PUBLIC ART PROJECTS
Community Murals 2015 - 2026
Street Initiatives
Streetartoronto's Cycle TRACK CONCRETE
BARRIER MURALS 2025
My daughter, Kiri Iwasa and I collaborated for the first time on a 2025 StART Concrete Barrier Mural together..I was very privileged to assist her as she had wanted for so long to be included with all the other super-talented StArt barrier artists, and was given a chance this summer to create her own barrier mural. We called it "Pollinators Bee Well!" She really enjoyed being outdoors on site with everyone in such a fun-filled exciting environment. This kind of project is so empowering and positive! We hope it will be a wonderful start to Kiri's mural career, with many more projects in store for the future. Kiri especially is looking forward to applying to the StART Beyond Barriers Program as well as Outside the Box!
Bravo! ...Well done Kiri Iwasa!
Bravo! ...Well done Kiri Iwasa!
The LENO PARK COMMUNITY MURAL (2024)
Our mural design for the concrete bunkers is based loosely on cave paintings, where familiar symbols of the natural surroundings were rendered on the interior walls of caves in ancient times. These symbols reflected the natural environment and their surroundings, just as the Flora and Fauna images, which were developed in the classroom and then painted on the walls of the concrete storage bunkers. This project speaks to Leno park's natural inhabitants and green space, to provide a unique visual experience for the residents who live near Leno Park.
The Leno Park Mural is finally finished... "Flora" and "Fauna"
Thank you, City of Richmond Hill
and York Region Board of Education!
Thank you, City of Richmond Hill
and York Region Board of Education!
STEEPROCK DRIVE CYCLE TRACK CONCRETE BARRIER MURAL
2024
This year's StART Cycle track Concrete Barrier project showcased the talents of 94 artists who painted barriers in five locations. Mine was on Steeprock Drive in North York, and I wanted it to be exciting, with big and bold imagery for all to see! All, but especially, those with visual disabilities can appreciate the large colorful shapes of The Fox as he jumps over the Lazy Daisy, even from afar, whether one is in a car zooming by, or on a bike - or walking on the sidewalk adjacent. Thank you StART!
CELEBRATING RICHMOND HILL
For the City of Richmond Hill's 150th Anniversary in 2023, artists painted six Bell Box Murals in the community! Mine was behind a school ...so I called it " Think outside the Box", to celebrate our young thinkers and great minds of the future in Richmond Hill!
THe WILLOWDALE NEIGHBOURHOOD MOSAIC
March 2023
I created The Willowdale Community Mosaic project in 2022-2023 in partnership with Cristina Delago. The mural features 19 mosaic hearts - each heart depicts a reason why the community loves Willowdale. The content for the 19 hearts was determined by the local community who was engaged throughout the design process in various ways. In Willowdale, the heart shape is considered an artistic and cultural symbol, and is deeply imbedded in its history - even small copper “heart” medallions are imbedded in the sidewalks.Installed on planters on the West side of Yonge Street, between North York Boulevard (north) and Upper Madison Ave (south).This mosaic mural aims to celebrate the area and contribute to the revival of the local economy which has suffered deeply due to the COVID pandemic.
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MURAL ROUTES presents SENIOR'S MOSAIC WORKSHOPS 2023
CRISTINA dELAGO - lead
robin hesse - teaching assistant
Conlins Road Cycle TRACK MURAL
2022
Conlins Road is a busy street located in the heart of Morningside. I was lucky to have a part in the beautification of both sides of the street to create the 2022 Conlins Road Cyce Track, specially designed for the cyclists to gaze at as they ride their bikes along the paths. My design was located inone of foyur painting zones, each with sa different exciting theme.. Mine was in the "Mind" zone..and I decided on a math symbol design for my concrete barriers. Here I am..working on"Pi"!
Albert Einstein, once offered his idea of success in life in the following formula: “If a is success in life, I should say that the formula is a equals x plus y plus z, x being work and y being play.”...
Albert Einstein, once offered his idea of success in life in the following formula: “If a is success in life, I should say that the formula is a equals x plus y plus z, x being work and y being play.”...
StreetARToronto
"Outside the Box"
2021
My 2021 traffic box mural is right across the road rom the Hillcrest Library at Leslie St and Clansman Blvd in North York. I decided to paint Henrietta the Hen in honour of the recent City of Toronto Pilot project Urban Hens initiative
www.toronto.ca/311/knowledgebase/kb/docs/articles/municipal-licensing-and-standards/toronto-animal-services/urbanhensto-pilot-program-backyard-hens.html - where residents in different parts of Toronto can keep chickens on their properties.
www.toronto.ca/311/knowledgebase/kb/docs/articles/municipal-licensing-and-standards/toronto-animal-services/urbanhensto-pilot-program-backyard-hens.html - where residents in different parts of Toronto can keep chickens on their properties.
The 415 Willowdale Avenue Basketball Court Project
In May of 2021, I assisted Pam Lostracco with her inspiring 415 Willowdale Ave. Basketball Court project. This was such an inspiring opportunity to help a needful community and Pam did a super job...the revitalized Basketball Court looks great! 415 Willowdale residents are truly A team that never gives up!
