My " King Street : East and West " mandala is on the way.
Can you guess what I will have as the centre ?
There is something very special that happened at the King Eddy ( named after King Edward V11 ) in 1964 and I was there !
In 1880, King Street was known as " The Great Thoroughfare of Toronto " as great hotels were
built along its way : The Queen' s Hotel ( 1873 ) on Front Street ( later the Royal York built on that spot...1903 ) , and of course, The Wheat Sheaf Inn at Bathurst and King ( 1849 ) where soldiers from Fort York stopped by to enjoy a mug or two.
This mandala will take you from the mansions at Roncesvalles in the east to the old home of The Canadian Opera Company in the east.
In a 1923 Visitors' Guide " Toronto : A Public Ownership City " , publicly-owned hydro, TTC, waterworks and a civic abbatoir highlighted as a feature attraction of Toronto.
I hope to complete this mandala in 2 weeks as I continue my journey along King George 111' s namesake.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/home-and-garden/real-estate/article1734637.ece
Welcome to Toronto Neighbourhood Mandalas, a collection of unique mandalas featuring many of Toronto's neighbourhoods.
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Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
" Ossington Village " mandala # 28 completed + Mandala List Update
" Ossington Village " mandala was officially completed on March 20, 2011.
This area is the stretch that runs from Queen Street West and Ossington to Ossington to Dundas.
It also includes a bit north of Dundas and east and west of Ossington.
It truly resembles a little village, with cozy little spots for sweet meetings for a coffee or a martini or a bite with friends and family.
Looking down the side streets one can imagine the inspiration felt by Lawren Harris of the Group of Seven, who maybe sauntered by while looking all around and sketching his old Toronto homes in the snow. And not far by hurried a young lady, who lived on Ossington Crescent, trying not to be late for her day shift at the York Knitting Mills at Queen and Shaw, c1930's, now The Candy Factory Lofts. How many times a year she must have walked up and down Ossington or cut through Bellwoods Park with its deep hills ( now filled in) to Queen street West ? Was the White Squirrel family to be seen scampering by way back then ?
My mandala maps it all out in a fun organic way with characters and other icons representing that location.
The facades of most buildings remain and this is a wonderful thing. Entrepreneurs are preserving them and we are able to walk into places where our ancestors perhaps once did. Several garages eventually dotted the area and some are now being converted into unique stores........a must see ! Young designers show their wares and they are a privilege to behold. There is no end to creativity.
Here, in Ossington Village, one is able to relish in sitting on a stool or booth in " The Lakeview Lunch " , for example, and imagine the day back in 1932 when it first opened. Many banana splits and sundaes were topped with pure whipped cream and cherries. Many milkshakes were made with the green machines sitting in the front window today. Terrific names of new places call everyone to " Come and see, come and see what we've done to make you happy in Ossington Village. We will keep your dreams safe here ".
Thanks to the owners up and down the street for keeping Toronto' s heritage alive and well for the future generation.Tradition rules.
Thank you to those who have lived there for the last 100 years for not destroying it.
I salute you !
http://www.theglobeandmail.co
Here is an updated list of my " Toronto Neighbourhood Mandalas " :
My, and many others' ( whom I have encountered through showing my work ) love of Toronto has kept me going and after 4 years I have completed 28, as of March 20, 2011 ! Each one has " key " and I am now working on King Street- East and West. Can you guess what will be in the centre ?
