Googly Maps—A Ballroom for the Learned Child.
I came accross this eclectic storefront display that featured a staggering mound of multi-coloured globes of varying sizes. The globes in the foreground variously resembled cricket or bocce balls.
Google Maps had rendered them irrelevant and relegated them to the trash heap of history.
I came accross this eclectic storefront display that featured a staggering mound of multi-coloured globes of varying sizes. The globes in the foreground variously resembled cricket or bocce balls.
Google Maps had rendered them irrelevant and relegated them to the trash heap of history.
Surf and Turf Barbie: Forgotten Flotsam at the Base of the Scarborough Bluffs, Toronto
An ominous sign that we had wandered into territory run by some savage post-apocalyptic cult. Clearly they rejected plastic beauty myth icons. This skewered Barbie had met her end on the wrong side of a bamboo shaft. Put another one on the Barbie!
Queen Street and Degrassi Underpass:
This tunnel runs beneath the train tracks that cut accross Queen Street East, near Broadview Avenue in Toronto's East End. It felt like a portal revealing another world.
This tunnel runs beneath the train tracks that cut accross Queen Street East, near Broadview Avenue in Toronto's East End. It felt like a portal revealing another world.
Look Up!:
You can walk along older sections of Toronto's streets, blissfully unaware of the treasure trove of architectural features that await you aboe the eyeline of street-level storefronts.
Organic Texture
This cluster of vines was jusxtaposed against brickwork. For me it was a fitting metaphor for the choaotic struggle for life in a hostile climate and the resulting beauty of that struggle.
Inorganic Texture—Homage to Escher:
The progression of the offset in these screens created an unintended recursion that flips the figure to ground relationship resulting in an Escher-esque pattern.
Wrought Iron Bagel-Kebabs:
I came accross these two lonely bagels that had been impaled atop a wrought iron fence surrounding the Regent Park Apartments grounds in the East end of downtown Toronto. Their owner was trying to make a statement but I am stymied by what that might be.
Seeing the World Through Rose and Cornflower Coloured Glasses:
My daugher Shea enjoys a brightly lit dichromatic day.
Three Dee Chair:
Having fun with light and some 3-D glasses.
Hummingbird in Light:
The light from 3-D glasses creates a hummngbird-like image against the texture of a leather chair.
Rows of Semis:
Toronto has a wonderful cornucopia of ingeniously designed semi-detatched homes. They are very much a signature feature of the Toronto landscape.
The Writing Is On the Wall:
Literally, some enterprising Toronto restaurateur refused to be limited by the meagre space afforded by the chalk board below.
Racoon Moon Roof:
Giant urban racoons took over and destroyed my garage. Toronto, is a Disney animal flick gone terribly awry. I was waiting to see the signature bandit face appear framed in the opening but I was denied. I took my revenge and evicted the lot when I tore it all down.
Panda Lanterns:
Toronto played host to the Chinese Lantern Festival where hundreds of highly ornate exhibits like this one were set ablaze with light after dark.
Dew Drops on Japanese Maple:
I caught these shining pearls of water clinging to the Japanese Maple that graced the front of our home.
Colours of the St. Lawrence Market.
I captured the vibrant display of colour in a vegetable stall in the basement of Toronto's historic marketplace.
Spring Hike Along the Humber
We found this interesting piece of history hidden in the urban landscape—History encroached by progress.
Resting Grounds of Norway Church, Beaches, Toronto
This intersection of Woodbine Avenue and Kingston Road was the site of a small settlement as people spread eastward from the city's core. This graveyard bears the imprimaturs of those who came before us and built this neighbourhood. It features peacefull, tree-lined walkways where one can escape the chaos of the city to find a moment of serenity.
Sarah Ashbridge House, Beaches, Toronto
Sarah Ashbridge's husband had been awarded a grant of Land in the 1800's (a common incentive to attract immigration to the region). Her husband passed away, yet, Sarah—undaunted—came from the U.S.A. to stake her claim. Being female, her right to property was not immediately recognized until she won a successful court challenge that allowed her to establish her farm along Queen Street East. It is rumoured that tennant farmers who were buried on the property were carried by underground streams to a marsh area now known as Ashbridge's Bay. Early authorities believed that they had their own Ripper-esque serial killer performing nefarious deeds in Toronto's eastern Beaches region.
Caged Beauty
There is an abundance of small curiousity shops along Queen Street East in Toronto. I liked the contrast of the organic human form to the geometric shape of the cage.
Shop Window
Being a design educator, I couldn't resist the opportunity that presented itself. I liked how the clean, simple typography contrasted with the field of muted colours reflected in the window.
This Car Ain't Movin'
Toronto's "Red Rocket" is an iconic mode of transportation that is often like this street art in that it routinely NOT MOVING! due to gridlock, accidents and mechanical failurres. Torontonians enjoy a love-hate relationship with the Red Rocket.
Beach Cottage
Along Queen Street East one can still find acrhitectural reminders that this area was once the summer playground for Torontonians. This is an example of the cottage style vacation properties that are disappearing.
Bank Facade
This limestone facade speaks of wealth and an time when things were built to last.
Crossing Into the City
The bridge accross the Don River at Queen Street East, connects Toronto's East end to the city.
Church, Queen Street East near Parliament Street, Toronto
This church boasts an intriguing architecture that sets it apart stylistically from many in the Toronto Area.
The Shops of Queen Street East
Queen Street is lined with dual purpose brownstones with living quarters above colourful, eclectic shopfronts. Many of the old businesses are being gentrified into high end restaurants and specialty food and clothing boutiques.
Canada Tavern, Moss Park, Toronto
This old beerhall's taps have sat dormant for nearly 15 years as it awaits the wrecking ball of the condo developer, no doubt.
Beach Cottage Style
This is an example of the summer cottages that typically graced the Beaches area of Toronto. Folks from downtown would travel the 7.5 km out to their country getaways.
Cotton Candy Sky.
The sun poked through storm clouds and lit up the sky above my back yard.
The Ghost of Fall
The streets of Toronto bear witness to fallen leaves that have come and gone leaving their apparitions on the pavement.
Cotton Candy Sky
A beautiful but brooding sky provides eye candy and awe to feed the soul.
French Riviera: Ontario Style
My wife Linda leads the way through a narrow channel on Ontario's French River.