The ‘Along the Riverbanks’ mural (2022) was created by artist Nick Sweetman. It is a 2000 sq ft mural depicting the story of our connection to the Don River and as our urban environment grows and becomes more and more dense, we are surrounded by fewer wild spaces and it is important to protect and appreciate the ones that remain, as well as the flora and fauna that inhabit them. The mural was launched with a community celebration on November 6, 2022.
Check out this beautiful view of the mural and read on to learn more about the art and artist.
View of the full mural in November 2022 after completion (Photo credit: Riverside BIA)
Artist: Nick Sweetman, IG https://www.instagram.com/nick_sweetman/
Location: Retaining Wall at South End of Baseball Place (best viewed from walkway south of 25 Baseball Place)
Mural Size: 2000 square feet
Artist Statement:
As our urban environment grows and becomes more and more dense, we are surrounded by fewer wild spaces and it is important to protect and appreciate the ones that remain, as well as the flora and fauna that inhabit them. Continuous tracts of urban woodland such as the Don River valley allow a diverse ecosystem of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, insects, plants and fungi to thrive here in the city, tucked away in peaceful pockets by the water’s edge. This selection of plants and animals represent some of the encounters – great and small – that one can have exploring along the riverbanks. On the mural from left to right are stinging nettles, blue-fronted dancer damselfly, toad, mink, water strider, bullhead catfish, white sucker, raccoon, golden doodle, cottontail rabbit, garlic mustard, fox, coyote, red-winged blackbird, great egret, white-tailed deer, beaver, water lily, painted turtle, broadleaf plantain, leopard frog, bumblebee, white aster.
About the Artist:
Nick Sweetman is a multidisciplinary artist from Toronto. He holds an MFA from OCAD University’s Interdisciplinary Art, Media & Design program, and completed the Mural Routes Leadership Training in Mural-Making certificate. Since 2014, he has been working in public space on mural projects, often in collaboration with other artists and organizations. He has worked primarily in Toronto but has also been invited to paint all over Canada and internationally. Many of his projects raise awareness about social and environmental issues, and he is best known for painting enormous bees and butterflies towering over city streets to highlight the importance of pollinators.This project was made possible thanks to financial support from the City of Toronto Outdoor Mural & Street Art Program and the Government of Canada (FedDev Ontario). Thanks to the Riverside BIA for project coordination and community liaison support, and thanks to TSCC-1831 Broadview Lofts for providing the wall space for public art.
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