In May of 2021, I assisted Pam Lostracco with her inspiring 415 Willowdale Ave. Basketball Court project. This was such an inspiring opportunity to help a needful community and Pam did a super job...the revitalized Basketball Court looks great! 415 Willowdale residents are truly A team that never gives up!
37 POLES PROJECT 2020
(Mount Pleasant BIA)
37 street lamp poles were hand-painted by artists along Mount Pleasant Avenue near Eglinton Ave in June 2020. Many themes were developed around nature by artists ...and mine is a Clematis Vine...
(Mount Pleasant BIA)
37 street lamp poles were hand-painted by artists along Mount Pleasant Avenue near Eglinton Ave in June 2020. Many themes were developed around nature by artists ...and mine is a Clematis Vine...
THE RICHMOND HILL TRAFFIC BOX MURALS PROJECT 2019
In the summer of 2019, I was awarded a grant by the City of Richmond Hill (RHCCGP) to create a Traffic Box project for Richmond Hill. For this phase of the project, I hand-painted my design on traffic boxes in two prominent locations on several street corners. "We Are One!" was my theme.
In the summer of 2019, I was awarded a grant by the City of Richmond Hill (RHCCGP) to create a Traffic Box project for Richmond Hill. For this phase of the project, I hand-painted my design on traffic boxes in two prominent locations on several street corners. "We Are One!" was my theme.
The Lakeshore Blvd West
Bike Lane Project 2019
StART Concrete Barriers
Along Lakeshore Blvd. West, there is now a long series of Concrete Barriers that artists have hand-painted to enhance the bike lanes on that stretch of the roadway for StART. Mine had a leafy theme..and took 3 days to complete!
Bike Lane Project 2019
StART Concrete Barriers
Along Lakeshore Blvd. West, there is now a long series of Concrete Barriers that artists have hand-painted to enhance the bike lanes on that stretch of the roadway for StART. Mine had a leafy theme..and took 3 days to complete!
2018
StreetARToronto
Successful Candidate for Willowdale - Ward 18
"OUTSIDE THE BOX!"
The Willowdale Fire Hall Clock Tower Traffic Box
is located at Empress Avenue and Doris Avenue...
adjacent to the "real" Fire Hall Clock Tower, built in 1941, across the road. SEMPER PARATUS!
StreetARToronto
Successful Candidate for Willowdale - Ward 18
"OUTSIDE THE BOX!"
The Willowdale Fire Hall Clock Tower Traffic Box
is located at Empress Avenue and Doris Avenue...
adjacent to the "real" Fire Hall Clock Tower, built in 1941, across the road. SEMPER PARATUS!
LIGHT UP THE LANEWAY 2018!
Murals were painted on the Euclid Palmerston Laneway garage doors in September 2018 by a team of StART artists. The theme was "Light Up the Laneway!" and I created a Super Moon on this two car garage door. It is a large space - one of my biggest murals to date - twelve feet wide and eight feet high.
The Bell Box Murals Project in Richmond Hill...
A 2017 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.
2016
COXWELL LANEWAY MOSAIC MURAL
Many thanks to Cristina Delago, East End Arts, TTC, City of Toronto, Councilor Janet Davis, Mural Routes and StreetARToronto
I assisted 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.
THE HENDERSON BRIDGE PROJECT 2013-2014
My involvement in large scale public art began when in 2013, I was selected by the City of Markham to create The Henderson Bridge Mural with a team of 4 other artists. We were lucky enough to be mentored by renowned Canadian artist Katharine Harvey , and the project marked a turning point in my career.
Later that same year, I also delved into public art as installation, when I curated an Independent project that year, called “13” for the City of Toronto’s 2013 Nuit Blanche event.
But interest in community driven art first started even earlier, when, as a public service worker in Toronto Public Library, I was asked to create colorful exhibits, which were designed to encourage public awareness and to generate interest in library programs 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 abstract creative thinking. As a visual artist, this was a topic I could understand and visualize and I enjoyed creating these kinds of exhibits. I also sat from time to time on arts committees, helped advertise community literacy , and offered fun art 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 , I realized, was 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 in 2013, I was selected by the City of Markham to create The Henderson Bridge Mural with a team of 4 other artists. We were lucky enough to be mentored by renowned Canadian artist Katharine Harvey , and the project marked a turning point in my career.
Later that same year, I also delved into public art as installation, when I curated an Independent project that year, called “13” for the City of Toronto’s 2013 Nuit Blanche event.
But interest in community driven art first started even earlier, when, as a public service worker in Toronto Public Library, I was asked to create colorful exhibits, which were designed to encourage public awareness and to generate interest in library programs 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 abstract creative thinking. As a visual artist, this was a topic I could understand and visualize and I enjoyed creating these kinds of exhibits. I also sat from time to time on arts committees, helped advertise community literacy , and offered fun art 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 , I realized, was 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.
DESIGN CONCEPTS
StreetARToronto (StART) Metrolinx Project "E"
John Street Pedestrian Bridge, Weston 20 Panel Concept (paneled view not shown) each panel 4' x 7.7 '
Sides A and B
StreetARToronto (StART) Metrolinx Project "E"
John Street Pedestrian Bridge, Weston 20 Panel Concept (paneled 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 "Morning, Noon, Night " 3m x42m
Dupont/Annette /Dundas Junction 3 Part Triptych Concept "Morning, Noon, Night " 3m x42m