So here is my Toronto Neighbourhood Mandalas' roll call , in order of creation since October 2007 :
1. Kensington Market......................................Spadina to Augusta/Dundas to College/+side streets
2. Queen West................................................Dufferin Street to University Avenue
3. Church/Wellesley Village..............................Church Street from Dundas to Wellesley
4. College Street.............................................Lansdowne to Yonge Street
5. The Beach ( es ).........................................Woodbine to TTC loop
6. Parkdale/Sunnyside....................................Dufferin to Roncesvalles, south on the Lakeshore
7. Downtown Toronto....................................Bird's eye view: City Halls, Islands, Harbourfront,Osgoode
8. St. Clair/Wychwood...................................Keele to Bathurst/Wychwood/Vaughan Roads
9. The Annex..................................................Bathurst to Spadina
10. St. Lawrence Market/TheMarket Block......King to Front/Church to Jarvis
11. Yorkville.....................................................Yorkville/Cumberland/Bloor @Bay
12. Roncy/High Park/Bloor West Village
13. Cabbagetown..............................................Wellesley to College
14. The Junction.................................................Keele and Dundas to Runnymede
15. Weston........................................................The Town of Weston...Lawrence area
16. Leslieville......................................................Queen Street East...Carlaw toWoodbine Avenue
17. Riverdale......................................................Danforth/The Don Valley/Queen Street East/Pape
18. Bloordale/Bloorcourt....................................Lansdowne to Christie
19. Dundas Street West..................................... Roncesvalles to Yonge Street
20. Etobicoke.....................................................Mimico/New Toronto/Lakeshore West/Bloor
21. Forest Hill.....................................................Eglinton/Cedarville Park/St. Clair/Avenue Road/CasaLoma
22. The Toronto Islands/Harbourfront.................Ward. Centre, Hanlan' s Point
23. Leaside.........................................................Eglinton/Bayview
24. Summerhill/Rosedale.....................................Yonge and east to Bayview
25. St. Clair/Deer Park/Moore Park/Davisville/Yonge and Eg
26. Downsview, aka " The Downsview Flying Club "...................Keele/
27. Olde, Olde, Toronto New....palimpsest.........Lake Ontario to Queen East/Yonge to The Don
28. Ossington Village..........................................Queen West up Ossington to Dundas
29. King Street West
30. Scarborough
31. The Canadian National Exhibition
Each mandala includes bits of architecture, businesses, familiar places - now and of bygone days, including historical notes which may ring a bell to anyone who has lived or lives or visits that particular neighbourhood.
I have thoroughly enjoyed creating every single one of them, due to my love of Toronto, Canada, my birthplace. People always ask me what is my favourite and I must say that they all are. They are all part of the huge Toronto mandala with our hearts beating in the centre. Namaste.
In my blog I will continue to briefly outline my inspiration and evolution in travelling through these "Mandala Journeys ". Try to find a few of my trademarks in each one of them. : )
This area is the stretch that runs from Queen Street West and Ossington to Ossington to Dundas.
It also includes a bit north of Dundas and east and west of Ossington.
It truly resembles a little village, with cozy little spots for sweet meetings for a coffee or a martini or a bite with friends and family.
Looking down the side streets one can imagine the inspiration felt by Lawren Harris of the Group of Seven, who maybe sauntered by while looking all around and sketching his old Toronto homes in the snow. And not far by hurried a young lady, who lived on Ossington Crescent, trying not to be late for her day shift at the York Knitting Mills at Queen and Shaw, c1930's, now The Candy Factory Lofts. How many times a year she must have walked up and down Ossington or cut through Bellwoods Park with its deep hills ( now filled in) to Queen street West ? Was the White Squirrel family to be seen scampering by way back then ?
My mandala maps it all out in a fun organic way with characters and other icons representing that location.
The facades of most buildings remain and this is a wonderful thing. Entrepreneurs are preserving them and we are able to walk into places where our ancestors perhaps once did. Several garages eventually dotted the area and some are now being converted into unique stores........a must see ! Young designers show their wares and they are a privilege to behold. There is no end to creativity.
Here, in Ossington Village, one is able to relish in sitting on a stool or booth in " The Lakeview Lunch " , for example, and imagine the day back in 1932 when it first opened. Many banana splits and sundaes were topped with pure whipped cream and cherries. Many milkshakes were made with the green machines sitting in the front window today. Terrific names of new places call everyone to " Come and see, come and see what we've done to make you happy in Ossington Village. We will keep your dreams safe here ".
Thanks to the owners up and down the street for keeping Toronto' s heritage alive and well for the future generation.Tradition rules.
Thank you to those who have lived there for the last 100 years for not destroying it.
I salute you !
http://www.theglobeandmail.co
Here is an updated list of my " Toronto Neighbourhood Mandalas " :
My, and many others' ( whom I have encountered through showing my work ) love of Toronto has kept me going and after 4 years I have completed 28, as of March 20, 2011 ! Each one has " key " and I am now working on King Street- East and West. Can you guess what will be in the centre ?
