We Rise Above

On By ResaIn Alley Gallery

I went to Cabbage Town. There’s usually lots of art there.

Not much there this year, but WOW, pollinator gardens everywhere.

Butterflies, bees and crazy busy insect flight zones in every garden.

It was a wonderful happening.

Based on a true story, The Sapphires is a great movie about 4 girls who rose above.

Pics taken by Resa – July 22, 2023

Toronto, Canada

The Artist:

116 thoughts on “We Rise Above”

    1. I adore the mural, too!
      The video is from a fabulous movie, Tim.
      About 4 Aboriginal Australian girls, we learn something about the ugly past of another nation, as they oppress the original peoples.
      We learn more about the Vietnam War.
      They sing lots of R&B, as they tour Vietnam.
      Their changed forever lives have a positive outcome. xx

      In spite of war and oppression, it is a wonderfully positive story.
      They rose above!

        1. Yeah!
          Okay, I’m off to buy a box shortly.
          Charlotte’s sequin top can’t/shouldn’t be folded.
          I found the perfectly dimensioned box, but it’s in Niagara Falls.
          I’ve got a plan.
          xx

          1. Timothy Price's avatar Timothy Price

            That’s a bit of an adventure. Google says it’s 2 hours by car, 2.5 hours by bus, 8 hours on a bike, and a day’s walk. Make sure your phone is charged for lots of photos. And good luck on your boxing adventure.

            1. Hahaha!
              Like I say, I have a plan. Will let you know if it works, before I make the trip to Niagara. Lolol! I worked too, hard on that top to have it ruined in shipping! xo

                1. OH NO!
                  This just keeps getting better.
                  I’m only50/50 on the box I came home with.
                  It’s the extra largest regulation box from the post office.
                  If the box is not a regulation size, the price jumps up… a lot! xx

                  1. Timothy Price's avatar Timothy Price

                    Size matters when it comes to shipping. Down here, as long as it fits within a certain size and weight category it’s not too much more than the official PO box sizes.

  3. The way that splash of orange and yellow sets off the monochrome portrait is just perfect – and I have to say that working in monochrome is so difficult to make details stand out when needed – this is impressive. Thanks for sharing.
    And I hope you don’t think I’m trying to encroach into your field of blogging but my latest post has a bit of street art from my travels on it too!

    1. It is a catchy piece of art. I quite like it, and yes, the eyes are fab!
      “A Ghost and His Gold” is resting comfortably in my Kobo reader. I’ll probably need 2-3 weeks before I can read a book, but it is next!

        1. The research is one of the reasons I’m keen on reading it! My knowledge of your part of the world is not a lot. Most of what I’ve learned is from using textiles from Africa, some nature shows and what’s on the news.
          After that, it’s what you have taught me from your blogging.

          Lol! Outside of the taxes, Toronto is a great city!

          1. I’m glad you are interested in the history and culture of South Africa. I included the indigenous African perspective of this war to the extent I could find reputable resources to support it. Unfortunately, very little of that perspective was recorded due to illiteracy and the tradition of oral story telling instead of written recording.

            1. I understand. I fear much history has been lost about our aboriginal peoples in Canada, for the same reason.
              I look forward o reading it, and then doing a review!

              1. I noticed when I was in New Zealand that a huge effort has been made to recognize Māori history and their historical stories and artifacts are prominent in the museums. 🌸 enjoy the read 🩵

    1. Oh good! I think it’s quite lovely.
      It would have been great to find more art, but the pollinator. gardens were heart warming!
      I did find a wolf! xxxxxx
      xxxxxx

        1. Okay, that will be the next post! I’ll dedicate it to Shey – wolf lover.
          Just letting you know ahead of time, you know, so you can get the dudes out of the room! xxxxx

  8. I’m off to a village that dates back to Saxon times. It is like walking back in time there. Posh old boys, in smart clothes, strolling along whistling old WW2 songs, and where young ladies of dubious behaviour smoke gemstone pipes while sat outside of the ancient café. I’ll be staying in a house 300 years old. Beneath the house, a network of underground tunnels which linked it to the seashore that produced a long history of smuggling for pirates. Why I mention this? ‘Tis because they don’t have the type of art you discover, young Resa. The one I’ve been looking at today, a fine example. I’m tempted to paint a wall, like the ones you find. I was thinking of a big fat pirate, and with him a buxom, contented harlot. My only problem, is that I’m hopeless at painting. Have a fine weekend, Regards TOF

