Bell Box - Jungle Ling

Location: Roseheath Ave. at Danforth
Date photo taken: 22 June 2013
Image #4 in the Bellbox Series

Another of the East Danforth Bell Box murals, painted in the summer of 2012. This one is by artist Jungle Ling, aka Dr. Love, and depicts the east end of Shudell Avenue in 1927, likely based on this archival photograph from the City of Toronto Archives. Shudell Avenue is nearby, running east-west between Jones Avenue and the TTC Greenwood yard, a few blocks south of the Danforth.

These murals were painted thanks to a partnership between the Yellow Door Learning Centre, Bell Canada, StreetARToronto and the Danforth East Community Association.

Red Eared Slider

Location: Pond at Riverdale farm

Date photo taken: 25 October 2012

The ponds at Riverdale Farm have all sorts of interesting things to watch, including lots of turtles. The day of this shot, there were four turtles visible, all red eared sliders. This image captures two of them - the second turtle’s head is just visible in the water, to the right of the log. This species isn’t native to Ontario. Normally they’re only found in the southern United States but they’ve become established elsewhere – including Toronto apparently – due to pet releases.

Masc – St. James Cathedral

Location: West side, near King Street
Date photo taken: 20 April 2013
Image 3 in the Mascs of Toronto Series

This is one of well over a dozen heads which grace the stately Cathedral Church of St. James at the corner of Church and King Streets. There are no known notes or references to these many faces in the church's archive so it is assumed that rather than representing specific people, they were instead generic ornaments thought to be appropriate to the building style and scope. When looked at together, one might suppose that they are meant to represent men and women from a range of positions in society and at the various stages of life.

The Giant Storybook Project

Location: 1135 Dundas St. E., between Carlaw and Logan
Date photo taken: 1 May 2013
Image 4 in the Mural Series

This magical mural is part of a large international project by street art duo Herakut. Beginning in September 2012, they began painting murals in cities around the world, each introducing characters from a new children's book. This is the fifth mural, entitled Jay and His Creative Spirit. The text on the mural reads “Was it the most glorious or the most monstrous moment when Jay met his Creative Spirit?”

For more information about the project, check out their Facebook page, and check out this short video documenting the creation process of the Toronto mural.

Inoculation

Location: The Esplanade
Date photo taken: 20 June 2013

Back in January, this blog featured the green tree tags that mark healthy ash tree specimens around the city. Recently the tagged trees along the Esplanade received treatment via these small injectors to help them stave off infestation by Emerald Ash Borers, an invasive and highly destructive insect. Once the trees had been treated, their bark was marked by a bright green painted dot.

Smiley Face Heart

Location: Dundas St. W. at Stirling Rd.
Date photo taken: 17 April 2013

Once you see one, you see them everywhere. This heart is one of many placed around the city and beyond by street artist Gregory Alan Elliott. He considers them his brand and for many years he's been posting these little pieces of joy around the city and beyond, or re-creating the look in grass and other mediums.

You can listen to an interview with Elliott by Laura Lefebvre on her blog Street Inspired.

Shiba Inu - Woofstock 2013

 

Location: Woofstock, Front St. between Church and Jarvis
Date photo taken: 8 June 2013

This past weekend was Woofstock which, according to their website, is North America's largest festival for dogs. It happens each year in early June and it really draws a crowd. Every year I go and spend a few hours soaking up the doggie love and marveling at the outfits and dye jobs some pooches sport. I also try and identify the new "it" dog. In past years the uptick in pugs, bulldogs and dachshunds was obvious, and they are all still very much in evidence. This year, it was a little harder to make the call. There were far more Great Danes than I remember seeing before, but I think It Dog 2013 goes to the Shiba Inu, a breed made famous by Puppy Cam. Also very popular this year were doggie strollers containing two or more tiny canine occupants. Visit my Woofstock Picasa album to see more images from the event.