So here is my Toronto Neighbourhood Mandalas' roll call , in order of creation since October 2007 :
1. Kensington Market......................................Spadina to Augusta/Dundas to College/+side streets
2. Queen West................................................Dufferin Street to University Avenue
3. Church/Wellesley Village..............................Church Street from Dundas to Wellesley
4. College Street.............................................Lansdowne to Yonge Street
5. The Beach ( es ).........................................Woodbine to TTC loop
6. Parkdale/Sunnyside....................................Dufferin to Roncesvalles, south on the Lakeshore
7. Downtown Toronto....................................Bird's eye view: City Halls, Islands, Harbourfront,Osgoode
8. St. Clair/Wychwood...................................Keele to Bathurst/Wychwood/Vaughan Roads
9. The Annex..................................................Bathurst to Spadina
10. St. Lawrence Market/TheMarket Block......King to Front/Church to Jarvis
11. Yorkville.....................................................Yorkville/Cumberland/Bloor @Bay
12. Roncy/High Park/Bloor West Village
13. Cabbagetown..............................................Wellesley to College
14. The Junction.................................................Keele and Dundas to Runnymede
15. Weston........................................................The Town of Weston...Lawrence area
16. Leslieville......................................................Queen Street East...Carlaw toWoodbine Avenue
17. Riverdale......................................................Danforth/The Don Valley/Queen Street East/Pape
18. Bloordale/Bloorcourt....................................Lansdowne to Christie
19. Dundas Street West..................................... Roncesvalles to Yonge Street
20. Etobicoke.....................................................Mimico/New Toronto/Lakeshore West/Bloor
21. Forest Hill.....................................................Eglinton/Cedarville Park/St. Clair/Avenue Road/CasaLoma
22. The Toronto Islands/Harbourfront.................Ward. Centre, Hanlan' s Point
23. Leaside.........................................................Eglinton/Bayview
24. Summerhill/Rosedale.....................................Yonge and east to Bayview
25. St. Clair/Deer Park/Moore Park/Davisville/Yonge and Eg
26. Downsview, aka " The Downsview Flying Club "...................Keele/
27. Olde, Olde, Toronto New....palimpsest.........Lake Ontario to Queen East/Yonge to The Don
28. Ossington Village..........................................Queen West up Ossington to Dundas
29. King Street West
30. Scarborough
31. The Canadian National Exhibition
Each mandala includes bits of architecture, businesses, familiar places - now and of bygone days, including historical notes which may ring a bell to anyone who has lived or lives or visits that particular neighbourhood.
I have thoroughly enjoyed creating every single one of them, due to my love of Toronto, Canada, my birthplace. People always ask me what is my favourite and I must say that they all are. They are all part of the huge Toronto mandala with our hearts beating in the centre. Namaste.
In my blog I will continue to briefly outline my inspiration and evolution in travelling through these "Mandala Journeys ". Try to find a few of my trademarks in each one of them. : )
" Olde. Olde, Toronto New " ..... Mandala # 27 completed ! (again)
It' s been too long since I last posted. I completed " Olde, Olde Toronto New "...Palimpsest , officially, on January 27, 2011. I kept going back as I added as many details from our history as I thought to be most important.
It tells the story of Toronto, in a small circle, from the Ice Age up until now. There are
bits and pieces included which trace all those years. The area noted in particular is that of The Town of York.
Treasures tucked in places everywhere, as I sought information about Toronto' s beginnings. Remember I was looking for treasures way back in my blog ?
We are so young. The married couple standing on the old Esplanade wharf represent new life as they look out toward Lake Ontario and dream of their future in this town. A young man c1919 also looks out at the lake and watches the ships come in from far away places. He remembers all the picnics that his family had on the Toronto Islands as the ferry boat puts him under its spell.
The very first taxi drives by and the entrepreneur driving it conveys his hope and energy as he goes forward. His dream has come true ! Once a slave in the United States, he escaped jail and travelled to Toronto on the Underground Railroad. Thornton Blackburn was able to live his dream in 1837 and own his own yellow and red 4-seater horse-drawn " City Taxi " . What an inspiration for us all !
This is only one story on my mandala.
It tells the story of Toronto, in a small circle, from the Ice Age up until now. There are
bits and pieces included which trace all those years. The area noted in particular is that of The Town of York.
Treasures tucked in places everywhere, as I sought information about Toronto' s beginnings. Remember I was looking for treasures way back in my blog ?
We are so young. The married couple standing on the old Esplanade wharf represent new life as they look out toward Lake Ontario and dream of their future in this town. A young man c1919 also looks out at the lake and watches the ships come in from far away places. He remembers all the picnics that his family had on the Toronto Islands as the ferry boat puts him under its spell.
The very first taxi drives by and the entrepreneur driving it conveys his hope and energy as he goes forward. His dream has come true ! Once a slave in the United States, he escaped jail and travelled to Toronto on the Underground Railroad. Thornton Blackburn was able to live his dream in 1837 and own his own yellow and red 4-seater horse-drawn " City Taxi " . What an inspiration for us all !
