The Bridging Project at KGO

Echoes - the 2011 bridge mural

2011-10-14T16:03:00.001-04:00

Check out the Subtext 2011 video

2011-10-14T14:33:00.004-04:00

If you missed out on Subtext Multi-Arts Festival 2011, check out this video to get a peek at performers, artists, community groups and members taking part in this celebration of community, arts and green initiatives. This was the second year for the festival in the Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park neighbourhood. The under-the-bridge-festival had something to offer for all who attended.

Accomplishment of the On-bridge Mural "ECHOES" and Subtext Festival

2011-09-08T01:26:00.001-04:00

Our final weeks have been very rewarding. After working entirely on silhouetted background images in a dark gray colour, we finally brought in some bright orange-red colour for accents and our stencils. People who pass by us every day have been requesting some colour and, boy, do we have colour now! We have picked a variety of poems from the community and quotes to add to the imagery, so there is an almost endless display of things to see and read as you walk along the bridge now.

This is our first stencil on the bridge!

The length of the bridge was finished just in the nick of time this Friday, and was appreciated by the many who came to the Subtext Multi-Arts festival under the bridge this past weekend. It is so encouraging to be a part of the many arts projects taking place in such a diverse and talented community and know our work will be cherished for many years to come.

Subtext Festival and Mural Launch

Although we are all proud to be completed such a huge task, we will miss our long days working together with the team and volunteers, and getting to know the people who pass by the bridge every day.

Thank you to all the kind words and support, and if you haven’t seen the final product, come on by!

The Second Week on the Bridge

2011-08-15T11:20:00.007-04:00

Hello again from ‘The Bridge’ team!

This is our second week working on site and things are going slow but steady. We have finished the background silhouettes for almost half the Bridge (it’s 870 feet long!), and once the background is finished we will be stencilling our words for ‘echoes’. We have 10 themes that will run along the bridge: Welcoming Diversity, Celebrating Culture, Community members and places, Nature and Environment, Fantasy and Dreamland, Family and Home, Playing Games and Toys, Activities,School and Education, and Inspiration/Success.

We have had some very hot days and a few rainy ones we have persevered through, but today we are working inside because of the rain. The nearby community has been very welcoming and interested in our work. Many people honk as they pass by, and those walking by usually give some encouraging words or to ask about what we are doing. Someone even interviewed us for their ‘Toronto City Walks’ blog (www.neighbourhoodwalks.wordpress.com), which we will appear in soon. If you are in the area, come by and say hi, I guarantee we will enjoy the chance for a break to chat!

Subtext Multi-Arts Festival and Mural Launch

2011-08-03T18:05:00.002-04:00

Mural Routes Summer Crew: Ready to Go Paint on the Bridge

2011-07-29T11:49:00.013-04:00

Our group has been hard at work with this expressive text-based project, Echoes (working title). We began by collaborating with Jumblies Theatre group, who have spent the past few months collecting words and phrases from a variety of local community members. Our group participated in a collective session just like the community had. Jumblies asked us to express our “badland,” “goodland” and “dreamland”; in the process we learnt about others’ fears, dislikes, appreciation, loves, and our dreams for our community.

From this large collection of words, our group has focused on the positive aspects of the local community, echoing these collected words and phrases through creating a unique text expression for each word. The process has been long but the hard work will pay off, we have made hundreds of stencils and are very excited to begin work on-site at the bridge next week!

SAVE THE DATE: SUBTEXT Multi Arts Festival 2011

2011-06-02T16:53:00.003-04:00

Walk and Talk

2011-06-02T16:07:00.003-04:00

'Tis the season for giving - not painting

2010-12-17T17:49:00.004-05:00

Now that the winter has set in, the outdoor painting and programming season is on hiatus. We had a great time in the summer and fall working with the community of KGO. At the closing meeting of the Bridging Team, we agreed that the project had been rewarding for all of us involved and we are proud of the accomplishments of the first year working on and under the bridge.
We thank everyone who participated; as painters, planners, funders, supporters and passers-by. The comments and encouragement of the people who live in the area, were much appreciated. We hope you enjoy the legacy of the art work on and under the bridge and the batik banners on the hydro poles. (Those will have to come down in the new year.)

We really hope to find the funds to continue in 2011. Here is a link to a short prologue video. A final video will be online soon.

http://vimeo.com/17834302

SUBTEXT: Multi-arts Festival

2010-09-17T15:14:00.005-04:00

SUBTEXT FESTIVAL took place under the bridge on Sept. 11 & 12. On Saturday the sounds and sights of the graffiti and performance artists made the place rock with energy.

