New mural unveiled at Grid Condos in Toronto
By Newinhomes on May 30, 2019
There are so many ways for a city to embrace and support public art, and we love it when the members of the new home industry go that extra mile to create something beautiful for the community in which they’re building.
On May 29, 2019, CentreCourt unveiled the new mural on the south facade of Grid Condos, a 50-storey tower at Dundas and Jarvis in Toronto. The mural was painted by renowned artist Phillip Cote and the piece is entitled “The Original Family.”
"It is a depiction of one of our oldest stories," explains Cote in a release. "The Anishinaabe Creation Story was brought down through oral traditions and pictographic images drawn on birch-bark scrolls." The mural depicts the first man and first woman in sacred union.
Cote worked on the mural for four months, and planning began back in 2018 when Ward 13 Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam proposed the public art project.
"Councillor Wong-Tam asked us to consider an artistic treatment of Grid's south facade," says Mitch Gascoyne, CentreCourt's VP of Development. "Considering the influence and impact that Indigenous culture and history has had on our country, the Councillor and CentreCourt believed that an Indigenous Art motif would be most appropriate. In May of 2018, we selected Phillip Cote to bring the project to life."
In Toronto, you’ll sometimes see murals painted or printed on segments of construction hoarding, which is typically temporary because the hoarding comes down when the work is done. We like that this mural is permanent and makes the streetscape even more vibrant.
"It is exciting to welcome this substantial, Indigenous-centered mural work that speaks to the presence and rich history of Indigenous peoples in this location," says Councillor Wong-Tam. "Phillip Cote is an award-winning artist whose work is widely respected. I thank CentreCourt for their sponsorship of his work, and support of Indigenous placemaking. The mural is located across from the new Indigenous Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at 200 Dundas St. East. I sincerely hope that these initiatives will move us closer to the goal of establishing an Indigenous Business District in this neighbourhood."
If you’re in the neighbourhood (or even if you’re not), you should definitely go check out the mural in person!
