Sunday, August 1, 2010

SundayStill - graffiti/street art

Continuing with the walk along James Street North from yesterday, I found many old advertising murals. Faded with age, or newly released for viewing due to the demolition of neighbouring buildings, these tell a story of the neighbourhood.
Not graffiti, but I think it qualifies as 'street art', albeit of a bygone era. And even in this state it is probably more easily readable than the graffiti!









But now we can venture to perhaps one of the most photographed buildings in Toronto - The Gooderham Building (also known as the Flatiron building) where on its 'flat' side is a mural installed in 1980 of a mirror image of the building across the street from it. This was also showing signs of wear and was fading and peeling and was recently meticulously repainted by one of the original painters of the project

Visit SundayStills for more street art

31 comments:

  1. I'm always interested in old painted advertising on buildings. They're a connection to the past and a glimpse of what was important or fashionable long ago.
    The mural in your last photo is remarkable.

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  2. The last one is so funny. I love it.

    Soome how with old ads, it is better to leave them like that, It gives character to the building, don't you think. Though to some, it may be an eye sore. That first one, something about China.

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  3. Loved these pics! Fabulous shots!
    And the mural is fantastic!
    Hugs
    SueAnn

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  4. Great shots, the last one is a hoot, I have some "Tromp Loials" too..:-)

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  5. The mural reflecting the other building is very cool!

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  6. I love street art.
    And the picture of the "trompe l´oeil" is fantastic
    Best regards from Argentina
    Elisa

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  7. I love trompe l'oeil - that one is really great. I just showed it to my younger son as he was playing a computer game. He paused long enough to look it over carefully and then said, "Wow, that's cool. I love you, Mom." So, thanks for eliciting that moment!

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  8. They are all cool, but that last shot is amazing...how cool that building is.

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  9. They are all cool, but that last shot is amazing...how cool that building is.

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  10. I have to say the last shot is my favorite. Very interesting. :)

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  11. i love the old faded advertisings on the brick

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  12. Very creative! Didn't even think about that! Great job!

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  13. Like that old advertising art. You captured it well. Nice job.

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  14. I like the old art too..especially the Coca Cola! :)

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  15. It definitely counts as street art. I love the coke ad.

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  16. That last picture is great, very creative of the city to allow it

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  17. oh be still my heart! I am so glad someone got the old advertisements that were on buildings. I love these so much! They are more art to me that the grafitti we were assigned to capture this week. And yes, they definatly qualify as street art! Excellent job, excellent pictures, adn thank you for sharing!

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  18. Thank you everyone!
    I had so much fun taking these.
    I took some alleyways full of graffiti, but was not happy with the outcome, maybe because I didn't really appreciate their artistic merit? these old adverts excited me though (and my friend who was with me).

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  19. yes, the old billboard paintings on buildings are a passing artform. The mural on the building is outstanding!

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  20. I just love that last one, and am full of admiration for anyone who could do a painting as BIG as that!!

    I love fasded old signs too, we have a few round our way. I must get my camera out!

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  21. The first two are what another blogger/photographer said are called "ghost signs." I've always loved them and consider it a treasure when I see one. I love all of this stuff!

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  22. wow that last one is awesome

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  23. Such things amaze and boggle my mind. From start to finish.

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  24. Ghost Art - I love that phrase!

    Gilly, the window trompe l'oeile was done in about 50 panels. still, it is very big.

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  25. Great street art - love that last one! That is so neat!

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  26. I love these 'ghost signs' (great name) and always look out for them on buildings. Glad to know I'm not alone in my strange pleasure...

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  27. Those old wall ads are so cool!
    But that last photo is amazing!

    Nicely done!

    ~Lisa

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  28. Oh, I love that mural! Awesome trompe l'oeil!

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  29. The bottom shot was quite a surprise after the lovely decay images. Well done! :-)

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  30. Visual Treats
    Me Heart :)

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