On Sunday there was a different vibe; quieter but with creative energy that was shared by the artists and community members alike.

Mural Dedication

2010-09-17T10:34:00.008-04:00

On September 11, Mayor Miller and an enthusiastic crowd gathered to pay tribute to the great team of artists who toiled under the relentless summer sun to cover the long expanse of the bridge with art work. The images reflect the natural environment and the activities of the community that take place on and under the bridge. It is deliberately designed to have a subtle impact from a distance, with more detailed elements to be enjoyed by the people who walk, cycle, skate board or ride their motorized wheel chairs across the bridge.

http://picasaweb.google.com/105060217064551231983/BridgeArtMural?feat=directlink

Getting the word out

2010-08-26T16:43:00.002-04:00

The City of Toronto has issued a media release about The Bridging Project, please read it at http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/it/newsrel.nsf/7017df2f20edbe2885256619004e428e/7a1493e279223755852577890064c8c8?OpenDocument

CHECK IT OUT

2010-08-19T13:00:00.003-04:00

This is the culmination of everything everyone behind the blog and on the blog has been working for!
So don't be shy about spreading the word:
September 11th and 12th 2010
11 - 5 PM and 11 - 4 PM Kingston Galloway/Orton Park Bridge

It's time to bridge the gap.

Step by Step

2010-08-19T12:19:00.002-04:00

On Tuesday, August 17th the Free Subtext Dance Workshops began! Dance Instructor Kevin Ormsby and his lovely assistant Darsel led the class of youth ages 13-21 from basic stretches to classic ballet stances to contemporary freestyle. It was an enjoyable afternoon and right off the bat we discovered that there were several backgrounds of dance in one room from a cheerleader to a European dance crew member. But the only thing that really counted was their love of dance and openness to whatever crazy thing Kevin would through at them next. Watch out for their group performance at the Subtext Festival!

But while you're here you might as well check out the photos I took ;)!

For more info about the workshops and their amazing instructors check out this website http://kashedance.weebly.com/kashedance-front-row.html

Working Hard or...

2010-08-19T12:00:00.002-04:00

No ands or buts! The team on the bridge is definitely working hard. After weeks of laying down the grey concrete background of changing seasons, colour has just been added. The colour after much deliberation is turquoise! Soon enough you will see turquoise animals, bugs, leave, plants and people enjoying leisurely activities.

A big thank you to all the volunteers that have come out every week! Anyways the works not done, so if you have some free time and a free hand join us on the KGO Bridge weekdays 9 - 4.

Graffiti Art Workshops under the KGO Bridge

2010-08-12T15:36:00.003-04:00

On Saturday, August 14, Mural Routes is happy to be hosting free one hour graffiti art workshops under the KGO bridge. Led by gifted artist Mediah, the workshops will be held at the following times: 10:30 am - 11:30 am, 11:35 am- 12:35 pm, 12:50 pm - 1:50 pm, 2:05 pm - 3:16 pm. Topics covered will include: an introduction to graffiti art, safety issues and techniques. For more information about Mediah and his work, visit: http://webmail.bellhosting.ca/hwebmail/services/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iahdigital.com
For more information about the workshops or attending, contact Cindy at 416-698-7322 / http://webmail.bellhosting.ca/hwebmail/services/go.php?url=mailto%3Asubtext%40muralroutes.com

This image was taken from: http://www.iahdigital.com/aerosol2.html

Batik art

2010-08-10T10:45:00.000-04:00

One more organization on board for the big day is the Contemporary Batik Guild. Contemporary Batik Guild is a group of young artists who are taught this unique style of art and are then given the opportunity to become leaders and entrepreneurs.

At the Subtext Festival they will have artists making batik art and will also be inviting people to learn the art form on-site. It will be a mini-workshop/exhibition.

http://contemporarybatik.com/

The above image was taken off the contemporary batik blog.
http://contemporarybatik.com/blog/

Laying Down Strokes

2010-07-29T11:37:00.011-04:00

The painting of the Kingston Galloway/Orton Park bridge is well underway. With regular volunteers, like myself, giving their time one day a week to paint, the bridge should be done in no time. In the meantime the process is a wonderful thing to be a part of, a fun and somewhat soothing activity.

Volunteering soon? Some things to bare in mind (consider this as a checklist):

Bring a hat (umbrellas are provided)
Bring shades
Wear sunscreen
Bring snacks and a lunch
Stay hydrated, drink plenty of water
Dress lightly in clothes you don't mind getting dirty

It's pretty much a no-brainer, so don't hesitate come out and be part of the transformation!

