Garden of Future Follies

 

Location: Front Street at Bayview

Date photo taken: 1 June 2019

This installation created by Canadian art duo Hadley+Maxwell playfully attacks our city's historic monuments, bringing them to the people and into the present. Their folly is comprised of over 150 unique elements copied from 80 different monumental works around the city. The original pieces are often oversized, elevated and designed to inspire awe. By taking fragments, juxtaposing them in whimsical ways and placing them at our level, the artists invite us to get personal with the pieces, and to re-examine their stories. It also makes me wonder if any monument buffs out there have successfully mapped back the various pieces. This excellent 2016 article from Spacing Magazine gives a few of them away.

Poop power

 

Location: Rolling Mills Road

Date photo taken: 7 October 2020

When I first saw this post, it was the cute little cut-out of a dog at the top that caught my attention. The diagram on the front, with the words "Dog waste only", got me intrigued. It turns out these bright green pillars are an innovative new way to dispose of your pooch's poop and turn it into something positive. This pillar sits atop a concrete containment well sunk into the ground, where the poop is collected and kept safely contained. Out of the sun, the contents remain cooler and smell less. The bins are emptied regularly and the waste is delivered to a facility that converts it into energy. With approximately 230,000 dogs in Toronto according to the city's website, that amounts to a lot of energy potential. The condo development in the Canary District was the first in Toronto to have these collectors installed but it seems like such an elegant solution that I'm hopeful more will start popping up around the city. 

171 Eastern

 

Location: 171 Eastern Avenue

Date photo taken: 6 July 2020

Last year lots of people in the city were reading about the Foundry, a grouping of historic buildings formerly occupied by the Dominion Wheel & Founderies Company. The Province had ordered the demolition of the buildings, all of which were included on the City of Toronto's Inventory of Heritage Properties, to make way for a new housing development. Thanks to quick action by a group of concerned citizens, demolition was halted and discussions have resulted in two of the four structures being retained. They will be incorporated into a new design for the site. This building was not one of the lucky ones. It's not surprising and few will miss it, but I have always loved this building. Built in 1930 to house the Foundry offices, it was really quite ordinary. But ordinary can be pleasant, especially when ordinary no longer equates with common. The new plans look exciting though, and I can't wait to explore the revitalized space.

Delivery with heart

Location: Distillery District

Date photo taken: 25 January 2021

Meet Geoffrey, your adorable zero emission local delivery robot. I've seen these cute little boxes roaming the sidewalks of the Distillery District, Corktown and the Canary District. With the help of real-life but remote pilots, who also handle communications, these mobile lock boxes currently pick up orders at twelve partner restaurants. Delivery fees currently range from $2.99 to $5.99.

Water Guardians

 

Location: Front St. E., between Rolling Mills and Tannery Roads

Date photo taken: 1 June 2019

The West Don Lands community is a still developing neighbourhood at the eastern edge of the downtown core. Home to the Pan Am Games athletes in 2015, all aspects of this community were carefully planned to create a vibrant, livable neighbourhood. A gorgeous park anchors one end, transit options abound and sidewalks are wide enough to be called promenades. Waterfront Toronto, the body responsible for the redevelopment, even incorporated a Public Art Strategy into the early stages of the work. The result is a collection of pretty amazing new works and the seamless integration of an older piece. Water Guardians, created by Jennifer Marman and Daniel Borins with James Khamsi is one of the new pieces. It sits adjacent to the splash pad and is, for the most part, endearing. I'll admit though that there have been times at night when its glowing eyes and lumbering attitude evoke a classic monster-movie vibe.