August 2020 Urban Exploration Finds
This past August was one of the quietest in Toronto I can ever remember. I guess without large festivals like Caribana or the CNE, quite simply downtown was a bit of a ghost town. But there is always something good to come out of the bad. The good for me was that I was able to get photos of a lof murals without any cars in front !
Graffiti Burner
I will start with this new graffiti burner. I saw it far in the distance but the way the light was hitting it really made the colors pop ! I’m just starting to appreciate these a lot more. It’s definitely a skill.
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Elliot Elicser Street Art Mural
Geez… Elicser has been super busy this entire summer. Every time I would go exploring for street art I would find another new mural by him. This is obviously a salute to the frontline workers. Very on point.
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Starbucks Graffiti
This graffiti has been in front of this Starbucks for a couple of years. It gets painted over but they just come back and paint a new one. People have been asking me who does them and I honestly do not know. I have been asking around but no one else seems to know.
Generally, these are painted in black and white but I have seen a couple with color. The message seems to be about gentrification.. it’s an ongoing theme for this artist. The majority of these I have found in Kensington Market and Queen St W.
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Christiano Araujo Mural
Back in autumn 2017 Christiano Araujo did this mural and I did post it back then. But this was the first time that I went into that parking lot and found zero cars parked in front ! Definitely a first.
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Gosia Komorski Door Mural
I was walking by and I thought this art look familiar. That’s because it’s by Gosia Komorski it says right on it.
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
EnMasse Collaboration Mural
Every year EnMasse organizes a collaboration mural event and I am happy that they did one this year.
This years artists:
@elicserelliott @shinobistudios @getsofacto @nick_sweetman @sumartist @thatlosersmolik @jerryrugg @thejeffblackburn @oriah_scott @camjchalmers @nessleee
I didn’t get very good pictures because some guy was jammering on his phone right in front of the mural. When the dude finally got out of my way.. a huge thunderstorm sprayed rain and I had to take cover immediately.
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Michael Chernov & Skam Mural
Unfortunately, this mural is no longer …so don’t go looking for it. I posted it after it was restored a few years ago but then it got tagged again shortly after.
Well.. in this version that I am posting Skam added his lettering to the original design. It was around for a few weeks but then Young Jarus painted a new mural over top which I will post next time.. We shall see if the new one gets tagged.
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Mike Salisbury Street Art Installation
This new street art installation by Mike Salisbury is right in the middle of graffiti alley. Every time I go by there is someone doing a photo shoot with the art.
I managed to get this picture but it was pouring rain !
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Skam Raptors Mural
A mural that Skam did last year to celebrate the Raptors championship win.
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Leone McComas Traffic Signal Artwork
Beautiful work by Leone McComas !
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Birdo Mural
As sometimes happens — there were two cars parked in the best spot to get a photo of this mural. On top of that — the sun was blasting from directly above – so this was a good photo as I could get.
And it turns out this is on the side of the Pembroke Inn @the_pembroke_inn “A local inn with a focus on incorporating local artists and design to our budget minded guests from around the world.”
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Young Jarus Bell Box
Stumbled on this new street art by Young Jarus. Even though he hadn’t signed it I immediately knew it was him.
It was for Yorkville Murals. Not really sure how I feel about street art in Yorkville… It dosen’t feel quite right.
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Jacquie Comrie Mural
By Jacquie Comrie this is in Yorkville as well. Starbucks uses it to cover up their outdoor cupboards.
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Planta Muisca Mural
A new mural by Planta Muisca was fun to discover ! Another guy was talking on his phone right in front of this mural. He went on and on… but even after he left I still couldn’t get a very good photo. The sun was in the wrong place.
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Dronesareus Street Art
I was wondering who painted this new art in front this restaurant. Now I know !
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Loft Mural
This mural has been there a long long time.. but again there was always a car parked right in front for years ! This was the first time I saw the mural without a car in front !
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Isabella Vella Mural
🎨 by @isabellagvella
“Until All Of Us Have Made It, None Of Us Have Made It.” – Rosemary Brown
I had to Wiki Rosemary Brown:
“She served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in the British Columbia legislature as a part of the New Democratic Party from 1972 to 1986, making her the first Black Canadian woman to be elected to a Canadian provincial legislature.
In 1975, she became the first black woman to run for the leadership of a Canadian federal party.
After departing politics, she became a professor of women’s studies at Simon Fraser University. In 1993, she was appointed Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, and served until 1996. In 1995, she was awarded the Order of British Columbia and in 1996 was named an Officer of the Order of Canada.”
Wiki
This was in front of Sistering @sisteringdropin – “multi-service agency offering low barrier practical and emotional support to homeless and precariously housed women and trans people.”
For @hektorprojects – Community focused contemporary art organization + publisher
“Her words were chosen by the Sistering community to ignite conversation around the fight for economic and racial justice in the time of COVID-19.”
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Curtia Wright Sidewalk Mural
Noticed this mural by Curtia Wright immediately.
I love sidewalk art !
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Julii McMillan & Gosia Komorski Collaboration Bell Box
I didn’t know Julii McMillan & Gosia Komorski have known each other for 13 years !
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Doh/YNN Crew Graffiti Burner
Found this by accident last week.. it looks new.
There was a truck in front as you can tell.
The door was open but I didn’t knock.. it looked like someone was inside. Who it was I will never know.
I took my pictures really quick and walked down this really long alley – one of those alleys that you aren’t sure will end and you don’t know where they will go.
But those all the best ones.
Happy Hunting Everyone !
