September 25, 2016 

 

StreetARToronto (StART) unveiled murals today at the Pottery Road underpass just north of the Todmorden Mills Museum to celebrate the beauty of the Don Valley neighbourhood.  

 

The murals highlight active wildlife in and around the Don Valley and transform the underpass into an inviting, dynamic and more accessible place to pass through and visit. 

 

"These murals not only add colour and vibrancy to our City streets but are a welcome reminder of the outstanding natural environment surrounding this neighbourhood, which has recently completed an avenue planning study to guide all future development," said Councillor Mary Fragedakis (Ward 29 Toronto-Danforth). "All shortlisted artists in the competition were directed to this study when considering their final design concepts." 

 

Created by artist Drew Mosley, the murals remind everyone to treat surrounding wildlife with dignity and respect by giving residents the opportunity to engage with their environment more closely. Mosley’s mural aims to fulfill the same goal by depicting only plant and animal life native to the area. His illustrative, character-based works depict the creatures of Mosley’s imagined world, in which they appear frozen and in mid-mission. With the artist's use of three-dimensional views and deep shadows, a convincing atmosphere is evoked within this fantastical world.

 

The Broadview Avenue community is also actively engaged in maintaining public access to views of the Don River Valley greenspace. As a contribution to this goal, this mural brings greenspace to the access point of the community.

 

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. StART’s Underpass Program (StART UP) provides opportunities for artists to create works of art that contribute to the program mandate; make walking, cycling or driving through Toronto's underpasses more appealing; and strengthen the sense of place, inclusion and belonging within communities. Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/StART_Toronto, or join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/StreetARToronto.

 

This news release is also available on the City's website: http://bit.ly/2cDCg28

 

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.