This is only one story on my mandala.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Olde, Olde Toronto New
Finally, I am putting the finishing touches on mandala # 27. I took a hiatus break for the last 2 weeks and
just got back to work on this piece yesterday.
So many interesting details have emerged about Toronto's past, that I have had to make decisions on what and
what not to include in it. I hope it generally rounds off a good cross-section of society which evolved from
the Ice Age 12,000 years ago until now in the area of Queen to the north, Lake Ontario to the south, Parliament to
the east and University to the west.
So many of the buildings remain in Olde Toronto today and to see them would be well worth a trip from anywhere.
They represent how our city, so very young, was formed.
My mandala shows the early inhabitants of this area which lasted for 9000 years. What an incredible story
about how they survived on the land !
I will always remember this poem as I had to memorize as a child in school ( Yes, memorize ! We always had to
memorize poetry and recite it in class.....it was a fantastic assignment, as it taught us to concentrate and
learn new vocabulary and so many other skills which I won't mention right now. )
So here it is ( maybe you know it ) :
Every time I said it, I would imagine how it was as described in the poem.
My dad always took me to the ROM to see the displays of native culture and I'm sure that
it inculcated in me a feeling of actually being there. And now in my mandala I am bringing
alive visually a little wee bit of the past. My journey through Toronto has many, many more
nooks and crannies to " goldingmandaleyes " and my next will be King Street.
My journey begins at Roncesvalles-by-the-lake, a little portion which is already on my
Parkdale and Roncesvalles/High Park/Bloor West Village mandalas.
just got back to work on this piece yesterday.
So many interesting details have emerged about Toronto's past, that I have had to make decisions on what and
what not to include in it. I hope it generally rounds off a good cross-section of society which evolved from
the Ice Age 12,000 years ago until now in the area of Queen to the north, Lake Ontario to the south, Parliament to
the east and University to the west.
So many of the buildings remain in Olde Toronto today and to see them would be well worth a trip from anywhere.
They represent how our city, so very young, was formed.
My mandala shows the early inhabitants of this area which lasted for 9000 years. What an incredible story
about how they survived on the land !
I will always remember this poem as I had to memorize as a child in school ( Yes, memorize ! We always had to
memorize poetry and recite it in class.....it was a fantastic assignment, as it taught us to concentrate and
learn new vocabulary and so many other skills which I won't mention right now. )
So here it is ( maybe you know it ) :
Indian Children
Where we walk to school each day
Indian children used to play
All about our native land,
Where the shops and houses stand.
Indian children used to play
All about our native land,
Where the shops and houses stand.
And the trees were very tall,
And there were no streets at all,
Not a church and not a steeple
Only woods and Indian people.
And there were no streets at all,
Not a church and not a steeple
Only woods and Indian people.
Only wigwams on the ground,
And at night bears prowling round
What a different place to-day
Where we live and work and play!
And at night bears prowling round
What a different place to-day
Where we live and work and play!
Annette Wynne
Every time I said it, I would imagine how it was as described in the poem.
My dad always took me to the ROM to see the displays of native culture and I'm sure that
it inculcated in me a feeling of actually being there. And now in my mandala I am bringing
alive visually a little wee bit of the past. My journey through Toronto has many, many more
nooks and crannies to " goldingmandaleyes " and my next will be King Street.
My journey begins at Roncesvalles-by-the-lake, a little portion which is already on my
Parkdale and Roncesvalles/High Park/Bloor West Village mandalas.
Monday, November 29, 2010
In with the OLDE, now, in with the NEW !
I have pretty well completed all the Olde icons on my new mandala and now am adding those from the present. Can you guess what some of them may be ?
But, a nice thing about it is that much of the Olde is still there.
I don't want to give away what the centre essence is, yet, because I want it it be a surprise when the circle is complete.
I decide on what will be in the centre at many different times during the course of its creation.
For example, I know right away what it will be or , do not know until the very end. The centre of the current one in progress came to me last Thursday. That' s how it happens : it is truly a eureka moment !
It's as if the mandala has a mind of its own.
So, I move forward with the NEW, and hopefully I will have it all wrapped up in 3 days, ready for its debut !
But, a nice thing about it is that much of the Olde is still there.
I don't want to give away what the centre essence is, yet, because I want it it be a surprise when the circle is complete.
I decide on what will be in the centre at many different times during the course of its creation.
