Ecology and Equilibrium

As you walk west on Carleton Street from Sherbourne, this is the view – Allan Gardens on the left and downtown Toronto straight ahead.  One of the dominant features of this view is the large mural; it was painted by Okuda (aka Okuda San Miguel) in 2018 and is called “Equilibrium”.

Carleton Street, looking west from Sherbourne, towards Homewood and Jarvis streets, tall buildings, including one with a mural on it,

A little bit farther west, and another mural comes into view.  As you get closer to Homewood, look right and look up.

north side of Carleton Street, looking west from Homewood, mural straight ahead, and mural on the right on 140 Carleton Street

northwest corner of Carleton and Homewood

A giant maple tree in autumn foliage now grows up the south wall of 140 Carleton Street.  This is a much newer mural, “Ecology of Us”.  Jarus painted this wonderful 22 storey tree this past month.

22 storeys high, mural, tree trunk, some branches and some autumn leaves

It is best viewed from Allan Gardens where the trees are also wearing their October finery these days.  In fact, the tree in the mural is based on one of the maple trees here in the park.

mural, with people sitting on a bench in the dog park at Allan Gardens, looking at mural,

view of Ecology of Us mural, by Jarus, from Allan Gardens, with two large trees blocking the view of the lower part of the mural

The “Ecology of Us” project is part of the StreetARToronto (StART) Monumental
Program.  This program funds large-scale, high-rise building murals across Toronto in collaboration with building owners (in this case, WJ Properties).   This is their second large mural in the city.

“Equilibrium” can also be seen from Allan Gardens.  It pokes its head up over the roof of one of the greenhouses.

view over the top of one of the greenhouses in Allan Gardens, mural Equilibrium, other tall buildings,

To see the whole of “Equilibrium”, you have to walk over to Jarvis Street because Grace Toronto Church, and other buildings, are in the way.

Grace Toronto church is in front of the Equilibrium mural and partially obscures it

Okuda was the lead artist; he was assisted by Adrian Hayles, Kayla Buium, and Stephanie Bellefleur.  It was funded largely by STEPS Public Art

Equilibrium, on the southwest corner of Jarvis and Carleton

woman pushing a stroller past the bottom part of mural, Equilibrium, by Okuda San Miguel

part of mural, Equilibrium, by Okuda San Miguel, naked woman in a bird mask

part of mural, Equilibrium,

Photos taken October 2026

on Congress St apartments

On the left is a mural by Okuda (aka Okuda San Miguel) called “Cat Witch” (it is Salem after all!) showing a figure that is both human and feline. Her fur/skin/body is constructed using many multicoloured triangles which is Okuda’s signature style. It was painted in 2017.

below: Also from 2017, is a mural with a very long title, “Una mirada que embruja por la calles de Salem.” In English this is: “An enchanted look in the streets of Salem”. The artist was Belin (aka Miguel Ángel Belinchón) and it is painted in a style that he calls post-neocubism. A modern day Picasso so to speak.

large vertical mural by Belin, of a person, split face, post neo cubism,

close up of the face of the person in large vertical mural by Belin,  split face, post neo cubism,

below: The last mural is also the most recent as it dates from 2023. On the right and partially hidden behind the tree, is an El Punto Community mural, “Generations” – “Generaciones” (follow the link for the full story behind the mural).

two murals on adjacent apartment buildings on congress street in salem massachusetts, one by belin and one designed by david fichter

It features events (e.g. a fire in 1914 that destroyed a church) as well as recognizable places and people in the community. It was designed by David Fichter.

el punto community mural designed by david fichter

The mural was painted on metal panels with the help of Xerxes Butt, Bianca Oppedisano and Joshua Winer, and then installed on the side of this building.

A shout out to Punto Urban Art Museum, the organization behind the murals in Salem.

Photos taken in July 2024