Hugman

 

Location: The PATH, Exchange Tower

Date photo taken: 8 September 2024

If you've been in the Financial District in the last few weeks, you might have noticed a bit of a quiet invasion. Scattered inside and out, across several properties, are a number of Hugman sculptures. These crude human figures, which range from pint-sized to roughly adult height, are the work of Nathan Sawaya, an American artist, and they are made completely out of Lego. What started out as a street art project in New York has now spread to cities around the world. Brookfield Properties is responsible for bringing Hugman to Canada, first to Calgary, and now most recently, to Toronto. While to some eyes the tree-hugging stance may evoke thoughts of protest, Hugman just likes to hug. According to signage, the series was inspired by the simple idea of embracing others. 

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.

Bank of Nova Scotia Mosaic

Location: formerly in the ABM vestibule of the bank at Queen Street East at Church

Date photo taken: 27 March 2018

I wonder how many people entering the former Scotiabank branch at the corner of Queen and Church stopped to admire this mosaic? Dating to approximately 1929, it's a beautifully detailed rendition of the bank's seal, which is made up of elements which reflect the bank's Maritime roots and the industries on which the early wealth of the region was based. These include a merchant sailing vessel, a codfish, and a plow with a sheaf of grain. The shield is surrounded here by thistles representing Nova Scotia's Scottish heritage. When the bank vacated the building in 2018, this seal was removed to ensure its long term preservation.

Blast from the Past - Lick's Homeburgers & Ice Cream

 

Location: 1585 The Queensway

Date photo taken: 12 May 2014

This week's post offers up a double dose of nostalgia. Licks was a Canadian fast food chain that offered up better than average food, including their meatless Natureburger and decadent milkshakes. The chain actually started with a single ice cream parlour, opened in 1978. The 1970s, especially the later years, experienced a spate of 1950s inspired movies, music and television (think Grease and Sha Na Na) which carried over to general culture, and obviously influenced the branding at Licks. I just love the nostalgic vibes coming off this sign! 

When I snapped this picture, the chain's decline was already well advanced, with the flagship location having closed in 2012 and many of the franchises closing in the subsequent year. While they have largely disappeared, Licks' demise was not total. A Google search has revealed a lone Lick's Homeburgers & Ice Cream on the Golden Mile, and according to their menu, their milkshakes are still made with real ice cream.

Blast From the Past - Croft Street Garage

 

Location: Croft Street

Date photo taken: 29 August 2013

This mural is one of many that adorn Croft Street, a laneway running between College and Harbord. Or rather, it did. It was painted over, or the garage door replaced, sometime between June 2016 and July 2018. While these eyes may no longer watch over the lane, there are still more than enough murals along this stretch to qualify it as one of the most Instagrammable spots in Toronto.

Sick Kids VS Limits Campaign

Location: north side of Adelaide between Church and Jarvis
Date photo taken: 24 October 2017

In October 2017 SickKids Foundation launched the largest fundraising campaign in Canadian health care history. A very visible part of the campaign was the painting of murals in locations across the city. Reaction to the gritty, battle-themed murals was mixed. A lot people loved them for their stereotype-busting, empowering message. Others found them disturbing. In response, the hospital stated that "the fight metaphor at core is not meant to claim that every kid should be a fighter, but rather that at SickKids we’re fighting for every kid."

The goal of the campaign is to raise $1.3 billion dollars to build a new hospital building. The original Hospital For Sick Children was built on University Avenue in 1949 and at the time it was the largest children's hospital in the world. It is still one of the world's largest pediatric research hospitals.

This mural was painted by Omen 514 with assistance from Nick Sweetman, Earth Crusher, Poser and Five 8. Unfortunately its presence at this location was relatively short-lived.

Peeper

Location: The side of New Moon Variety, Harbord and Roxton

Date photo taken: 26 December 2014

I love this mural, but in the way I love Cabin in the Woods or The Thing. I find it really creepy. I think it's the way the eyes are so shadowed you can't see them. Or maybe it's something about the runic letters that cover the background. I present it to you as a Halloween treat. I hope you like it, but not too much, because sadly this wonderful piece has now been painted over. 

