Ecology and Equilibrium

Posted on October 26, 2026 by Mary C

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Photos taken October 2026

Along the Riverbank

Posted on January 18, 2024 by Mary C

There is a new mural (2022) in Toronto by Nick Sweetman featuring animals and plant life commonly found along Ontario’s rivers, especially the Don River that flows nearby. It adorns a wall/fence that runs the length of a new park, Riverside Square, which is southeast of Queen and the Don Valley Parkway.

below: The east end of the mural

part of mural by Nick Sweetman, Along the Riverbank

below: A blue-fronted dancer damselfly (A very long name for a very small creature!)

below: Mink, toad, and a water insect called a water strider.

below: Catfish

below: A raccoon eyes the fish swimming past

below: A happy dog among friends, a raccoon and a cotton tail rabbit. If you look closely, there is a bridge in the background by the fox – Torontonians might recognize this bridge as one of the many that cross the Don River.

below: Red fox, coyote

below: In the middle

below: Egret diving for fish

below: White-tailed Deer

below: North American beaver

below: Painted turtle

below: Northern Leopard Frog

Tensoe2 and Moises (Luvs) also contributed to ‘Along the Riverbank’

Photos taken January 2024

Patio de Dom Fradique, Lisbon

Posted on March 31, 2022 by Mary C

entrance to Patio de Dom Fradique, sign on gate post, people walking up the path, street art on walls in the distance

below: Maybe it’s a hand wrapped in ribbons? Painted by osch aka Otto Schade

mural by Otto Schade in Lisbon of a hand with finger pointing made of ribbons wrapped around and around

below: A man with his musical dog by omik, aka Mickael Guedes.

murals on an old wall in Lisbon, in front is a man holding a whistling dog by omik

below: Another person by omik, this time a long haired woman in a pink dress and bare feet.

street art painting of a young woman with large head, white eyes, long reddish hair, pink dress and bare feet, by omik a k a Mikael Guedes
an old twisted tree in a courtyard beside a path, with street art on the walls around it, Lisbon

below: A guitar playing, cowboy hat wearing, man who has seen better days, by Toys Daniel.

older painting on a wall, some paint peeling, a bear-like man with yellow skin, blue cowboy hat, playing a guitar
street art painting of a young woman on a door, she's looking upward, beside a small square window with a metal grille