Heavenly Waters

Location: Queens Quay, west of Jarvis

Date photo taken: 30 August 2020

Starting in 1981 Robert Wyland began painting large scale murals, dubbed Whaling Walls, around the world. This is one of two that he created in Toronto, although the second one, at the ROM, is now listed as extinct. This one can be found on the north wall of the sugar shed at the Redpath Sugar plant on Toronto's shoreline. It was created in 1997 and it's a bit special in that it was co-signed by Robert Hunter, the Canadian environmentalist who co-founded Greenpeace and spent years campaigning against commercial whaling. 

Mario Water Level

 

Location: Behind the Pam McConnell Aquatic Centre, Dundas Street East

Date photo taken: 20 February 2023

Regent Park is only part way through its redevelopment but already it has tons going for it. Now even Mario and friends are making an appearance. In October 2022 the two large cement structures behind the pool complex at Dundas and Sumach were brightened up with images inspired by the Mario Brothers video games. While all of the murals stick close enough to the game esthetic to be strongly nostalgic, I love this one with its more whimsical take on Mario and his swimming costume. This does sit behind the aquatic centre after all. Thanks to Alex Simku and Tanya Giannelli for this bit of fun.

Wolves of Bay Street

 

Location: Guild Park and Gardens

Date photo taken: 9 April 2022

These two howling wolves are the work of Canadian sculptor Jacobine Jones. Born in England, she  received classical training in London before making Canada home in 1932. Within a year of arriving she was working on architectural commissions as well as creating art in her own studio. This panel, which became known as the Wolves of Bay Street, was one of several she created for the Bank of Montreal's new building at the corner of King and Bay Streets. When the building was demolished less than 30 years later, the panels were salvaged and now sit, with many other old architectural elements, in the Guild Park and Gardens in Scarborough. 

Note: Some of Jones' work remains at the corner of King and Bay. Across the street from the Bank of Montreal sits the The Bank of Nova Scotia building. Inside the grand banking hall hangs a large sculptural mural by Jones, the largest in Canada at the time it was installed.

Divine Femininity

Location: Laneway south of D'Arcy, east of Beverley
Date photo taken: 4 September 2018

In honour of International Women's Day next week, I'm sharing yet another fabulous mural from the Womxn Paint's laneway event back in 2018. This one is by Désiré Betty, and believe it or not, it was her first mural and her first time working with spray paint.

Old Man Winter

 

Location: 313 Pharmacy Avenue

Date photo taken: 5 August 2022

The West Scarborough Neighbourhood Community Centre at the edge of Byng Park is decorated all around with colourful murals. It wasn't until I got home and was looking through the photos that I realized that the north wall is devoted to the seasons. I present this one in honour of the snow that has finally fallen.

Love letters to St. Lawrence

Location: Corner of Front and Frederick streets

Date photo taken: 16 February 2023

The  St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association marked its 40th anniversary on February 14, and to celebrate, it fully embraced the Valentine's Day vibe by putting up 10 oversized love letters around the  neighbourhood. Each describes a wonderful thing about this part of the city, like this one, posted outside the Young People's Theatre.

Community members, visitors and tourists were also invited to write their own letters, describing what they like best about this, the oldest part of the city. The goal was to generate 1000 letters which would then be hidden around the neighbourhood "to spread the love and share the gratitude so many have" for this area. The idea comes from Toronto writer and arts educator Lindsay Zier-Vogel, who first created the Love Lettering Project back in 2004. 

If you missed the letter-writing parties, you can still get in on the celebration. Just find one of the love letter posters, take a photo and post it to Instagram for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate. Full details are available on the Association's Facebook page.

Garage Heart

Location: Cayley Lane

Date photo taken: 7 January 2023

This painted garage is definitely the highlight of Cayley Lane, which otherwise doesn't have much going on. Presented here in honour of Valentine's Day.