October 19, 2016

 

StreetARToronto (StART), along with East End Arts, has unveiled a mosaic mural today at the Coxwell subway station that celebrates the life and spirit of the Coxwell/Danforth neighbourhood.  

 

The concept for the Coxwell Laneway Mosaic Mural is renewal, potential, change and heritage. The mosaic mural makes up many distinct components and represents the values of the community as it rediscovers itself and moves into the future. 

"Our stunning Coxwell Laneway Mosaic Mural is a fine example of what we can achieve when community members and organizations such as East End Arts and Danforth East Community Association, the City and its agencies work together to reclaim public spaces, making them safe, accessible and beautiful," said City Councillor Janet Davis (Ward 31 Beaches-East York).

 

“At the TTC, public art not only beautifies our properties, but it’s become a catalyst for station improvement projects,” said TTC Chair and City Councillor Josh Colle (Ward 15 Eglinton-Lawrence). “This art project prompted wall and walkway repairs, improved lighting and the addition of a convex mirror to enhance customer safety.”

 

Led by artist Cristina Delago, a team of youth, emerging artists and community volunteers have created a collective art piece that reflects the values and aspirations of the east Danforth community.

 

On the apex of the wall, a pod is bursting out its seeds, dividing the wall into past and future. To the east, linked circles illustrate historical moments of East York, as suggested by community members during the research process. To the west of the apex, seed pods flow along the wall towards the Coxwell subway station, illustrating an abstract drawing of movement and the potential for the future.

 

The organizers of the event would like to thank the Toronto Parking Authority and Toronto Transit Commission for their support and Dulux for providing the paint for this mural.

 

StART, launched in 2012, is a program of Transportation Services' Public Realm Section. It is an innovative, public-private partnership designed to develop, support, promote and increase awareness of street art and its ability to beautify the city's visual landscape and decrease graffiti vandalism. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/StART_Toronto?lang=en and join us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/StreetARToronto/?fref=ts. 

 

East End Arts is one of six Toronto Local Arts Service Organizations, serving City Wards 29-32 with a mandate to unite, inspire and enhance the communities of east Toronto with the transformative power of the arts.  More information is available at http://www.eastendarts/.

 

This news release is also available on the City's website: http://ow.ly/r4O9305lLev 

 

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.

 

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Media contact: Steve Johnston, Strategic Communications, 416-392-4391, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.