For example, I know right away what it will be or , do not know until the very end. The centre of the current one in progress came to me last Thursday. That' s how it happens : it is truly a eureka moment !
It's as if the mandala has a mind of its own.
So, I move forward with the NEW, and hopefully I will have it all wrapped up in 3 days, ready for its debut !
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
" Little by little......
" Little by little the bird builds his nest."
" Petit a petit l' oiseau fait son nid. "
And little by little Toronto grew out of nothing. A blank page, just like my mandalas. Buildings were initially made out of wood and a lot of that timber was cut down in Downsview leaving the location with a loss of many, many, many varieties of trees. This has been noted on " The Downsview Flying Club " Mandala.To this day, Downsview is rather barren in some areas. The wood was used for fuel, buildings, and shipbuilding. And as time went on, many of the buildings burned down because of those wooden structures.
And so more articulate architectural styles were introduced using brick and stone. I have included many on this " Olde Toronto New " mandala. Many classical styles were chosen for their strength as seen in european buldings which architects of the 1800' s saw prior to coming to Canada. And many are still with us 200 years later.
If you have time, I hope you are able to walk around the Olde Town of York streets ( Front to Queen/Parliament to Yonge ) and you will see the beauty before your own eyes. Look for the plaques on designated Heritage Buildings. You will look up and see the richness in the handwork and be amazed that dedicated people have saved these gifts from our heritage. Try to appreciate the effort and hard work that went into their making.
( Please excuse the missing accent marks on petit, as they are not available on this keyboard. Thank you.
I shall try to rectify this in the near future. )
" Petit a petit l' oiseau fait son nid. "
And little by little Toronto grew out of nothing. A blank page, just like my mandalas. Buildings were initially made out of wood and a lot of that timber was cut down in Downsview leaving the location with a loss of many, many, many varieties of trees. This has been noted on " The Downsview Flying Club " Mandala.To this day, Downsview is rather barren in some areas. The wood was used for fuel, buildings, and shipbuilding. And as time went on, many of the buildings burned down because of those wooden structures.
And so more articulate architectural styles were introduced using brick and stone. I have included many on this " Olde Toronto New " mandala. Many classical styles were chosen for their strength as seen in european buldings which architects of the 1800' s saw prior to coming to Canada. And many are still with us 200 years later.
If you have time, I hope you are able to walk around the Olde Town of York streets ( Front to Queen/Parliament to Yonge ) and you will see the beauty before your own eyes. Look for the plaques on designated Heritage Buildings. You will look up and see the richness in the handwork and be amazed that dedicated people have saved these gifts from our heritage. Try to appreciate the effort and hard work that went into their making.
( Please excuse the missing accent marks on petit, as they are not available on this keyboard. Thank you.
I shall try to rectify this in the near future. )
Monday, November 22, 2010
Many have followed their dreams in Toronto.....
From across the archipalego in the Bering Strait they travelled along, following a liveable climate and
available foods. Being as resourceful and diligent as they possibly could they trekked on as they came closer and closer to Lake Ontario. They followed the animals and rivers and creeks all through to the shores.
12,000 ago we were covered with a glacier and as it gradually melted ( Was this the first sign of global warming ? ) it left land forms and temperatures which attracted the first human dwellers of southern Ontario.....the fluted point peoples. From as far back as 9,000 years , evidence has been found that people
lived and hunted and sought a better way of life.
My Old Toronto New mandala begins right at that time, follows these people and their ways up until the earliest europeans arrived in the area. Layer upon layer upon layer upon layer our city was built and the layers are easily on view throughout , if you really look. In a way everything has changed, but when one examines closely....nothing has changed.
And I will show you how that is in my mandala-in-progress.
available foods. Being as resourceful and diligent as they possibly could they trekked on as they came closer and closer to Lake Ontario. They followed the animals and rivers and creeks all through to the shores.
12,000 ago we were covered with a glacier and as it gradually melted ( Was this the first sign of global warming ? ) it left land forms and temperatures which attracted the first human dwellers of southern Ontario.....the fluted point peoples. From as far back as 9,000 years , evidence has been found that people
lived and hunted and sought a better way of life.
My Old Toronto New mandala begins right at that time, follows these people and their ways up until the earliest europeans arrived in the area. Layer upon layer upon layer upon layer our city was built and the layers are easily on view throughout , if you really look. In a way everything has changed, but when one examines closely....nothing has changed.
And I will show you how that is in my mandala-in-progress.
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