Tag: Public Art

Hallowe’en 2026

On By ResaIn Halloween112 Comments

Hell – O

It’s that time of fear again, and we skulls, teeth and ghouls have gathered to help get you through the party.

My best pals couldn’t make it, so I invited a bunch of creeps I hang with.

Don’t let the pink hue fool you. When he was alive, he was a beast.

LOBO , on another hand, is still a beast and more likely than not will eat your hand.

Monkyi’s pal came from China, I think. Then I again, I don’t have any brains so I don’t think.

OMG! Who invited this ugly guy. This party is supposed to be for the beautiful non-people, only.

After being traumatized by that last bit of ugliness, I suggest you take a moment to meditate. It will take your head to a new place.

Happy Birthday Sherrie – #1 Neice

You are the Hallowe’en Birthday Queen, so I saved my best skull for you!

It was dreadfully hard to pick just 1 shot, so enjoy the slide show.

I had my heart set on finding some cute RATS for you, but alas they seem to have lost their graffiti cachet.

BUT, I did find a RAT TRAP!

Close-up of said RAT TRAP.

BONUS

Just found this today, a graffitied Rat Trap. Egads, it just doesn’t get better than this!

Many Happy Regurgitations of the Day, Dear Sherrie!

Not to be forgotten at this time of year is ~

Dia de los Muertos

It’s a wonderful celebration. My good pal Senior El Dude is joining us for the party.

He’s brought his pet cat, and

… the guy his cat ate last Dia de los Muertos

And the cat of the guy who got eaten.

Now What? Another gate crasher?

STOP! Is there anything more TERRIFYING than bad art? Is there such a thing?

I’m talking art here, and I am definitely terrified.

You made it! The party is over. You can leave, but you MUST kiss my girlfriend good-bye.

Let me keesssss you good-bye… forever!

HELP!!! No way I’m kissing her. There’s got to be a bigger window or another door?

Sorry to sneak in after the fact,

but I have something of true horror to invite you to.

Pics taken by Resa – November 1, 2025 – October 26, 2026

The Artists in order of art appearance:

Unknown

Unsigned

Not sure

Next 4 Unsigned

Unsigned

Anika Becker

Poets

On By ResaIn Alley Gallery, Thank You's116 Comments

For HOLLY – HOUSE OF HEART – Poet & Muse

“Don’t tell me what the poets are doing”
“Don’t tell me that they’re talking tough”
“Don’t tell me that they’re anti-social“
“Somehow not anti-social enough, that’s right”

Since discovering Holly and her poetry, years ago, I keep finding her & her poems painted on walls, in alleys, on garage doors, in the market and Graffiti Alley.

This bleak alley went on for a mile, at least. Suddenly … beauty, like a Holly poem.

"Don't tell me what the poets are doing
Those Himalayas of the mind
Don't tell me what the poets been doing
In the long grasses over time"

But my heart can thank Holly, and all the wonderful poets I have found on WP.

“Her Name was McGill”

On By ResaIn Alley Gallery, Collaborations217 Comments

“She called herself Lil, but everyone knew her as Nancy”

Hi, Blue Dude Raccoon here, with an Alley Gallery tale that will tune you in and turn you on!

It all began last summer when Nancy (great, great, great, great, great & about 55 more greats) granddaughter of Rocky Raccoon began wandering the alleys taking pics of humans on garage doors.

Teagan R. Geneviene via Night Cafe

Made aware of this, kits in their late teens rebelled. They struck out into the alley spraying graffiti over the images of humans,

and churning up general mayhem.

Their mom’s, dressed in their finest matching period gowns, discussed the issue over tea.

Teagan R. Geneviene via Night Cafe

They actually thought of asking Gideon Bibbel to help. He was the largest scariest raccoon ever. He was so big he lived in an abandoned warehouse, and took up all the space.

Unfortunately, he terrified the wee tiny ones, so they decided against it.

One night after a gig, the Jazz Racs, a local raccoon jazz band who played for humans, parked their car in an alley, after a gig.

Teagan R. Geneviene via Night Cafe

The kits spent half the night spray painting the car, while everyone slept.

Something had to be done! The mom’s decided to consult Big Purple, the wise old leader of the Trash Can Clan.

