Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation Chief Bryan LaForme and Councillor Pam McConnell (Ward 28, Toronto Centre-Rosedale) will be joined by artist Rolande Souliere and representatives from the community to unveil a new mural at the Bala Pedestrian Underpass, as part of the StreetARToronto Program.
Date: Friday, October 2, 2015
Time: 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Location: Underpass of Lower Don River Trail with Bala Rail Line
The mural, created by celebrated artist Rolande Souliere, uses the principle concerns and aesthetic of Souliere’s art practice to reference the historical Aboriginal trails and footpaths that crisscrossed the Don Valley. Souliere’s mural for the Bala Underpass uses the colour symbolism of the Four Directions (red, white, black and yellow) in a way that simultaneously evokes the culture and spirituality of First Peoples’ beadwork and the visual language of barricades, urban roadways and boundaries.
Working across disciplines of painting, sculpture, photography and more recently collage, Rolande’s practice is primarily installation that combines abstraction with organic forms, the hand crafted and the assisted readymade. Her cultural heritage remains a poignant element of her art practice.
StART, launched in 2012, is a program of Transportation Services’ Public Realm Section. It is an innovative, public-private partnership designed to develop, support, promote and increase awareness of street art and its ability to beautify the city’s visual landscape. StART’s Underpass Program provides opportunities for artists to create works of art that contribute to the program mandate; make walking, cycling or driving through Toronto’s underpasses more appealing; and strengthen the sense of place, inclusion and belonging within communities.
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