These photos are posted courtesy of Linda Cui (a fellow painter and SAC staff).

Getting Green

2010-07-27T10:37:00.016-04:00

Evergreen has partnered with the Bridging Project to focus on the natural environment components of the project. Evergreen is a not-for-profit organization that makes cities more livable. By deepening the connection between people and nature, and empowering Canadians to take a hands-on approach to their urban environments, Evergreen is improving the health of our cities—now and for the future.

On June 5th a local group of volunteers, mainly from the East Scarborough Storefront, helped plant 800 native wildflowers and grasses along Highland Creek on the North side of the Lawrence Street bridge. These plants will help protect the area from erosion, attract beneficial pollinators such as butterflies, provide habitat for a variety of species and beautify the local area.

Evergreen has also contributed a list of local, native trees, wildflowers and shrubs to be incorporated in the mural. During the SUBTEXT festival, on September 11^th from 10am to noon, Evergreen will be hosting another native wildflower planting beside the Lawrence Street bridge along Highland Creek. Everyone is welcome to come out and get their hands dirty while planting another 800 wildflowers in the area. Come by and visit Evergreen throughout the entire SUBTEXT festival to learn more about the environment and ways to connect with nature.

For more information please visit our website: evergreen.ca, or contact:
Sarah Da Silva, Stewardship Co-ordinator, sdasilva@evergreen.ca or 416-660-0972

Headed in the Right Direction

2010-07-26T11:14:00.001-04:00

With the help of lots of volunteers, Mural Routes is making the Kingston Galloway/Orton Park bridge alive with colour, by painting designs across the entire stretch of the bridge. Youth volunteers have helped this project every step of the way; coming up with the ideas and designs, and stenciling these designs and painting them.

The painting on the bridge begins today, Monday July the 26th. I encourage you to go check out their hard work for yourself in person. What you'll see is an expression of the four seasons and passing of years through images of community and nature.

The project should be complete in time for the Subtext Festival but you don't have to wait 'til then to get involved. You can fill out a form and voluntarily become a regular painter. You can also grab a Bridging Project pamphlet and share your stories about the bridge. Surely as we get closer and closer to the big weekend, there will be more and more to get involved in.

Photographed by Emilie Wong the pictures above are some of the Mural Routes team and volunteers from SERVE stenciling.
To see more pictures like these and learn more about Mural Routes visit:
http://muralroutes.wordpress.com/

The Borough is alive, with the sound of music

2010-07-21T10:30:00.011-04:00

The Borough Most Thorough is a program that explores the makings of music, all the way from lyrics to production. Equipped with a writer/teacher, a vocal coach and a rap instructor, the program breaks hip-hop down; looking into the roots of its language and its beat structure.After hosting its music program in six Scarborough priority neighborhoods in partnership with Beatz 2 Da Streetz, The Borough Most Thorough will be having a launching party debuting original material at The Subtext Festival!

The Borough Most Thorough which has been running practically since school let out has been prepping vigorously with one-week workshops that will continue until August 27th, which means there may still be opportunities to join this free, innovative programs.

Still Curious? Check out their website: http://tbmt2010.wordpress.com/

Also before I let you go, you should know that there will be special guest appearances from well known canadian artists at the Subtext Festival!

So You Think You Can...

2010-07-20T16:38:00.008-04:00

Currently the Scarborough Arts Council is accepting registration for Free Dance Workshops until August 10th. However space is limited so you'll want to sign up ASAP.

To register or for more info, contact:
Benedict Lopes
416 698 7322
programs@scarborougharts.com

Who? For young people of all skill levels and abilities (ages 13-22) (Featuring dancer/choreographer Kevin Ormsby)

When? Eight workshops starting August 17th, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1- 4 PM Grand Finale performance at Subtext Festival, on Saturday September 11th, 2010

Where? East Scarborough Storefront (4040 Lawrence Ave E., Scarborough)

NOW AT FULL CAPACITY.

Let the Festivities Begin

2010-07-20T15:45:00.011-04:00

Hey my name's Liz and I will be your guide for everything going on under the bridge - that is The Subtext Festival - Bridging Project. The Subtext Festival seems to be a lot of things but to boil it down into one sentence it is a two day multi-arts (including dance, music, graffiti, murals, art demonstrations, planting etc) festival. It's a collaboration between diverse communities, organizations and artists, aimed at revamping the Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park bridge's reputation.

Look out for new posts on the upcoming events.

