lanes, landscaping and public art. Artist John McKinnon took the expressway itself as his inspiration, transforming remnants of the structure into a visually striking new installation. In his words: "Probably the most oppressive part of the Gardiner is the overhead deck and with the deck removed the columns take on a life of their own and that is actually the best part. It almost has a kind of marching Stonehenge… sort of almost millennial sense about it. And this kind of thing actually is what gives now the whole piece a distinct character."

Here's the Ben Wicks

 

Location: South wall of 426 Parliament Street

Date photo taken: 19 May 2022

Ben Wicks was many things - Toronto resident, writer, media personality - but he was best known for his cartoons. Starting with the Toronto Telegram in the 1960s, his work eventually appeared in newspapers across Canada and the United States. And eventually on the wall of a building in Cabbagetown. It turns out Ben Wicks was also a would-be restaurateur. His self-named restaurant The Ben Wicks opened at 424 Parliament Street in 1980 and remained open for over 30 years, although the majority of that time it was owned and operated by Robert McEnirney, Wicks having realized very quickly that his talents lay in other areas. The Ben Wicks, like Wicks himself, is now gone, but the mural remains and has been joined by a heritage plaque, tucked away on a nearby railing.

Nathan Phillips' sundial

 

Location: Nathan Phillips Square, north west corner

Date photo taken: 1 November 2019

While not immediately obvious, at least to me, this sculptural piece on the north west corner of Nathan Phillips Square is a sundial. Designed by engineer and geophysicist G.R. Johnson, it's six feet in diameter and made of brass. It was a gift to the people of the city from former mayor and namesake of the square, Nathan Phillips. He served the city as alderman for 28 years and then as mayor for eight more, from 1955 to 1962. The international design competition held for the new city hall, which sits adjacent to the Square, was undertaken during his tenure and he was still in office when construction began. Phillips wanted to show his gratitude for being allowed to serve, and he wanted his gift to be something that would be artistic, unusual, functional and permanent and this sundial was the result. It was presented in April 1969.

Former entrance to Blantyre Public School

 

Location: Blantyre Public School

Date photo taken: 29 November 2020

This former doorway stands ready to welcome students back to school. Sort of. If you were to walk through it, you would actually find yourself in the parking lot. 

I love it when pieces of older buildings are salvaged and repurposed on site. They act as landmarks in time, helping us to better understand the history of a place. In this case, this installation takes us back to 1928 when Blantyre Elementary first opened. I find the placement a bit odd but I believe it serves a purpose. It seems that this doorway, paired with the hedge that runs out from either side of it, is a feature designed to stop the unwitting from tumbling down the short steep grade behind.

Fun at the Fair

 

Location: The Farm, Canadian National Exhibition

Date photo taken: 1 September 2022

After a pandemic-related hiatus, the CNE is back on and it seems that Toronto has really missed it. I know I have. Going during my usual mid-week evening I was shocked at the number of people in attendance. Even the Farm building, usually an oasis of calm and quiet, seemed busy. That's where this sand sculpture is located. Unlike previous years, there was no butter sculpting (a long tradition at the CNE - just search "butter" in their photo archives if you don't believe me) and no international sand sculpting competition, but Karen Fralich's oversized sculpture of the farm animals kicking back and having fun at the fair provides lots of viewing pleasure.