PUBLIC ART PROJECTS
The Bell Box Murals Project in Richmond Hill...
A Canada 150 Project!
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Here it is! The Richmond Hill Community Murals Project was part of a Bell Box Mural project that took place this fall in my home town Richmond Hill. I was so honored to paint a Bell Box in front of Mount Pleasant Park - near the David Dunlap Observatory, which was my subject for the project. One of the given themes was "Under One Sky". Immediately, of course, I thought of the DDO which is situated in the heart of Richmond Hill- and jumped at the opportunity of creating a rendition of it on the box. This was particularly exciting to me as a visual artist for two reasons...first because I was able to relate my artistic subject, which is the night sky, to a community project theme - and secondly because this was a CANADA 150 initiative, and the David Dunlap Observatory is a perfect Canada 150 theme. It is a Heritage Site! It is also home to a famous scientific discovery of a deep space object - the first Black Hole.
Here is the Canada 150 Certificate that was given to me by my MP, Majid Johari, in Ottawa. All the artists who took part in the Richmond Hill Community Bell Box Murals Project received this certificate. It was such an honor to represent my country in this Canada 150 project.
In September 2017 I will be painting a Bell Box Mural!
Richmond Hill will be celebrating Canada's 150th birthday by painting Bell Boxes in different neighborhoods of my home town Richmond Hill and I was the successful candidate to paint one of eight of them in the Richmond Hill Community Bell Box Mural Project,. ..Stay posted for updates.Under the direction of Director Michael Cavanaugh, the theme is persons, places or things relating to Richmond Hill.
Richmond Hill will be celebrating Canada's 150th birthday by painting Bell Boxes in different neighborhoods of my home town Richmond Hill and I was the successful candidate to paint one of eight of them in the Richmond Hill Community Bell Box Mural Project,. ..Stay posted for updates.Under the direction of Director Michael Cavanaugh, the theme is persons, places or things relating to Richmond Hill.
OUTSIDE THE BOX!
2016
COXWELL LANEWAY MOSAIC MURAL
Many thanks to Cristina Delago, East End Arts, TTC, City of Toronto, Councillor Janet Davis, Mural Routes and StreetARToronto
I was privileged to assist talented lead mosaics artist Cristina Delago on the huge Coxwell Laneway Mosaic this August 2016!
The mural is a multi-media project incorporating porcelain and ceramic mosaics and painted design onto a three part wall behind the Coxwell TTC Subway Station... This image shows the longest part of the wall (149 feet) and here we are - I am sharing a joyful moment with our mentor, Cristina in the middle and my colleague Sarvenaz Rayati , also part of the talented mural team ..
Below is Victor Fraser, famed sidewalk artist who created and installed two quotes of Agnes McPhail on the wall. ... They read " ..Equal rights for all and special privilege to none.." also..." We meet all life's challenges alone..."
The mural is a multi-media project incorporating porcelain and ceramic mosaics and painted design onto a three part wall behind the Coxwell TTC Subway Station... This image shows the longest part of the wall (149 feet) and here we are - I am sharing a joyful moment with our mentor, Cristina in the middle and my colleague Sarvenaz Rayati , also part of the talented mural team ..
Below is Victor Fraser, famed sidewalk artist who created and installed two quotes of Agnes McPhail on the wall. ... They read " ..Equal rights for all and special privilege to none.." also..." We meet all life's challenges alone..."
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2016 SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE "OUTSIDE THE BOX
This spring in 2016, I was again chosen to decorate a traffic signal box by the City of Toronto in the StreetARToronto "OUTSIDE THE BOX!" program. This year, over 280 artists submitted designs for traffic signal cabinet decoration. This time, I was awarded a traffic box to paint in Ward 23, Willowdale. Here are a group of children who asked to be photographed in front of my new "JUKEBOX" design, adjacent to the North York Central Library! I chose the jukebox theme to remember the 4 beautiful "Rock-Ola" jukeboxes that were housed in the Young Adult department in that library for over twenty years..
Below is my 2015 design of last year in 2015. I chose to paint a Penny Farthing bicycle for this location in the Village of Weston, because the bicycle is a very important image in Weston and has a long history in the area. The CCM bicycle factory was situated on Weston road, not far from here for many years, until 1983. The street lights have bicycles hanging from them, and the Weston logo is a Penny Farthing bicycle... My box was also situated on the lawn of a funeral home, Ward Family and Associates! I wanted to create a cheerful addition to the street corner there, and to create a striking design...
