Intentionally placed in the Yorkville district, known to be one of Canada’s most exclusive shopping and entertainment districts.
Once rooted in social and political conversations, pop-culture and urbanism and was once the breeding ground for some of Canada’s most notable musical talents. The murals placement in the Yorkville neighbourhood acts as an intervention, confronting the districts own battle with classism and socio-economic status.
The message is love. It’s anti-discrimination, anti-hate. It’s an affirmation and reconfirmation that this was meant to be there.
As the city begins its recovery on the tail end of a global pandemic and the urgency for social justice and reform, this project animates and transforms the Yorkville neighbourhood by injecting sentiments of joy and hope through a bold and colourful piece, that challenges the status quo. Asking pedestrians to ‘stop’ for a moment of consideration on how we can embark on a communal process of healing through art and intentional contemplation. With the continuous calls for justice against racial, cultural, and gender-based violence, discrimination, hate crimes, abuses of authority, and wrongful displacements across nations, we assert the notion of alliance, humanity, and togetherness—reinforcing the power and influence of love.” —Ashley McKenzie-Barnes
HYPERALLERGIC
Culture Type
CBC
Streets of Toronto
She Does The City
Daily Hive
Curated by Ashley McKenzie-Barnes
Presented by ArtworxTO
Produced by Yorkville Murals
Production artists: Jeff Blackburn, Smolik
Public relations: DM Public