Went to see the ribbon cutting for the new Jarus mural..
Missed most of it but got to see Mr. Jarus.. so all good..
From the official press release:
Ecology of Us
“Ecology of Us” is a monumental 22-storey public mural located at 140 Carlton Street in
Toronto’s Cabbagetown neighbourhood, created by artist Jarus @youngjarus.
The “Ecology of Us” project is part of the StreetARToronto (StART) Monumental
Program, in partnership with WJ Properties and supported by Sherwin-Williams.
Project Overview
The artwork features a portrait of a maple tree originally photographed nearby in Allan
Gardens. The design was shaped by community engagement, including “Ecology & Me”
workshops, Indigenous-led ecology walks, and participant drawings integrated into the
lower portion of the mural.
The core inspiration for the 22-storey artwork at 140 Carlton Street is a maple tree
located right across the street in Allan Gardens. Working from a photograph of this
specific tree, Jarus aims to transform the tower’s facade into a monumental portrait of
Toronto’s urban forest.
The local community was integrated into the process through a structured five-step
engagement process designed to help inform the artwork’s identity and foundational
themes. In May 2026, Jarus and his team launched the initiative at the local Friends of
Allan Gardens Farmers’ Market, directly engaging residents to spark dialogue about
community ecology and gather initial feedback. The team hosted “Ecology & Me”
workshops and Indigenous-led ecology walks at the Allan Gardens Children’s
Conservatory & Teaching Garden, focusing on local environmental connection and
mental well-being. The proposed mural concept was then shared through an online
community survey, followed by a virtual presentation with Jarus for further feedback.
Drawings and artwork created by local participants during the workshops will be directly
incorporated into the lower portion of the final mural.
Bio: Jarus
Jarus (@youngjarus) is a Canadian-born artist and muralist known for reimagining
public spaces through large-scale art. Drawing inspiration from the world around him, he
has spent the past two decades collaborating with communities across Canada and
internationally, creating works on buildings, trains, boats, rooftops and other surfaces.
Each mural is painted by hand and guided by its setting, from the light on the wall to the
people around it. Its meaning belongs to the viewer.
About StreetARToronto:
StreetARToronto (StART) is an award-winning, made-in-Toronto initiative that brings
public art to streets and public spaces. StART encourages walking and cycling, makes
streets more vibrant, inclusive and safe and helps reduce vandalism. Through
meaningful engagement with residents, business owners, artists and arts organizations,
StART murals celebrate Toronto’s motto, “Diversity Our Strength,” and strengthen
belonging across the city.
Toronto is home to some of the world’s finest street, mural and graffiti artists. StART
invests in their talent through mentorship, skills-building workshops and a career ladder
for artists that ranges from small canvases to large-scale murals on underpasses and
multi-storey buildings. By supporting emerging and established artists, sharing diverse
stories and advancing Truth and Reconciliation, StART creates lasting value with and
for artists and communities across Toronto
