It may be difficult to find positives during a global health pandemic, but two City of Toronto initiatives, ActiveTO and CafeTO, have been examples of innovative thinking in trying to make the best of a very bad situation. Another is ArtworxTO: Toronto’s Year of Public Art 2021-2022, which heralds the start of the city’s ten-year Public Art Strategy. The ArtworxTO mission is to celebrate Toronto’s exceptional public art collection and the artists behind it, which is bringing both the public and private sectors together supporting both new and existing artwork that reflects Toronto’s diversity.

Real estate developer Collecdev, developers of Cielo Condos at 300 Bloor Street West, is one such private company that is supporting the arts initiative to ensure private and public spaces are designed to engage and inspire society as a whole. Collecdev is sponsoring an ArtworxTO installation—the Dupont Street Mural—by the prolific street artist Troy Lovegates.

Generally Speaking, Yorkville, Toronto, by African American artist Nina Chanet Abney

One of the most recent ArtworxTO installations is “Generally Speaking”, a dramatic 120-foot mural located in Yorkville near Cielo Condos. It is the first public piece in Canada by New York City’s African American artist Nina Chanet Abney, aiming to raise awareness of cultural and gender-based hate, urging the viewer to stop for a moment of consideration to begin the process of healing through art. The free public art is a celebration of the creativity and imagination that exists across Toronto.

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