Traffic Signal Box - Blue Jays

 

Location: Railside Road and Lawrence Avenue East

Date photo taken: 23 January 2021

Image #22 in the Traffic Signal Box Series

There's so much buzz about the Toronto Blue Jays right now that it seemed a good time to share this signal box. It was created by Tomas Del Balso as part of the 2016 Outside the Box painting program and was designed to "inspire the public with their own hometown bird and to remind the community that we truly have something special living in Toronto."

Traffic Signal Box - Toronto Map Maze

 

Location: Eastern Avenue at Carlaw

Date photo taken: 9 January 2021

Image #21 in the Traffic Signal Box Series

If you find yourself near the corner of Eastern Avenue and Carlaw with some time on your hands, pop over to the north east corner and find this traffic signal box. On it artist Pam Lostracco has created a maze using Toronto's streets and rivers. The CN Tower is marked as the start and there are other destinations, many of them greenspaces, to discover as you work your way through the maze and around the box. A fun and different way to discover the city.

Traffic Signal Box - Painted Ladies

Location: Dundas St. West at Wimbleton

Date photo taken: 25 June 2024

Image #21 in the Traffic Signal Box Series

I have to admit, I have no idea if these are Painted Lady butterflies. They could very well be American Ladies, which are similar, or something else entirely. Both Painted Ladies and American Ladies regularly migrate between Mexico and Ontario, and while most of the time neither are particularly plentiful here, every once in awhile they will arrive in great numbers. 

Signal box by Natalie Very B

Location: Lakeshore at Thirty Seventh Street

Date photo taken: 10 July 2021

Image #20 in the Traffic Signal Box Series

In honour of International Women's Day this Friday, here's one of Natalie Very B's gorgeous everyday goddesses. She painted it in 2020 as part of that year's crop of signal boxes prettied up through the city's Outside the Box program. Her boldly beautiful depictions of body positivity and self-love caught the attention of CBC and in 2020 they commissioned her to create a CBC Arts logo for Women's History Month. You can check out that logo, and read the article and interview here.

Traffic Signal Box - Birds

 

Location: Moore Avenue at Mount Pleasant

Date photo taken: 21 June 2023

Image #19 in the Traffic Signal Box Series

Here's another signal box brought to life by the City's Outside the Box program. It was painted in 2022 by Erin McCluskey, her third signal box for the program, although her work can also be found on Bell boxes, construction hoardings and other projects around the city.  

Traffic Signal Box - Smile

 

Location: Bathurst at Elderwood Drive

Date photo taken: 23 November 2019

Image #18 in the Traffic Signal Box Series

Smile. It's good advice. This is courtesy of Bareket Kezwer and it's a common theme in her art. As are bright colours and positivity, which is why I love that her work is showing up more and more places around the city.

Traffic Signal Box - Shoot the Shooter

Location: North east corner of Dundas and Sumach

Date photo taken: 20 June 2021

Image #17 in the Traffic Signal Box Series

Here's another striking mini mural thanks to StreetARToronto's Outside the Box program. This one was done in 2015 by Toronto artist Matt Cohen. For those of you unfamiliar with the neighbourhood, Dundas and Sumach is right in the heart of the former Regent Park housing development which has been the focus of intensive redevelopment since 2005. In the background of this photo you can see the colonnade of the new DuEast high rise condo development at 225 Sumach. If you visit the artist's blog, you'll notice that the background of the photo he took after completing the box looks much, much different. It's almost as if this photographer was placed here to capture the changes taking place in the neighbourhood.

NeaTO: The City of Toronto Archives has a massive photograph collection that documents much of the city, and it happens to have a picture of the north east corner of Dundas and Sumach from 1972, showing the low rise housing of Regent Park. 

Spring Flowers

 

Location: Lawrence Ave. E. at Curlew

Date photo taken: 23 January 2021

Image #16 in the Traffic Signal Box Series

The official start of spring may still be a few weeks away but spring temperatures were definitely in evidence in the city today. Pretty soon real live tulips will be everywhere, but until then, this gorgeous sunny mini mural will stand in nicely. I assume it was done as part of StART's Outside the Box program but I can't find any info on the artist. If you know, please comment!

One of my favourite things

 

Location: Eglington Avenue and Kennedy Road

Date photo taken: 27 February 2017

Image #15 in the Traffic Signal Box Series

I love the treatment Margaret Cresswell gave this traffic signal box as part of the Outside the Box project in 2015. It's simple but thanks to that delightful earworm of a song, strikes me as both whimsical and full of possibility. When I was scrolling through my photos, this one just jumped out at me. These days I can't leave my apartment without seeing boxes in the hallway, scattered around the lobby, and overflowing from the mailroom. None however are tied up with string. 

Out of Order

 

Location: Lawrence and Orton Park Road

Date photo taken: 7 September 2020

Image #14 in the Traffic Signal Box Series 

Here is yet another traffic signal box upgraded through the City's Outside the Box program. It was done in 2016 but I just stumbled across it on the weekend. It's a new favourite and a great example of why it pays to look at both sides.

Traffic Signal Box - Maple Leaf Mosaic

Location: Maple Leaf Drive at Jane
Date photo taken: 22 February 2020
Image #13 in the Traffic Signal Box Series

Happy Canada Day!

