Category: Parking Lots

A Toronto Intermission

On By ResaIn Parking Lots106 Comments

Excerpts from “toronto”-by Chinkok Tan(1942-2025)

Found this installation art in an outdoor parking lot. The images & “words” are from a rare book. Only 58 copies were ever made. They reside in private collections and rare book libraries.

“toronto (canada) is a place like no other place, for all i know”

Chinkok Tan’s drawings of streetscapes and buildings are visual love letters, from his early years. He arrived in Toronto from Malaysia on December 4, 1967, with $129.00.

"first,
i felt the cold
the cold i had never felt before

the wind
icy cold wind
biting, penetrating,
- going through me like i was nothing."

Tan had come to Toronto to attend the Ontario College of Art (OCA – now OCAD).

"the y.m.c.a. i was told
is cheap.
it cost four bucks a night
my room was small, cell like,

*
it was my fortune on the second day
to meet the cleaning lady,

*
out of loneliness i spoke to her,
my problem became hers,
she understood."

Tan found a job as a bus-boy in a restaurant on Bay Street. For 2 years he worked nights, part time.

*
"time old buildings expressing nostalgic past,
residential streets within the city,
people actually make their home in downtown
toronto - the city is for the people!"

He turned these drawings into a book in 1973. It is now a time capsule of Toronto in transition.

"recently, the city has changed because of the
fantastic building boom
that will soon turn toronto into a city
none of us know."

Pics taken by Resa – August 13, 2026

Baldwin Street – near the Ontario College of Art & Design

Toronto, Canada

❦ As this post was ready to go, and I am swamped with “to do’s”; I decided to post it now. The Underpass “Scattered Order III” will resume after a brief intermission. ❦

Artemis or Diana?

On By ResaIn Parking Lots126 Comments

Original thoughts went to Artemis.

Then again, I have read a bit about Artemis, and almost nothing about Diana.

This piece is 3 years old.

I’m crazy about it.

The abstract background is killer.

Artemis or Diana – In the end I see an amazing Power Woman.

BONUS

Recently Dan Anton over at No Facilities posted a series on his visit to the Heinz Museum, in Pittsburg.

A Woman’s Place (the name being grist for the mill) is one of the exhibits. Fabulous and important women of Pittsburg featured in the exhibit are: Mary Schenley, Nellie Bly and Ava Duvernay.

Other notable women of Pittsburg include: Mary Cassatt, Martha Graham, Gertrude Stein, Mary Dee Dudley and Mary Cardwell Dawson.

A Woman’s Place (exhibit)

Pics taken by Resa – September 22, 2024

Toronto, Canada

The Artist: (not fooled by the tags)

Art Child?! (I’d put money on it)

There’s still 2 more Painted House posts coming up, after Halloween. Lots of pics to sort through.

Old School Iguana

On By ResaIn Graffiti Mural, Parking Lots

Still trying to catch up visiting, I offer this old school street art style Iguana, and close comments.

Love Old School!

In an almost empty parking lot in Greek Town….

…the 1 car was reasonably clean.

What a cool Iguana!

Lots to reflect on.

Pics taken by Resa – March 4, 2024

Toronto, Canada

The artist(s) are in the writing

Girl with Guitar

On By ResaIn Parking Lots98 Comments

This was a challenge to shoot.

It had been raining off and on, this day. From how dry the cement was under the white car, I figured the person must work at Long and McQuade.

I hung around anyway. Eventually, the red car moved.

Did my best without a direct on shot.

 

Here’s my fave girl with a guitar. I always thought this song was titled Mermaid Cafe. I also just realized, Joni plays a dulcimer in this song. Oh well!

Pics taken by Resa – October 8, 2020

Toronto, Canada

The piece is unsigned, but the guitar is a Les Paul

Luv Cat

On By ResaIn Parking Lots, Street Art45 Comments

I fell in love with this cat art.

I did my best, but it was in a dead end crevice, about 4 feet wide.

There was no backing up within the slot, to shoot.

I shot weird angles from the street at the edge of the crevice, and from across the street.

The pics aren’t great. There was no way to capture the entire piece, but the cat is so fab, I’m sharing anyway.

Pics taken by Resa – April 26, 2019

Toronto, Canada

The Artist:

Wild Life

On By ResaIn Mini-Mural, Parking Lots45 Comments

It’s a sweet, imaginative piece in a parking lot.

I mean, here’s Toronto’s cityscape, CN Tower and all, with a parrot and elephants.

… and a BUNNY!

The wall dints in & out.

BEST PART OF THE MURAL IS THE CAT BELOW

Around the final corner is a trapped elk.

At least I caught his reflection.

Not only was he trapped by a car,

… he was imprisoned, which is how I found the painting. I had to find out how to get a better shot of him. That’s when I found the rest!

Pics taken by Resa – June 4, 2019

Toronto, Canada

The Artist: