CANADA: Still Life in Toronto

Outdoor art is common in Toronto, integrating public art into urban landscapes.

There are statues throughout the city creating still life scenes.

Near the Hockey Hall of Fame is the statue called  “Our Game”. 

For those that don't know, the national sport in Canada is hockey.

Unveiled in 1993, this 17-foot bronze sculpture depicts a group of young hockey players eagerly leaning over the boards, full of energy and excitement. 

They bring to life the joy of the game and the spirit of Canada’s favorite sport.

Its not too tough to figure out that I love dogs. I think this fountain is so cute. It is the Berczy Park Dog Fountain, unveiled in 2017, in downtown Toronto.

There are 27 sculptures of various dog breeds, including a Golden Retriever, Great Dane puppy, Bernese Mountain Dog, Giant Schnauzer and West Highland Terrier, all playfully spouting water. 

At the top of the fountain the dogs gaze up at a golden bone. 

The elephant statues are called "Tembo, Mother of Elephants" and depict a mother elephant leading her two calves toward a fountain in the courtyard. "Tembo," meaning "elephant" in Swahili, stands over 9 feet tall and is one of the largest bronze elephant sculptures in the world.

This one is called "He Was on a Ride to a Safer Place with Rabbitwoman and Dogman". (Try saying that quickly three times.) The piece aims to "deliver messages of equality, acceptance, and conservation.” 

 In Toronto's Yorkville neighborhood, there is another in the series of Rabbitwoman and Dogman called "Table of Love". Look closely, the sculpture sits outside a lawyers office. My first thoughts were they are divorce lawyers discussing either a prenup or divorce settlement. But what do I know - apparently the piece "symbolizes unity and love to convey messages of connection and conservation." 

 This one is called "The Pasture", installed in 1985 in the financial district. There are seven life-sized bronze cows lounging on the grassy plaza between the downtown towers.

Completed in June 2001, on the grounds of Manulife Financials' Head Office, this bronze installation features 21 life-sized figures spanning over 8 meters in length and standing 2 meters tall. The sculpture represents the "diversity and interconnectedness of people which align with the company’s image and commitment to social responsibility".

I think this collection of statues at the Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital are so joyful. The Leap features 20 life-sized sculptures of people in dynamic poses such as dancing, leaping, and stretching. 

The installation is designed "to express the capabilities of the physical form through movement and aims to inspire hope and aspiration in patients, families, and the community."

Which reminds me - 

I need to keep active and stay mobile too.