    1. TOF,
      A Saxon village sounds… saxy!
      Gee a 300 year old house sounds cool. I suppose no central heat, air or internet?
      My house is only 120 years old, with no underground passages to the lake.
      Although it somewhat crumbles around us, we do have internet, AC and heat.

      Aww, no painted walls! Well, we have lots here in Toronto.
      Still, I think you idea of a pirate and a wench sounds great!
      If I find one, I’ll dedicate the post to you!
      Have a great get away! I hope the place is as saxy as you!

  9. A dream of a scene dear Resa, I can imagine the buzzing bees and colorful butterflies over a random garden. I love the inspiring art and the message “ rise above”. ❤️

    1. The entire area is overgrown with wild gardens.
      Many are doing the pollinator gardens in Cabbagetown. The perfect lawn look is not in style.
      About 10 years ago there was a court battle. Somewhere in Toronto, a woman planted a wild pollinator garden. The neighbours went nuts. They said they had a sub-division ….rule… that said yards had to conform, with the green mowed lawn, etc. They said her weed seeds were floating over and making more work for them to keep their lawns nice.
      She won. Now, more and more areas have struck down the green lawn rule. Wild gardens are not just allowed, but encouraged; especially in the spring when the pollinators reproduce.
      Some are planting wild gardens (you just throw the seeds around….no work) in the very early spring.
      Then when the reproduction time is over, they pull the plants out, and put in their flowers or veggies.

      This piece is the perfect art for an inspiring neighbourhood.

      So, 10 more posts to 1500!
      I’ve been drawing up a storm. Will send something soon!

      1. Here’s the comment I mentioned. I said yay for random gardens growing all about completely disregarding order , love them so much , I want to be like them ❤️👯‍♀️🌺🌸🌼🌻

        1. I could be a random garden, Too!
          Lol! In some ways we already are with our random characters and stories!
          Anyways, my drawing is getting back its hand. Finishing the gown really cut in on drawing time. Okay, I’ve got several I like going at the same time.
          🌺👯‍♀️🌺

    1. Thank you, Dave! I like this one lots, but then I say that all the time.
      Lol! I have found art I dislike. Every once in awhile I post one.
      It always blows me away when people like what I dislike.
      That’s a beauty of the arts.

    1. I adore this piece of wall art.
      Now, I know you watch interesting movies. I can’t say for certain, but I believe you would like this one a lot! It has a good chance of being a Merril movie.

            1. OH Man! I just mailed you the first drawings of the BPH post ideas!
              Wait ’til you see what I’m up to! I hope you like it!
              The Paper Dolls are coming along nicely!
              I want to put them in a commemorative book that can be downloaded.
              xo🪆🐭🐭🪆ox
              Eeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!

    1. I agree about the eyes!
      It’s a simple piece, yet it is most effective.
      I just love the alleys in Toronto. There’s art, and this summer there were many back yard pollinator gardens. ❤️🦋🌻❤️🦋🌻

  19. That we do indeed, dahling! That orange!!!!!
    Great find dahling + video!
    xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
    swim suit out!!!!
    🐾😘🐾😘🐾😘🐾😘🐾😘🐾😘🐾😘🐾😘🐾😘🐾😘

    1. I adore the piece, and the music is from a movie that reflects the art’s message.
      Yes, the orange, (hey the girls in the video are wearing a pale orange) but I don’t have an orange swimsuit. I’d better use the orange surfboard!
      🏄xo🧽🏄xo🧽🏄xo🧽🏄xo🧽🏄xo🧽🏄xo🧽🏄xo🧽🏄xo🧽🏄xo🧽

    1. It’s a great piece. I love what I find in the alleys.
      The movie that song is from reflects the art perfectly.
      Beautiful hugs to you, dear Eddie!

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