AIDS Memorial

Location: Barbara Hall Park, Church north of Wellesley

Date photo taken: 1 July 2021

Tucked in a beautiful green space behind The 519 Community Centre on Church Street stands Toronto's AIDS memorial. The thirteen pillars contain the names of people, most from the local community, who lost their lives to AIDS-related illnesses. For me, the experience of walking along the path, noting as the number of plates needed per year swelled, was visceral. The memorial was designed by Patrick Fahn, but it was the work of Michael Lynch. He and a group of other gay men developed the idea of a permanent memorial, a place where friends and family could gather. By its existence, it "counters the silence, denial, isolation and rejection that are so often connected with AIDs" and it also provides a focal point for the annual AIDs Candlelight Vigil, usually held each year in June. Friends and family can submit names for the memorial to The 519.

Walking the dog

Location: Church and McGill Streets

Date photo taken: 10 April 2021

This is part of a decorative screen running down the length of the driveway behind a new condo development at 365 Church Street. It obscures the wall behind it, letting just the right amount of its rough charm shine through, and the figures add a touch of life to what might otherwise be a lonely lane. It was designed by NAK Design Group and built and installed by Eventscape in 2017.

Brownley Apartments

 

Location: 40-42 Isabella Street, between Yonge and Church

Date photo taken: 3 February 2013

Image 3 in the Portals series

It's been awhile since I posted my last door pic, so here's another Art Deco favourite. The Brownley Apartments were built in 1931 and the building is listed on the Toronto Heritage Registry. While today this section of Isabella is mostly dominated by later 20th century apartment complexes, prior to the construction of this building it was largely given over to comfortable single family homes. For those paying attention, remnants of the older street still persist and the two buildings just west of the apartments are prime examples. The Jared Sessions House at 34 Isabella was built prior to 1860, and 36 Isabella, known as the Robert Wood House, was built in 1885. 

Bell Box - Michael Cavanaugh

Location: Isabella Street, east of Yonge
Date photo taken: 27 December 2018
Image #11 in the Bellbox Series

This fresco, seemingly damaged by the ravages of time, was painted as part of the 2016 Bell Box Murals Project. The artist, Michael Cavanaugh, started the program back in 2009 and in 2018 was recognized with an Urban Hero award for his contribution to the city. While similar in concept to the Outside the Box program initiated in 2013 and run by StreetARToronto, this program remains an independent art project, carried out in partnership with Bell Canada.

Kiss and Tell

Location: Alleyway just west of Church, at Wellesley

Date photo taken: 11 May 2016

Running down the west side of an alley near the corner of Church and Wellesley are the silhouettes of a number of couples kissing. They are powerful, colourful and at once both simple and intricate. The work, by artist Natalie Wood, was inspired by the groundbreaking educational campaign "Kissing Doesn't Kill" from the late 1980s. She adds another layer of meaning by crafting the figures using a collage of book and publication covers with significant meaning to herself and other members of the local LGBTQ community. If you want to learn more about this mural project, there's a great video with Wood on the Queerstory website.

Red Ribbon

Location: Church and Wood Streets

Date photo taken: 14 December 2016

The Church Wellesley Village, that section of Church Street between Wood and Gloucester, is jam packed with festive light displays. At the southern entrance to the Village sits this 5.5 metre glowing red ribbon. Commissioned by the Church Wellesley BIA as a celebration of life and to recognize the struggle of those living with HIV/AIDS, it was lit on World Aids Day, December 1.

Pride Buttons

Location: Driveway off Wellesley, just west of Church
Date photo taken: 11 May 2016

This image represents part of a mural near the corner of Church and Wellesley. It features a selection of pinback buttons from the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives and it was painted by local artist William Craddock. It is one of several painted as part of the Church Street Mural Project in preparation for World Pride which Toronto hosted in 2014. This year, Toronto is declaring Canada's first ever Pride Month, and it starts today! Happy Pride Month!