Homeless Underpass

On December 26, 2019 By ResaIn Underpasses76 Comments

There are 9000 homeless living in the streets of Toronto this winter. There are thousands more in shelters. Still, there are not enough shelters, and some folks just don’t want to go there.

I’m doing the east wall of this underpass, starting at the north end.

There are, I estimate, over 50 people living in this underpass.

It’s very dark and dank, with eerie lights at regular intervals. I’m not big on the underwater pieces, because it does nothing to relieve that dark dank feeling.

This underpass is heavily travailed. In the daytime, the homeless bundle up their belongings, and stack them by the railing, on the road side. This creates a path for the throngs of humanity.

At least we are above water now.

I’m confused about so many homeless in Canada’s richest city.

Who did we paint this for?

I spoke with a couple of the homeless. They seemed happy to have the walls painted. The other side is VERY different from this. That’s another post, later.

Pics taken by Resa – September 29, 2019

Toronto, Canada

The Artists:

Lead artist is Tannis Nielsen. She mentored a group of young artists as part of the mural making process.

Above: There was a homeless woman living a few doors over from me, in front of an empty store. She’d leave her belongings there in the day and come back at night to sleep. One day, a business moved in. They bundled her belongings and put them at the curb, where the trash gets picked up.

Happy Holidays!

UP Magic – Three

On December 9, 2018February 4, 2019 By ResaIn Nick Sweetman, Underpasses60 Comments

This is the last post of the Nick Sweetman mural.

It’s the other side, and it’s much shorter than across the road.

Here’s the entrance to the underpass. I’m walking south, now, on the east side of the street.

OMG, look at that terrifyingly cute otter! (I think it’s an otter) Again, even though a cloudy day, the sun burns into the underpass.

The very adorable otter with its native spirit depiction.

After all that excitement, there is an owl.

What a beauty!

Okay, next we have, an Ibis? At first, when I was in the underpass, I got very excited to see an ostrich and its chick. I see now, I was completely off track.

OMG, this chick is sooo cute, it could be a Chicklet!

What’s that big furry thing in the foreground?

Wow, it’s a fox. Hope he doesn’t turn around and see all those birds!

Pics taken by Resa – November 12, 2018

Toronto, Canada

What made across the street a longer post, is the wall beyond the underpass.

UP Magic – Two

On December 6, 2018February 4, 2019 By ResaIn Nick Sweetman, Underpasses57 Comments

I exit the underpass, leave the blue and red birds behind, and look back.

After the exit, is a couple of turtles.

The pic above was taken from across the road. The one below is from right at the head. (he’s so cute!)

Then there’s the swan. Le Gasp!

Followed by a green egret. (I think it’s an egret)

Swan

Egret

I just couldn’t get enough of these birds. The above & below pics were taken from across the road.

Hey! Look! Nick is in the upper left corner of the shot below.

He was working on the fishes, and would be done in 2 more days.

Shots of Nick are taken with his permission.

There are several symbols throughout the mural. @nelly_onehundred painted the symbols. Below is a sun.

A mosquito is an insect, not a symbol.

Then I can see the end of this side of the underpass.

However, first I must capture this butterfly.

Then there’s a bee.

Bee and flower love. SAVE THE BEES!

Pics taken by Resa – November 12, 2018

Toronto, Canada

The Artist: Nick Sweetman

Turtle paw

Fish symbol

Detail of Egret’s tail

Underpass Magic – One

On December 2, 2018February 4, 2019 By ResaIn Nick Sweetman, Underpasses61 Comments

Thanks to Nick Sweetman for making this drab underpass into a thing of beauty!

Let me begin where I entered, on the east side, walking north.

There is a railing to protect us from the thundering traffic.

Of course that makes it hard to shoot large images. You can’t get far enough back.

Also, there are many light issues in underpasses. Even on a cloudy day, the burn of the sun can be seen.

I am presenting the images in order.

This, I guess possum, is so cute!

He is right there as you emerge from the underpass.

Just look at all the art still ahead!

There is the other side of the underpass, as well. I was able to take a few more direct shots from the other side.

Even if the railing was in the way,

I didn’t have to get as creative with the shots, such as the next 2.

This could only be taken from the other side. Unfortunately, the buffalo & moose were behind cement pillars. I suppose they needed those to hold the overpass up.

Pics taken by Resa – November 12, 2018,

Toronto, Canada

The Artist: Nick Sweetman – Click on the pic of him painting and go to his Instagram site!

We had a quick chat on the day. He still had 2 days of painting to go.

The next post has a swan, a butterfly, a mosquito and more!

Kingsway Royal – Fin

On June 17, 2018 By ResaIn Murals, Underpasses23 Comments

The last part of Kingsway Royal includes a York County coat of arms.

It is on the bridge over the river where this man fishes.

Beyond the bridge is bucolic imagery of the area.

Many renditions of this type of home is still found in well kept order in this area. It is dark in the underpass, so they have these lights to help us see. I thought the way the capture of the light mixing with the tree is interesting.