Exploring Toronto on Foot - Colourful City

Another staggeringly beautiful day, especially for March, so I had to get outside and go for another walk. What struck me today was just how colourful this city is. It wasn't just the bright sunshine and the early spring flowers - although they did contribute. Today it was really the painted surfaces that jumped out at me, some of them commissioned, most of them probably not. But all of them contribute to the cityscape I love. Below are some of my favourites.

Sunflowers, decorating the approach to the railway underpass on Christie Street, north of Dupont.

 

Along Bloor Street, the Korea Town BIA has painted scenes on all of the concrete tree planters. All are colourful, some are downright adorable!

These rabbits appear all over the city. One used to cheer me on about halfway along my running route - until it was painted over in boring concrete grey. I'm happy to see that while my personal rabbit is gone, he still lives elsewhere. Here, a high flying version above the Metro Theatre on Bloor, and these guys, which are part of a full alley mural on Croft St. For more images, and an interview with the artist, see this article on BlogTO.

  On the other side of Croft Street, is this mural which tells the story of John Croft, the only fatality of the Great Toronto Fire of 1904, and the man for whom the lane is named. Street art that educates.

Loved this guy, on College.

Some more murals, down alleys running south off of College, near Spadina.

A nice Van Gogh tribute on the Benjamin Moore paint store on Huron.

And finally, 2 of the murals on Renfrew Place. The one on the right above has one of my favourite figures of all...