Note: I would love to credit the artist on this - if you know who they are, get in touch or leave a comment.

North Market Mural

Location: south side of the North St. Lawrence Market building, Front St.

Date photo taken: 19 March 2013

This image represents a small portion of a long two-part mural that stretches along the south side of the North St. Lawrence Market building. Echoing what goes on inside, the mural depicts a farmer's market overflowing with the bounty of fall. This building is now closed and is slated for demolition. In 2010 City Council approved redevelopment of the site to include a multi-storey building that would increase the utility of the site. In addition to a large Market Hall it will also incorporate new court house facilities on the upper floors and underground parking below. It will also connect to the historic St. Lawrence Hall to the north. In preparation for demolition, archaeological reviews have taken place, unearthing evidence of the prior market buildings formerly on the site. For updates and a look at plans for the new building, check out the City of Toronto's website.

Nelson Mandela Tributes

Location: Richmond St. E. just east of Church St.
Date photo taken: 1 December 2014

Harlem Restaurant on Richmond St. E. has turned the door to their patio space into a Memorial Wall. For years it boasted a tribute to Michael Jackson but it currently pays homage to the great Nelson Mandela who passed away in December 2013. The work was done by local artist Naia.

In 2014 the City of Toronto recognized the importance of Mandela's life and legacy by ceremonially dedicating a stretch of University Avenue to his memory. Now between Front St. W. and College St., University Avenue street signs also bear the name of Nelson Mandela Boulevard.

A Guinness a day

Location: the side of McVeigh's at Church and Adelaide
Date photo taken: 3 February 2013

This mural is a recreation of one of Guinness' earliest beer ads. It features seven glasses of Guinness, one for each day of the week. The tagline which ran at the bottom of the ad was "Guinness is good for you". Print ads of the time advertised Guinness as a promoter of health, noting that "Guinness builds strong muscles. It feeds exhausted nerves. It enriches the blood. Doctors affirm that Guinness is a valuable restorative after Influenza and other weakening illnesses. Guinness is a valuable natural aid in cases of insomnia."

This mural was one of two that used to grace the Church Street wall of McVeigh's Irish Pub, a family-run Toronto institution for over 50 years. The bottom two floors of the building were refreshed with black paint last year and the murals were painted over. Large cut-outs of pints of Guinness still remind you that good health can be had, or at least toasted to, inside.

Koilos

Location: Gristmill Lane, Distillery District
Date photo taken: 6 June 2009

This 4 meter tall steel sculpture by American artist Michael Christian used to stand guard on the western edge of the Distillery District, greeting visitors in its part-threatening, part-playful way. It was a favourite with photographers and living in the neighbourhood, I rarely passed it without seeing someone standing under or climbing on it for a picture. This spot is now vacant as Koilos was recently disassembled and removed. According to Torontoist, the sculpture has been sold to a private owner and will be making its way up to Muskoka.  UPDATE: See a picture of Koilos in its new home.

Koilos first debuted at Burning Man in 2007. It was brought to the Distillery on a three year loan in 2009 along with another Christian sculpture. This represented the first time Christian brought any of his work to Canada.

Signal

Location: SE corner of Front and Parliament, behind the Toronto Public Library Administration Building (at time photo taken - has since been moved).

Date photo taken: 25 October 2012

This sculpture, by Peter Winchel Sager, was, until recently, resting quietly on the grass behind the library building at Front and Parliament. Set back from the road, close to the parking lot, it was easy to overlook. But it wasn't always this way. This fibreglass sculpture was originally erected in 1968 outside of the Parliament Street branch of the Toronto Public Library at Parliament and Gerrard, and at that time it was standing, not reclining as it does here. Since this picture was taken, the sculpture has been removed - perhaps it will appear at a library branch near you!

Thanks to Carol Barbour, Gallery and Exhibits Curator at the Toronto Reference Library for her research, and for supplying this image of Signal in its original location.

Photo courtesy of Toronto Public Library