PHOTOS: Artists festoon Vaughan’s downtown core with 30,000-square-foot murals

Thestar.com
July 26, 2021

From birds to the warm sun, vibrant graffiti has emerged to liven up Vaughan’s emerging downtown core, transforming it from what was previously a Walmart at 101 Edgeley Blvd. into a breathtaking work of art.

In early 2020, a lease for an existing Walmart was terminated to open up land for new condos in downtown Vaughan.

SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust -- behind the 100-acre master-planned city centre in the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre -- recently unveiled ArtWalk, which also features food trucks and a movie drive-in. It has also collaborated with renowned LNDMRK, the art agency responsible for Montreal’s MURAL Festival.

The ArtWalk murals were painted over a three-week period in June, using more than 300 gallons and 1,000 cans of paint to complete the 30,000-square-foot canvas.

So here is a run down of the art pieces:

"Here Comes the Sun" by Spanish-based artist Ricardo Cavolo

Spanish-based Ricardo Cavolo, a revered artist whose eclectic style is inspired by relationships with comic, cartoon, outsider art and tribal arts, made his GTA debut with his mural “Here Comes the Sun” on the southern façade of the building. Due to COVID-related travel restrictions, Ricardo directed the painting of his work virtually from Spain.

Cavalo’s mural continues his work of sharing positive and optimistic messages. The bold vibrant piece represents individuals sharing their inner light with the world during a difficult time.

"Birds of a Feather" by Toronto-based multidisciplinary artist birdO

The western façade features “Birds of a Feather”, a striking mural by iconic Toronto native Jerry Rugg, known as birdO. The piece juxtaposes a soft pink palette and a surreal kingfisher bird with bold geometric shapes. birdO’s work has been featured on walls and buildings around the world, all of which thoughtfully pay homage to the local culture and surroundings. “Birds of a Feather” was designed to invite curious and eccentric art lovers to SmartVMC as the area emerges as a cultural destination in Ontario.

"An exploration of our time-space. A reverberation of our endless transformation." by Montreal-based artist Jeremy Shantz

The eastern façade features Montreal-based Jeremy Shantz’s artful exploration of time, space and endless transformation. His mural depicts a figurative character, separated into multiple pieces and floating detached in space. Through this imagery, Shantz aspired to symbolically demonstrate the numerous elements required to create both an impactful piece of work and a creative community.

The northern façade features “Better Together”, a mural by local Toronto multidisciplinary artist, Ben Johnston.

Johnston’s mural uses a bold red and orange typeface to remind visitors that our voyage on Earth is limited by time and space, and that we need to band together to create lasting memories.