Birdo’s amazing work is all over the alleys and walls of Toronto!
Artist: Birdo
This is the most usual bird I’ve seen in his murals. I’ll make my next post a Birdo, so you can see what I mean, or check out Birdo Wales Prairie Girl.
Artist: Birdo
Tensoe from DMC was apprenticing on this day.
Apprentice: Tensoe
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Tensoe, another apprentice and a young graf artist from Germany got their own piece of wall beside the Birdo piece.
Here’s the entire Graf Mural that “Prairie Girl” is part of. You will notice the birdo is wearing a Chief’s Bonnet as well!
I put the slideshow in order starting with the graf writing at the beginning (extreme left). The close-up of the “birdo head” is quite cool.
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I’m ending this post with a shot of “Prairie Girl” that was not in the last post because if it wasn’t for her I would not have been so daring to capture all of this.
I climbed a fire escape, hoisted myself up to a roof next door, deeked electrical wires & crossed 2 flat roofs.
She’s not perfect, but she’s worth the risk! I cannot believe I did this w/o Sherrie. I was dizzy the entire time.
She’s part of a graf mural, the best part.
It’s by Birdo and Wales. I guess she’s more Wales, but who knows because Birdo paints faces. I’ve just never seen a Birdo girl’s face except in Welcome to the Alley , which is Birdo and Wales, again.
In 1923 they had the “Water Nymph’s” Contest. It was advertised in the papers and more men than women showed up.
Artist: Walter Rushton
The Bathing Pavillion you see below is still in existence, although now a fun restaurant on the beach.
Between the Pavillion and Toronto’s now renovated “Palais Royale”, where Count Basie, Duke Ellington and many greats played (Even the Stones played there much later)….
Artist: Walter Rushton
…. was a boardwalk & the most modern midway with rides, games and food. The Roller Coaster was the biggest in the world, and made of wood.
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The next 2 shots attempt to show the entire mural, but don’t. It’s longer than I could capture.
Artist: Walter Rushton
It’s painted in an Impressionistic style on stucco, which makes for more photography woes. Also it’s at least 12 years faded.
Artist: Walter Rushton
The Beach Park is painted in the center of 3 strips. Above you have an early air show. Below is a painted garden.
Artist: Walter Rushton
It’s bordered by a parkette, and the summer they fill it with the same flowers that the artist painted on the mural.
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Many historical writings say the beloved Toronto Amusement Park was burned down, an act of arson to make way for the Gardner Expressway. I’d love to back in time and spend a day here!
Artist: Walter Rushton
Pics taken by Resa, on October 15, 2012 & March 16, 2014
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