Also, the traffic box was right across from the Toronto Public Library Weston Branch where I was able to get water and cool off in the heat. The t-shirt I'm wearing was part of a TPL campaign (One Hundred Reasons to Check Out TPL) and "Reason 78" is the Digital Design Studio . TPL has great connections with the community and neighbourhoods!
Also, the traffic box was right across from the Toronto Public Library Weston Branch where I was able to get water and cool off in the heat. The t-shirt I'm wearing was part of a TPL campaign (One Hundred Reasons to Check Out TPL) and "Reason 78" is the Digital Design Studio . TPL has great connections with the community and neighbourhoods!
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Check out the progress of my 2015 Traffic Box as I painted it!
THE TELUS SOCIAL ART RALLY MURAL PROJECT
I was part of a team of Artist Leaders who participated in this important community art event, held at the Scarborough Recreation Centre on Saturday May 23, 2015.
PAST PROJECTS
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Nuit Blanche Event "THIRTEEN", 2013 The Henderson Bridge Project, 2014 Detail of the Henderson Bridge Project , 2014
My involvement in large scale public art began when I curated an Independent project called “13” for the City of Toronto’s 2013 Nuit Blanche event. Then in 2014, I was selected by the City of Markham to create The Henderson Bridge Mural with a team of 4 other artists mentored by Katherine Harvey.
But interest in community driven art first started when, as a public service worker in a large city-run organization, I was asked to create colourful exhibits, which were designed to encourage public awareness and to generate interest in programmes and materials. These installations were eye-catching , contained in smaller spaces with a short timeline for completion, and were subject specific. They grew out of various community intellectual needs. One 2003 project called ”THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!” was designed to fuel creative thinking. As a visual artist, this was a topic I could understand and visualize. I also sat from time to time on creative arts committees, helped advertise community literacy , and offered creative ideas to priority areas. Always, the aim of these initiatives was to reach out, to foster self-esteem, inclusiveness, and positive change in targeted areas. Public service work in Toronto Public Library became a stepping stone to later projects and paved the way for me to move forward. My goal is now to integrate my 40 years of public service skills and training into public art making.
Since 2013, I have been submitting actively to larger Expression of Interest calls, especially those which enhance beautification of different urban areas. I am an advocate of anti-vandalism and anti-graffiti prevention. My concepts have been submitted to STreetARToronto programmes and in the 2015 Project "E" StreetARToronto StART initiative, (John Street Pedestrian Bridge) I placed fifth. I am a member of Mural Routes . I am passionately committed to listening to public needs and opinions, and engaging in community consultation to create strong public dialogue with my concepts.
My involvement in large scale public art began when I curated an Independent project called “13” for the City of Toronto’s 2013 Nuit Blanche event. Then in 2014, I was selected by the City of Markham to create The Henderson Bridge Mural with a team of 4 other artists mentored by Katherine Harvey.
But interest in community driven art first started when, as a public service worker in a large city-run organization, I was asked to create colourful exhibits, which were designed to encourage public awareness and to generate interest in programmes and materials. These installations were eye-catching , contained in smaller spaces with a short timeline for completion, and were subject specific. They grew out of various community intellectual needs. One 2003 project called ”THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!” was designed to fuel creative thinking. As a visual artist, this was a topic I could understand and visualize. I also sat from time to time on creative arts committees, helped advertise community literacy , and offered creative ideas to priority areas. Always, the aim of these initiatives was to reach out, to foster self-esteem, inclusiveness, and positive change in targeted areas. Public service work in Toronto Public Library became a stepping stone to later projects and paved the way for me to move forward. My goal is now to integrate my 40 years of public service skills and training into public art making.
Since 2013, I have been submitting actively to larger Expression of Interest calls, especially those which enhance beautification of different urban areas. I am an advocate of anti-vandalism and anti-graffiti prevention. My concepts have been submitted to STreetARToronto programmes and in the 2015 Project "E" StreetARToronto StART initiative, (John Street Pedestrian Bridge) I placed fifth. I am a member of Mural Routes . I am passionately committed to listening to public needs and opinions, and engaging in community consultation to create strong public dialogue with my concepts.
StreetARToronto (StART) Metrolinx Project "E"
John Street Pedestrian Bridge, Weston 20 Panel Concept (panelled view not shown) each panel 4' x 7.7 '
Sides A and B
John Street Pedestrian Bridge, Weston 20 Panel Concept (panelled view not shown) each panel 4' x 7.7 '
Sides A and B
StreetARToronto (StART) Metrolinx Project "B"
Dupont/Annette /Dundas Junction 3 Part Triptych Concept 3m x42m
Dupont/Annette /Dundas Junction 3 Part Triptych Concept 3m x42m
