Heavenly Waters

Location: Queens Quay, west of Jarvis

Date photo taken: 30 August 2020

Starting in 1981 Robert Wyland began painting large scale murals, dubbed Whaling Walls, around the world. This is one of two that he created in Toronto, although the second one, at the ROM, is now listed as extinct. This one can be found on the north wall of the sugar shed at the Redpath Sugar plant on Toronto's shoreline. It was created in 1997 and it's a bit special in that it was co-signed by Robert Hunter, the Canadian environmentalist who co-founded Greenpeace and spent years campaigning against commercial whaling. 

Mario Water Level

 

Location: Behind the Pam McConnell Aquatic Centre, Dundas Street East

Date photo taken: 20 February 2023

Regent Park is only part way through its redevelopment but already it has tons going for it. Now even Mario and friends are making an appearance. In October 2022 the two large cement structures behind the pool complex at Dundas and Sumach were brightened up with images inspired by the Mario Brothers video games. While all of the murals stick close enough to the game esthetic to be strongly nostalgic, I love this one with its more whimsical take on Mario and his swimming costume. This does sit behind the aquatic centre after all. Thanks to Alex Simku and Tanya Giannelli for this bit of fun.

Wolves of Bay Street

 

Location: Guild Park and Gardens

Date photo taken: 9 April 2022

These two howling wolves are the work of Canadian sculptor Jacobine Jones. Born in England, she  received classical training in London before making Canada home in 1932. Within a year of arriving she was working on architectural commissions as well as creating art in her own studio. This panel, which became known as the Wolves of Bay Street, was one of several she created for the Bank of Montreal's new building at the corner of King and Bay Streets. When the building was demolished less than 30 years later, the panels were salvaged and now sit, with many other old architectural elements, in the Guild Park and Gardens in Scarborough. 

Note: Some of Jones' work remains at the corner of King and Bay. Across the street from the Bank of Montreal sits the The Bank of Nova Scotia building. Inside the grand banking hall hangs a large sculptural mural by Jones, the largest in Canada at the time it was installed.

Divine Femininity

Location: Laneway south of D'Arcy, east of Beverley
Date photo taken: 4 September 2018

In honour of International Women's Day next week, I'm sharing yet another fabulous mural from the Womxn Paint's laneway event back in 2018. This one is by Désiré Betty, and believe it or not, it was her first mural and her first time working with spray paint.