A RUNNING DEER, a chickadee peacefully sitting, a frog playing while a caterpillar quietly creeps, these are the subjects of three wonderful paintings created by young Torontonians, winners and contestants of Robert Bateman’s annual Get to Know Art contest, now featured in Duplex Parkette.
If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to come and see this wall of art recently, I encourage you to do so. The newest mural, painted by six-year-old Truman Wood Lockyer and eight-year-old Philip Nicoletti, is a delightful addition to the work that has been on display since last summer.
This unique feature of Duplex Parkette began through a partnership with Robert Bateman and the City of Toronto’s Clean and Beautiful program. For almost 10 years, Bateman has undertaken a variety of initiatives to encourage young Canadians to get to know nature, including an art contest.
In addition to having winning work featured in a calendar, some of the Toronto-based entries will also have their work displayed in our park.
The project is a fantastic way to showcase the talent and imagination of young people as well as making our public spaces even more beautiful. The intention is to add a new mural each year.
Regrettably, the retaining wall upon which the murals are hung has been a magnet for graffiti and vandalism. On several occasions, our office has teamed up with police from 53 Division and students from Glenview Senior Public School to repaint the wall. Efforts were even made to plant vines on the wall to deter future vandalism, but with little success.
To protect this lovely feature of Duplex Parkette, I ask you to report any graffiti to my office, and we will ensure that it gets cleaned up. But most importantly, take a walk in Duplex Parkette and enjoy the creative landscape.