Queen's Park is the seat of government for the Province of Ontario and the name of the road that passes beyond and around the legislature building. Steeped in historical significance, the site includes a war memorial and a statue of a guy on a horse as well as a fence around the entrance so you can't get in. Placed along the 'keep you out of the house' fence are a lot of shoes representing the lives lost in Canada's residential schools. The sad spectacle of children's shoes lined up several feet wide laid at the foot of the building where the politicians lead Ontario is doubly disturbing with the recent discoveries of old, unmarked cemeteries around the country and the reality of what Canada did to the indigenous populations.
Tuesday, August 31, 2021
Art and shoes along Queens Park
McLaughlin Planetarium to be demolished
In 2009 the sale of the site to U of T would allow for the expansion of the St. George campus while still allowing the museum to use the property for storage until the development takes place. The City of Toronto has designated several adjacent buildings under the Ontario Heritage Act, however the planetarium was not protected and will be demolished. Its removal would provide a buffer to the new 9 storey building slated to become the Centre for Civilizations, Cultures and Cities.
Friday, August 20, 2021
MOCA Toronto 2021
From MOCA's website "Michael Lin’s unconventional paintings invite visitors to position themselves within an artwork and to reconsider their perception of the space around them. His works take their inspiration from everyday fabrics—pillows, blankets, and other domestic textiles. The juxtaposition of Lin’s florals against stark, institutional architecture—especially at MOCA, a former auto factory—creates spaces that feel both softer and more tranquil. The motifs included in this installation come from Taiwanese, Indonesian, and Hawaiian-inspired textiles."
From the MOCA website, "For this body of ongoing work, Kapwani Kiwanga conducted iconographic research that focused on the presence of flowers at diplomatic events linked to the independence of African countries. Placed on negotiation tables and on podiums during speeches, these floral compositions become ambiguous witnesses to these historic moments. Destined to wilt over the course of their display, these flowers invite us to reflect on time, beyond the idea of the monument and the commemoration, in order to continue in the tradition of vanitas art."
Thursday, August 19, 2021
Toronto graffiti 2021
Graffiti don't care about no Covid, it happens whether you like it or not, and the best graffiti is often the murals found around the city, in alleys and in certain neighbourhoods. Or it could be just a phrase on some random street furniture - like "we're burning" on the St Patrick subway entrance.
Wednesday, August 18, 2021
Sunflowers and giant ducks in Hamilton
Sunrise Sunflower Farm along Highway 6 between Hamilton and Guelph features fields of sunflowers and a giant rubber ducky along with two giant baby rubber ducks. The fields are planted at various times so there will be blooms till the end of September. Now I do like sunflower fields, but I stopped here because of the big rubber duckies.
The address is 1846 Highway #6 (east side) and their hours are Monday to Friday 10am-6pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am-7pm. Adult tickets are $10.
Tuesday, August 17, 2021
Casa Del Sol Pottery on Highway #6
I have passed this place several times and have always been struck by the colourful patterns painted into the side of the building along Highway #6 and finally dropped in when was open. The storefront itself was closed but the sales take place behind the store in a pottery corral.
Casa Del Sol Pottery sells hand made ceramics and pottery imported from Mexico and is located at 1134 Highway #6 in Waterdown. Hours are 10am to 6pm, except on Sundays when they close at 5pm. Openings are seasonal and switch to weekends so check with the company to confirm it is open before you make the drive.
Fire at Over Easy in Toronto
There was a fire at 56 Yonge Street in Toronto on Monday, August 16, 2021 with several fire trucks and police dispatched to the site, closing Yonge Street between King and Wellington Streets.
While police were taping off the scene after the fire had been put out and witnesses were being interviewed, on the sidewalk it looked like the building had vomitted out quite the collection of damaged goods - including a mattress.