This box is the work of Thomas Dannenberg and it was commissioned in 2018 as part of the 6th year of the Outside the Box project. This city run program invites artists and graphic designers to apply for the opportunity to paint one of the many traffic signal boxes that dot intersections across the city. Applicants are encouraged "to consider the context of the local area and the city as a whole" when creating their design. Outside the Box is one of many projects run by Street Art Toronto, which also maintains an artist directory - the perfect place to find an artist to paint that garage mural you've always wanted.

Traffic Signal Box - Succulent

Location: corner of Jarvis and Carlton
Date photo taken: 5 January 2019
Image #12 in the Traffic Signal Box Series

With spring flowers and outdoor greenery still several weeks away, here's a lovely succulent courtesy of self described art person and plant enthusiast Angelica Fernandes. If this box leaves you wanting more just pop across the street and check out the Arid House in Allan Gardens, home to a large display of unusual cacti and succulents.

Traffic Signal Box - $10 Face

Location: Corner of York and Wellington
Date photo taken: 4 September 2018
Image #11 in the Traffic Signal Box Series

In 2018 the Financial District BIA partnered with StART’s Outside the Box program to decorate a selection of traffic signal boxes in the downtown core. They put out a call to artists and from the more than 50 submissions received, chose 5 finalists. Dean Martin was one of those finalists, and this is one of two boxes he designed. Viewed up close, the graphic appears to be simply a pattern of circles, but as you move away, the image resolves into a portrait. Each box features two individuals who have at some point graced the Canadian ten-dollar bill. In his artist’s statement he explains: “… The individuals we choose to feature on our currency are also reflective of nation building; of who we are and how we see ourselves. This perception however, has evolved greatly over the years and nowhere is it more apparent than in the diversity of those we seek to acknowledge and celebrate… This is meant to be more than a one-way journey that simply re-evaluates yesterday’s values versus today’s. It is about standing far enough back to see that character and contribution manifest in different ways and that it can come from anyone, a feature of Canada that make us the envy of the world.” More of his statement can be read here.

Traffic Signal Box - Nuthatch

Location: Jane St. at Alliance Ave.

Date photo taken: 7 September 2018

Image #10 in the Traffic Signal Box Series

Here's another traffic signal box that got spruced up in 2015 thanks to StreetARToronto's Outside the Box program. The artist is Erica Balon, also known as EGR, whose style I love.

Traffic Signal Box - Anna Bucciarelli

Location: North east corner, Gerrard and Sherbourne
Date photo taken: 16 February 2017
Image #9 in the Traffic Signal Box Series

This latest traffic signal box to be featured on NeaTO was painted in 2016 by Anna Bucciarelli. The design pays homage to the traditional Ukrainian decorative style known as Petrykivka which generally features plants, especially flowers, often accompanied by birds, on a white background.

Traffic Signal Box - Roaring Bear

Location: corner of Trinity Bellwoods Park, near Dundas St. W. and Montrose

Date photo taken: 9 June 2014

Image #8 in the Traffic Signal Box Series

Good morning bear! Not a morning person either? I can relate. This is the second traffic signal box decorated by Jeff Blackburn to be featured on NeaTO. He has been invited to paint two boxes each year of the Outside the Box program, bringing his total to 8 so far. 

Traffic Signal Box - Gary Taxali

Location: Bathurst St. at Neptune

Date photo taken: 27 August 2015

Image #7 in the Traffic Signal Box Series

In addition to the 120 hand painted treatments on traffic signal boxes around the city, the Outside the Box program has also created two synthetic wraps to be used on multiple boxes. This box is wrapped in the distinctive retro-inspired work of Gary Taxali. If you're a fan of the style and want to see more, the gallery in First Canadian Place is hosting "Unfamous: The Work of Gary Taxali" until January 27th. The gallery is free to visit but hours are limited to Monday to Friday, 11 am to 3 pm. On January 12th the artist himself will be on hand for a tour of the exhibition.

Traffic Signal Box - Adrian Hayles

Location: Bathurst and Wilson
Date photo taken: 17 November 2015
Image #6 in the Traffic Signal Box Series

Another traffic signal box given a colourful treatment thanks to StreetARToronto's Outside the Box program. These colourful clouds are by artist Adrian Hayles, who has done several boxes around the city.

Traffic Signal Box - Rachel Wilmshurst

Location: Bloor St. W. and Durie St.

Date photo taken: 12 September 2015
Image #5 in the Traffic Signal Box Series

This is another one of Toronto's traffic signal boxes which received a make-over in 2015. It sits on Bloor West in what was once the heart of Toronto's Ukrainian community. Artist Rachel Wilmshurst chose to pay tribute to that heritage with her design, which draws inspiration from traditional Ukrainian embroidery patterns. If you're around this weekend, why not experience Ukrainian arts, culture and spirit for yourself, by visiting the Toronto Ukrainian Festival. It runs from Friday evening to Sunday evening, on Bloor St. W. between Jane and Runnymede.

Cold As ICE

Location: Berkeley Street, just south of Front

Date photo taken: 11 Aug 2015
Image #4 in the Traffic Signal Box Series

Here is another of Toronto's traffic signal boxes, this one painted to beat the heat. It was painted last October by tattoo artist Random, aka Spencer Harrington. The rusted out edges are a nice touch. A very brief video of the work in progress is available on Random's Facebook page.