Designing the mural

2010-07-19T17:46:00.005-04:00

Using the theme of "connecting the urban and natural enviroment" the mural team is busy creating concepts, sketches and stencils for the 871 foot mural to be painted on the north side of the Bridge. Team members are Rob (lead artist), Christina, Curtia, Emilie, Gabriella, Johnny, Nigel and Tristan. They meet each day at Cornell Jnr. Public School where they turn the old gym into a busy art studio. If all goes smoothly, including weather a various site permits, they will be painting working on the Bridge by the end of the week.

Artists at Work

2010-07-19T17:15:00.003-04:00

On July 5th the Mural Routes team of 6 youth artists under the direction of Rob Matejka started their first day of work. On the next day they took part in the Toronto Mural Seminar, a full day training session which included topics like Risk Management, Community Relations and a hands-on Site Specific Design workshop. 70 people attended the multi-generational program from different City funded projects around Toronto. It was coordinated by Mural Routes and funded by the City of Toronto, Public Realm Section

The artists and the community

2010-06-28T18:13:00.004-04:00

Parade preparations got underway and people in the community joined had fun with chalk drawing.

Parade Day

2010-06-28T12:49:00.007-04:00

On June 24, the Bridging Project had its official kick off with a community celebration and parade. The Canadian Flag was hoisted to mark the start of festivities. The flag will continue to fly outside the storefront throughout the project.

The parade told the story of a Winter's Tale, which parallels the enivironmental theme and expression of the seasons that will be captured by art work on the bridge during the summer. Jumblies gathered the troops on the west side of the bridge, while young artists and members of the community created colourful chalk images along the parade route. After the parade, everyone gathered at the East Scarborough Storefront and mingled at the Farmers' Market, where a Bridging Project information table was set up.

We look forward to "creating connections" with "the arts, the environment and you."

Join the Parade

2010-06-17T22:22:00.004-04:00

Creativity and design

2010-06-16T17:49:00.006-04:00

An enthusiastic group of youth have been meeting on Tuesdays in June to learn skills of design and stenciling under the direction of artist Rob Matejka; seen in the photo with Curtia. They will be showcasing the results of their creativity at the launch event of the Bridging Project. You can join in the fun and leave your mark in chalk on the bridge and march in the Parade on June 24th.

Community speaks out

2010-06-09T15:20:00.009-04:00

More than 60 community members attended the Community Speak at St. Stephen Presbyterian Church. The subject of disucssion was "Improving the Lawrence Bridge ."
After a stretch break, nice dinner and presentation from the Bridge Committee this is what you shared with us at the group discussions.

The bolded items below, were put forward by multiple groups

How do you feel about bridge?

Happier about it than its predecessor
Boring and functional
Nice view
Not safe enough
No shade in summer, too cold in winter
More buses should go across
Ability issues are hard given narrow sidewalks
No snow removal
Suicide in fall makes people rush across
Fear of area under the bridge because it is isolated and possibly dangerous at night
Long, difficult walk
Communication between the two sides is difficult
People on the Galloway side are not interested in going to the Orton park side
Feel unsafe because of speed of traffic
Not attractive to pedestrians
Path to under the bridge is too steep
Convenient for driving – bad for walking

What would you like to see change on the bridge?

Safety – traffic barrier to separate pedestrians from road
Beauty
Visuals
Murals
Festival
Walking groups
Security camera
Signage
Weather guard
Better lighting
Flower boxes on sidewalk
Planters to help slow traffic and make area more accessible for pedestrians and cyclists
Street festival with lots of colour
Information about the path, park and activities under the bridge
Stairs to park below
Pay phone in middle of bridge
Put benches and garbage bins under bridge
Park/playground
More community activities under bridge

Our Special Thanks to:

St Stephens Presbyterian Church & Bridge Committee & Storefront Volunteers-
Doreen Iman, Ruth Antony, Hazel Trent, Amna Anushan

Parade Pagaentry

2010-06-02T12:11:00.003-04:00

Design and Stenciling Workshops

2010-05-21T14:54:00.003-04:00

FREE DESIGN AND STENCILING WORKSHOPS COMING VERY SOON:

Where: East Scarborough Storefront, 4040 Lawrence Avenue East, Scarborough
When: 4 - 6 pm, Tuesdays June 1 - 29, 2010
Who: Youth 15 - 20, who are interested in visual art
What: 5 workshops on the elements and principles of design, painting and stenciling techniques.
You will also be part of The Bridging Project Launch Event: Community Festival and Parade on June 24.
Why: It is creative and fun!It's excellent preparation for future employment in summer arts programs. It is the introduction to a summer project to paint artwork on the Lawrence Avenue East Bridge.
AND IT'S FREE!
What Else? There is limited space, so don't wait - register now!

