I Waited 10 Years!

On By ResaIn Graffiti Mural, Jarus

On my first visit to Graffiti Alley, this beauty was one of the first works of art I laid eyes on.

As you can see, she was in a frost fence prison. Not only is the fence 6′ high, there is a locked gate keeping all out.

This is the main reason she has lasted 10 years, without being tagged.

I always check when I go to the alley. For 10 years the gate has been locked. I never tried climbing the fence. There’s always people behind a big glass window.

On my latest trip to Graffiti Alley, there was something going on in the alley, like some kind of surveying. 

THE GATE WAS OPEN! To allow the surveyors room to do their thing.

I could see people behind the window, but this was my big break! I entered and shot like a maniac, fast, furious then fled.

I could feel the eyes upon me. I never shot so fast in my graffiti daze.

Pics taken by Resa – November 8, 2022 & prior.

Toronto, Canada

The artist:

 

109 thoughts on “I Waited 10 Years!”

  4. There’s that stalker! She’s been looking into our window for the last 10 years. Oh, no, the fence is open! She’s coming in, nothing to stop her. Hmmm, she’s taking a bunch of pictures. She must be staking the place out for when she does come to get us!
    Criminal graffiti street photographer, that’s you. Lovely street art work.

  5. Wait a minute, wait one beautiful, sexy fantastic minute! Resa just broke IN to prison in order to fetch this sizzle for the drizzle on her daze? I love it!

    1. Aww, I’ll bet you talk that way to all the fab women!
      LOL… Yes, you are right. I broke “IN” to prison. Interesting concept.
      Huh… ? If I travelled with a ladder, I could get more of rooftop art.
      Still, always a bit dangerous up where the wires are, and there’s no rails on roofs. Ultimate excitement!
      MUAH!

      1. My charm is waning but my earnestness is keeping on, but I always speaks the truth!

        I think there was a TV show about a couple brothers who did that.

        You need a ladder. You mean . . you’re not a superhero? Could’ve fooled me!

        MUAH! to you, wild thing.

          1. I could never! I wish I could have, but the strongest shit I ever got stuck on were pain killers. They really were no joke though, ended up almost doing me in!

            You are wild!

            MUAH!

            1. No painkillers! They freak me out. I like to know my pain. Perhaps I’ve never had pain bad enough. Honestly, I think I took an Advil this last year.
              LSD is crazy, but not addictive. Exhausting…. yes!

  6. Congratulations, Resa, on your long-awaited “mission accomplished”! Exciting…and well-described by you! And this artist is a REALLY magnificent “portraitist.”

    1. Thank you, Dave!
      Agree, Jarus is a brilliant portrait artist. He’s not from Toronto, but has been here painting here off and on for a decade. I’ve catalogued 13 of his works, maybe more. Sometimes I forget to categorize properly.
      I was over the moon when I found this, even though it was in a narrow lane & difficult to shoot. https://graffitiluxandmurals.com/category/jarus/

    1. Meece,
      Yeah, her face is perfect. Adore it…. for 10 years.
      I’m hoping my drawing persistence pays off. The AGMs must look simply marvellous!
      xoxoxo

        1. EGADS! Marina’s drawing is cool, but her head came out BIG. I’ll save it in case we ever do a BIG head collection! 🙄
          It’s my fault, because I watched the election results last night. All those politicians have massive heads.
          🐭xoxoxo🐭

            1. Ah…hahahahaha!
              All the AGMs heads expand into gigantic effigies of their beauty and terrify the bad guy into submission.
              Or something like that. xoxoxoxo 😂

                1. Lol! The big head post! I showed Norm the drawing. He said that’s a big head. I’ll Submission it once we are over the new post. Sent you a normal head Marina. xoxoxo

  9. Oh, Sorceress.. She is stunning! My goodness. What a beauty. How lovely you were able to dash and shoot! Thank you for sharing her!

    1. Yay! Me too! Ahh, now… NEXT!
      More adventure awaits. Although, now that the days are 15 minutes long, never ending dark, snow, rain…I’m loving drawing and sewing more than ever.
      Yes.. the gate….. of whitewall.

  14. What great perseverance you showed and what a result! Well worth the wait, and I gotta say the colours have stood the test of time and weather to stay so good looking.

    1. It’s in a great location.
      Some walls are more crumbly than others. A lot of art is in old parts of the city. Is it facing the sun, day after day? (a southern exposure). Is it exposed to the north wind? Of course the # 1 enemies of street art are the young disrespectful taggers.
      This one is facing east. It doesn’t even get morning sun, due to taller buildings around it. Those buildings also protect it from snow and rain. It’s in a great spot!

  15. She is quite a “hidden” beauty. Resa, your dedication to “duty” is admirable. Patience paid off, and when the opening presented itself you got your shots. The surveyors allowed us to survey these pictures of yours, so thanks to them as well!

    1. Yes…. the surveyors.
      I just hope they are not surveying to build more condos. We’ve already lost a chink of Graffiti Alley to progress.
      Still, more alleys have opened up. I’ll find my way.
      xx

  18. Great job on the fast and furious, Resa! I guess the fence has protected her all these years.
    It’s good you got these shots in case she does not survive whatever comes after the surveying.

    1. She’s my fave piece in Graffiti Alley. I’m not sure how long the alley will survive. Part of it has already been sacrificed for condos. Progress, I guess.

  19. What exciting beauty! Whether it is behind or in front of it’s
    guardian fence matters not (to me). The unique excitement remains
    and is perfectly displayed by your great photography Resa!

    1. Yes, the prison protected her! There’s not much alley art that has survived 10 years.
      I was trilled to run through that gate!
      xoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxo

  22. I think you should have just bulldozed the fence down and taken pictures at your leisure. Still, surreptitious efforts are also noteworthy. Good things come to those who wait 10 years for something.

  23. You have a “zen patience” Resa! Doors will open when the time is right. I often wonder about the type of paint that mural artists use so that their artwork will be able to the sustain the ravages of heat, cold, wind and rain.

    1. They use spray can paint. Most street artists don’t consider it real street art unless it is sprayed.
      It’s not so much the paint, as it is the location.
      Some walls are more crumbly than others. A lot of art is in old parts of the city. Is it facing the sun, day after day? (a southern exposure). Is it exposed to the north wind? Of course the # 1 enemies of street art are the young disrespectful taggers.
      This one is facing east. It doesn’t even get morning sun, due to taller buildings around it. Those buildings also protect it from snow and rain. It’s in a great spot!

  32. Beautiful shots and those gates open maybe just for you Resa.. That face has a haunting look that pulls you in… Great photos … to say they were as quick as a flash Lol…
    Sending Hugs your way ❤

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