Ok. I've been working on this series in theory and practice for about a year and a half and finally got them all finished. Essentially it's a combination of the theme of Toronto urban meets nature or the unexpected/otherworldly. I used a mix of painting and digital transfers and hope to keep with this technique for a few more pieces, until I get sick of the process..as it's a lot of work.
The first one is called Urban Henge- the idea of ancient objects in a more modern/urban site, and the things we think we would never encounter there, but maybe had been there way down under the surface at one point in time. In an empty lot (this is the site of the burned down series of buildings along Queen, where Suspect video used to be), these things can get churned up with the clearing. Also, the fox was added because I did once see one at a construction site on the lakeshore, sitting on a dirt mound- unexpected but really not so, because there's a park about 15 min. walk away.
Much Music Forest- In this one I put an older, otherworldy musician with a lute coming out of the forest against the modern centre of music that is the Much Music building. The forest was probably there at one time in the past but has made way to the John and Richmond corner..
The last one, Sanctuary, was a name I came up with because I realized that a lot of Coffee Time shops are places of refuge for people who are down and out. Homeless people, addicts, but also regular old guys just looking for somewhere to hang out for the day. The nun I put in because I saw her standing there one afternoon in the winter, waiting to cross the street (this is one at Bloor and Lansdowne) and it was such a weird contrast to the roughness of the area. It hit me that I could put stained glass on the building and have it be a representation of a place of sanctuary, like a church.
..glad to be done.