How to Register:
Phone Mural Routes at 416-698-7995Or Email programs@muralroutes.com with your name and contact information

Program is run by Mural Routes as part of the Bridging Project in KGO, supported by Toronto Live With Culture www.livewithculture.ca
The Bridging Project is co-presented by City of Toronto Cultural Services, Mural Routes, Scarborough Arts Council, The Amazing Place and Jumblies Theatre.

Modern Batik Art Workshops completed

2010-05-12T15:06:00.011-04:00

May 4 - 10, 2010 Toronto Cultural Services offered Modern Batik Art Workshops with David Kibuuka to grade 11 & 12 students in Caron Magill's art class at Sir Robert L Borden Business and Technical Institute. David Kibuuka shared his unique style of batik with students, taking them through the entire process of creating a piece. Students designed environmentally themed drawings, which they traced onto fabric. They proceeded to paint with dyes and use wax resist to make vibrant works of art.

The goal is for these works of art to be used as the basis for banners that will hang over the Lawrence Ave. E. bridge.

Fast Facts for the Bridging Project

2010-05-12T11:48:00.005-04:00

Location: The bridge is a six lane traffic bridge on Lawrence Avenue East that spans the West Branch of Highland Creek in Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park (KGO) a vibrant neighbourhood located in Scarborough, in southeast Toronto.
The Purpose of the project is to transform the bridge (back) into a connector that brings residents from diverse communities together. The project will act as a catalyst for the transformation of this barrier into the metaphorical “bridge” that it should be within the KGO community.
Partners: The Bridging Team is made of representatives of The Amazing Place, Jumblies Theatre, Mural Routes, Scarborough Arts Council and Toronto Cultural Services - Arts Services. Several other local organizations such as East Scarborough Storefront, Scarborough Historical Museum, Evergreen, Residents Rising and ANC are also involved. Professional artists will lead the artistic process, providing mentoring to youth and community members. The community of KGO is an integral part of this project and are invited to contribute ideas to develop content for the artistic and environmental interventions.
Timeline:
May - Modern Batik Art workshops at Sir Robert Borden BTI- images will be reproduced as banners on, and adjacent to the bridge. Workshop leader, David Kibuuka
June - Workshops at East Scarborough Storefront for "on the bridge" art creation - workshop leader, Rob Matejka
June 24 - Official launch of the bridging project - Parade, wildflower planting, chalk art and other fun stuff.
July/August - On-the-Bridge Art Project - Creation of art work on the bridge. A summer training and employment program for youth.
Sept 10 - 12 - SUBTEXT: sub-Urban Arts Festival - a multi-arts festival taking place under the bridge.

Community Speak - Improving the Lawrence Bridge

2010-05-11T16:11:00.007-04:00

On Thursday April 29, members of the KGO community were invited to an event at St. Stephens Presbyterian Church to share their ideas on how to improve the connections and feeling associated with the "Bridge." After a yummy vegetarian Chinese supper, we divided into groups to tackle the questions: 1) HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE BRIDGE? 2) HOW DO YOU USE THE BRIDGE? 3) WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE CHANGE? Discussion was livley and many excellent suggestions for improvement were made. These are being compiled and a summary will be posted.

The Lawrence Ave E. Bridge

2010-04-22T16:17:00.001-04:00

There is an amazing group of people who reached out to the community in Kingston Galloway Orton Park and through their research discovered a big barrier in the community - the six lane traffic bridge in the Kingston/Galloway/Orton Park neighbourhood of Scarborough (east Toronto.) The bridge, they discovered from local residents, is a barrier. It cuts the community in two. It is intimidating, unfriendly, an obstacle. How ironic! A bridge is meant to connect, link, join. Yes, the bridge does all those things. It spans the West Branch of Highland Creek, providing a connection from one side of the ravine to the other. It is great for motorists. Not so much for a neighbourhood stroll or trip to the shops and services on the other side if you're pushing a stroller or riding a tricycle. So how can this perception change. How can a barrier be transformed (back) into a connector to bring the community together?

Introducing The Bridging Project.

During the summer of 2010, a group of collaborators, is planning a series of art interventions on and under the bridge. The action starts with a Community Speak event in KGO on April 29, where local residents will be invited to share their ideas on the topic "Improving the Lawrence Bridge."

We, the Bridging Team, already have lots of creative ideas including a parade, "on the bridge" art and an "under the bridge" festival. We expect that with input from community members and local youth through workshops and arts events, these ideas will take root and blossom into a fantastic project.

Stay connected.

The Bridging Team of KGO