Simple he said. The Kits need to be Jazzed Up. They need to channel their emotions creatively.

Teagan R. Geneviene via Night Cafe

So, after making the Kits clean the paint off of the car, they all head down to the Jazz Cafe.

The Kits were wowed!

The Kits all decided to learn to play instruments, and start a band.

A couple of months later (Raccoons learn very quickly) they played their first gig,

… and their happy mom’s showed up to dance.

Teagan R. Geneviene via Night Cafe

Pics taken by Resa – 2024-2026

Toronto, Canada

The Artists:

For anyone who hasn’t guessed, I began this tale with inspiration from The song below.

AI was not used in the writing of this post.

Post Script:

Toronto is known as the "Raccoon Capitol", which is why there is so much raccoon street art in the city. 

When Teagan, a most creative & whimsical writer, included the image of Raccoons having tea in gowns in a  post,  I got quite a chuckle out it. So I asked Teagan if I could include it in my annual raccoon street art post. Not only did she say yes, but out of the blue, in kind & generous spirit, Teagan did up more raccoon whimsy and sent it to me.
Thank you for thinking of me, Teagan, and thank you for selecting the Jazz music for the post!

Teagan’s newest (and imo FAB) book cover is a collage/composite made from public domain art; found in several 1920s ghost story magazines.

You can buy this and her other books on Amazon. Click on the Who is Teagan banner below, and find all relevant info & links!

Who is Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

Grapevine

On By ResaIn Music Stars118 Comments

Amy Winehouse?

I think it looks like Amy… a healthy Amy with full cheeks.

She had full lips, tattoos, dark-lined mascara eyes and often a big flower in her hair.

She held her chin behind her wrist, at times.

Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong wrote I Heard It Through the Grapevine in 1966. The next year, Motown stars Gladys Knight and the Pips had a #2 Billboard Hit with it.

In 2006, Amy and Paul Weller did a fabulous live version. I love the juxtaposition between Amy’s brave blues/jazz vocals and Paul’s straight ahead performance.

I drew Amy a couple of years ago for Holly and my series on Rock Stars.

You can check out the article on Holly’s House of Heart!

Amy Winehouse…Beyond Black

Pics taken by Resa – August 10, 2026

The Artist:

From Playdead Cult

(Pretty sure I’m right. Next time I go by, I’ll pop in and make sure)

A Smile for Trent

On By ResaIn Tributes1 Comment

The Weekly Smile

It was a regular post on Trent’s blog. He encouraged us all to find that smile, even if we thought we didn’t have one.

It’s been 1 year on October 5; one year since he wrote, made music, loved animals and nature. He was a John Lennon fan. It was Lennon’s message along with the music that we both shared a love for.

I drew this portrait of John Lennon after Trent passed. I think of Trent every time I look at it.

My smile is remembering Trent.

R.I.P.

Trent’s blog is still up, if anyone would like to check out a weekly smile post. OR, better still, why not post a smile on your blog!?!

Scattered Order III

On By ResaIn Underpasses135 Comments

Let’s start part 3 in the dark of the underpass, where Lula Lamaj painted this lovely piece.

Here she is at work.

The scratchy, tag effect is on purpose. It seems to be a trend that some artists will pre tag their art to give it a more time endured look.

The work below is an example of that. The artist really gave it a time tagged look.

The artist at work. This piece is in my top 5/6 faves.

Close ups slideshow.

The overall name of the project is ON the MOVE.

Some artists ran with the theme.

What’s a graffiti art wall without animation?

The artist below works on his piece above.

In the centre of the underpass there are stairs to the West Toronto Railpath and GO/UP express Station.

I see this neat pink leopard, as I approach.

Turn around to see the other side of the stairway! 2 artists here – 1~the face & 2~the swirls beyond going to the top of the stairs.

Another of my faves, I went a bit crazy taking pics. Put some in the slideshow above.

Below Curtia works on her painting of above face.

The art below says: GREETINGS from WEST TKARONTO

TKARONTO – is a Mohawk word meaning “the place in the water where the trees are standing” . It is believed to be where “Toronto” came from.

Pics taken by Resa – July 26, 2026

Toronto, Canada

The Artists in order of their art’s appearance:

Mesmo

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. ❦