Love Hands

 

Location: King Street east of Bay

Date photo taken: 10 June 2024

This installation for Pride is located on the north terrace of Commerce Court West. It's more than just a fun piece celebrating Pride however, it also channels the power of social media to fundraise for the 2SLGBTQ+ community.  If you happen to visit it, take a snap, share it to Instagram and tag @commerce.court. If you do, QuadReal and Commerce Court will donate $2 to the 519 Community Centre. Hopefully, all those toonies will add up to some serious support for the 519 and their programming.

William Devenish House

Location: 1355 Victoria Park Avenue

Date photo taken: 9 February 2024

Walking up Victoria Park Avenue, mixed in among the mid-century housing is a remnant of another age. This field stone home was built around 1845 by William Devenish, a carpenter from London, England, who found prosperity in his new home. The property, which originally spanned 200 acres, was first occupied by Devenish in 1803. Over the years, he cleared the land, established a farm, and found work as an assessor, tax collector and commissioner for the township. One story has it that despite his success, he found life in the new area lonely and in order to increase his society, he offered another newcomer a lifelong lease on half his farm for one shilling a year and thereby secured himself a neighbour.

Vino

 

Location: 531 Queen Street East

Date photo taken: 25 February 2024

This mural is located down a driveway on the east side of Fusilli Restaurant on Queen Street. It was commissioned by the owner in 2021. The NOT ART tag, and the distinctive style, call it out as the work of Toronto artist Mahyar Amiri. 

Go Ahead in the Rain

 

Location: Laneway off Pelham Avenue

Date photo taken: 7 December 2022

A perfect mural for our showery April but it's also a call out to 90s hip hop band A Tribe Called Quest. Go Ahead in the Rain was a track on their first album and it's also the name of an award winning book about the group. 

Billie Holiday

 

Location: Logan Avenue, north of Lakeshore
Date photo taken: 4 September 2020

This beautiful portrait of jazz great Billie Holiday forms the southern part of a huge mural on Logan Avenue, just north of Lakeshore. If you're a fan, you might know that Holiday was born Eleanora Fagan on April 7, 1915, in Philadelphia. The northern end of the mural features another jazz legend, also with a Philadelphia connection. You'll have to visit the mural to find out who.

Easter Bunny at work

Location: Cabbagetown

Date photo taken: 28 March 2024

Large inflatables aren't just for Christmas and Hallowe'en anymore. While not as prevalent as at those other times of year, I was surprised how many yards were sporting various egg and bunny themed blow ups. What makes this yard display special is something you can't see in this picture - dozens and dozens of painted eggs spread all over the yard. 

Winged fairy

 

Location: Noise barrier along the rail corridor, viewed from Sudbury just south of Queen St. W.

Date photo taken: 11 November 2021

The jagged edge on the right side of this mural is explained by the fact that it forms the final E in the name Parkdale. It's part of a lengthy mural that adorns the sound barrier along the railway lines south of Sudbury Street. Each letter is blocked out against black and features its own mural. Further murals spell out Liberty Village and West Queen West. Another mural in this set was featured in 2022 and you can read more about the project in that post. 

This mural was contributed by EGRart. According to their statement, "In a metaphorical framework, her art delves into the notion of finding our place in the world by depicting archetypes within wondrous urban and natural settings; fantastical characters blessed and at times burdened by our modern day ways of living. Figures convey strength, vitality and power; winged characters and fairies represent angels among us."