Tag: Toronto Outdoor Art

It’s All Over Now Baby Blue

On By ResaIn Faces, Street Art103 Comments

This is the Blue Face that lured me to an abandoned convenience island in midtown.

I have found many blue faces on walls over the years.

They are a braw high octane bohemianism to me.

Big Asp square sunglasses are all important for that je ne sais quoi look.

Someone had tagged this with an RIP done in felt pen.

I removed the bit from the chin on some, and left the rest.

Love those car reflections!

Pics taken by Resa – June 19, 2023

Toronto, Canada

The artist: Unsigned

Dream On

On By ResaIn Nick Sweetman, Street Art103 Comments

A couple of months ago I spotted a blue face, on what looked like a convenience store wall. I was a passenger in a car, and I was daydreaming. The blue face snapped me back to reality.

The face haunted me, and I finally went back. On foot, I started at one corner of the probable area, and proceeded to walk the streets in an organized grid fashion.

I found that blue face, and more. This is not the original blue face I saw. That will be my next post.

As a matter of fact, I didn’t see these faces at first. They were almost invisible in the daylight, like ghost faces. I took their pics anyway.

The bright, weird creature was what one saw, couldn’t miss it a mile away.

I was shocked as I looked at the faces on my computer when I got home. It was like magic. I could see them clearly. I pushed the enhance a bit, and then they really popped.

I added a bit of light to some, and a bit of dark to others. A cool magic was added by the suns rays.

Perhaps these are meant to be seen at night.

Pics taken by Resa – June 19, 2023

Toronto, Canada

The Artist:

Mid city, spaces for 4 or 5 businesses, parking on 3 sides, this was once a guaranteed money making convenience pit stop location. Now there’s only a cannabis outlet.

Fifteen First Times – by D.G. Kaye

On By ResaIn Book Reviews, Street Art140 Comments

It’s easy to read these memoirs, and think of your own first times. I kept thinking of my first times.

Nonetheless, these are D.G.’s first times gleaned from the garden of her life.

Whether it’s a commonality, such as diets, shoes or learning to drive, I see we are each alone, unique in our experiences.

First boyfriend or first kiss  are times when we are not alone during the experience. Yet, are we not experiencing the same things, each in our own way and own world?

I was struck with all the humour in these memoirs.
I thought…”Does D.G. know how funny she is? Even when in reality sometimes things aren’t so funny”?
Then at the end of the book re: “First and Last Love”,  she says “Humor. It’s the one thing that always got me through some of the darker moments in life.”

Resa – D.G., My question was before I read that, and still is – Did you know you were being funny when you wrote this? I mean did you have to think about adding the humour after it was written, or were you consciously being aware that you should write humor as you wrote?
OR –  Did you just write, and the humor presented itself naturally?

D.G. – My motto as a writer is – eclectic conversationalist. I write like I speak (of course with edits). I’m afraid my personality is always present in all my books – despite the content. I’m a storyteller, and this my friend, is my voice. Thank you for noticing and picking that out.

Resa – Well, D.G. don’t be afraid! (I’m being funny there!) Your personality’s voice is a queen. (not being funny here)

Now, one might ask, “What’s with all the butterflies?”

Well, I wanted some images to help express my thoughts and feelings. As I perused my photo files I kept picking out butterflies. I figured it was because a butterfly emerges from its chrysalis, and is a new changed life. That seemed akin to having a first experience, and adding to one’s life.
Still, I felt there was more to it. Why? Then I saw it, on the cover of D.G.’s book, a Monarch butterfly.

Resa- I wasn’t going to ask, but now I have to. You will see why when you read the post. There is a Monarch Butterfly on your book cover. Why? Tell me about it!

D.G. – Lol, you have that observant eye my artistic friend. When the cover designer made the mock up, she placed it there by my name. I never thought anything but to keep it there, as butterflies bring messages from our lost loved ones. I love butterflies and felt it was an approval from my beloved husband, so it stayed.

“First and Last Love” is not one of the “Fifteen First Times”. Rather it is an addendum after the firsts.

D.G., a bright and shiny person, was cast into shadow after the death of her cherished husband.

As time passes, I see she has emerged into a light. Perhaps she is not as shiny yet, but she is as bright as ever!

Pics taken by Resa – 2018 – 2023 – Toronto, Canada

Artists include: Nick Sweetman, Christine Mazulla, Leyland Adams,

About the Author

D.G. Kaye is a Canadian author living in Toronto. She is a nonfiction writer of memoirs about her life experiences, matters of the heart, and women’s issues. Her positive outlook keeps her on track, allowing her to take on life’s challenges with a dose of humor and a mission to overcome adversity.

D.G. began writing when pen and paper became the tools to express her pent-up emotions during her turbulent childhood. She began journaling about her life at a young age and continued writing about the people and events that left imprints and lessons. She writes books to share her stories and inspiration.

D.G. is a big advocate for kindness and for empowering women. Her favorite saying is “For every kindness, there should be kindness in return. Wouldn’t that just make the world right?”

When she’s not writing, D.G. loves to read (self-help books and stories of triumph), cook (concocting new recipes, never to come out the same way twice), shop (only if it’s a great sale), play poker (when she gets the chance), and, most of all, travel.

Visit her website at www.dgkayewriter.com and join her mailing list to keep up with her latest blogs and news about her books and events.

Follow D.G. on her social sites:

http://www.dgkayewriter.com

www.twitter.com/@pokercubster

www.facebook.com/dgkaye

www.linkedin.com/in/dgkaye7

Visit D.G.’s author page and books: www.amazon.com/author/dgkaye7.

Podcast links: Grief the Real Talk

https://www.youtube.com/DebbyDGKayeGies

https://soundcloud.com/dgkaye

https://open.spotify.com/episode/38OoQQysdvNYjXL3pfCMMq?si=wg-DQ8_PSs-hthRtIzvpFQ

Sketchy

On By ResaIn Faces126 Comments

I love the way this looks like a sketch on a wall.

The female face is fab.

There is also a male profile. He appears to be praying.

Here is the entire image. There is no artist signature. There is a red # message.

Did the artist put the # message there? Is the # message a tag?

Eye think the # message is a TAG! With or without the #message, I also think there is a message in here, but have no real idea what.

Pics taken by Resa – May 15, 2023

Toronto, Canada

En Masse

On By ResaIn Alley Gallery, Murals111 Comments

Graffiti Alley is changing.

Old buildings are being torn down. New ones are going up.

Still, it seems to be embracing street art, but will the hardcore graffiti disappear?

This En Masse mural is in the parking entrance to a new building.

Above, a Poser Bunny welcomes us. Poser’s Bunnies go way back, and are an old fave of mine.

Lots to cover in this one. Here are some of my faves.

The ceiling is a work of craziness.

I put the rest in a slideshow for my hardcore street art pals.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Pics taken by Resa – March 28, 2023

Toronto, Canada

The Artists: Birdo, Poser, Ness Lee, Blackburn & more

There was a second floor of fun mayhem, but I couldn’t get up there, yet.