Monday Mural

  I'm linking up at Monday Mural 

June 2025 - Toronto ON

I found a Bordalo II here in Toronto in Little Portugal on the weekend!! Titled Eastern Cottontail.

Click on Bordalo II in the tags/labels below this post to see more Bordalo in Portugal and the States,

The mastermind behind the piece is none other than Lisbon-born artist Artur Bordalo, who uses the name Bordalo II in tribute to his grandfather. 

The BIA Little Portugal with the official support of Portuguese Embassy, partnering with Café Pessoa – Cultural Strategies, based in Lisbon, invited the artist Bordalo II to take over the Dundas’ West corner. / Objeto de arte do artista Bordalo II no Little Portugal, na Dundas St W (sul) a oeste da Lisgar.

Bordalo's "Big Trash Animals" series represents animals — which are built almost exclusively with garbage — on a large scale, inviting us to take a hard look at our own consumerist habits.

The series now consists of nearly 200 pieces around the globe and usually depicts native, endangered, or even extinct species. 

The production of each piece involves collecting materials, cutting and adapting the collected material, as well as assembling, fixing, and painting the garbage. 

A few others found along Dundas. If you click on the label/tag "Dundas West Open AirMuseum" below this post you will find other murals along this street from previous years.

Called Scratching the Surface, is etched on the side of 1628 Dundas St. W. and comes from another  Portuguese artist Vhils (AKA Alexandre Farto).

Vhils, whose work is found around the world, is known for his bas-relief carving technique — carving, cutting, drilling and at times blasting with explosives  in a "creative destruction process."

There is a sign that says “In 1975, night cleaners who worked in the Queen’s Park building organized for better pay. These women sparked a movement known as Cleaner’s Action."

From his Instagram post he explains:

“Part of my ​ongoing Scratching the Surface project, this new mural celebrates and honours the Portuguese immigrant women who toiled as janitorial workers in the high-rise office towers in downtown Toronto in the 1970’s. Portuguese “cleaning ladies” have been a constant presence in the lives of countless Portuguese-Canadians as mothers, wives, breadwinners, community members, and activists, and are an example of strength, resilience, perseverance and courage for us all. "

Cleaner's Action, an advocacy group founded in 1975 to support Portuguese cleaners. Its origins are linked to a “contracting-out crisis” precipitated by the actions of the Ontario government at its Queen’s Park building-complex. That year, the Ministry of Government Services undermined an organizing drive among cleaners that led to a first union contract as Local 204 of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) by cancelling its contract with the original cleaning company and signing a new contract with a different company. Forced to accept low wages to keep their jobs, the women also turned for support to community workers with St Christopher (settlement) House. Cleaners’ Action’s assisted night cleaners with their individual problems and worked with them to address workplace challenges.

Influenced by sixties-era progressivism, teacher Sidney Pratt left Indianapolis for Brazil, where she applied the teachings of Paolo Freire, was a literacy activist, and participated in organizations of the international Christian left. During her Toronto years (1972-1987), she worked with the Free Interpreter Service at St Christopher (settlement) House, where she also initiated Cleaners’ Action among other programs. As an Ontario government civil servant, she initiated English in the Workplace classes and literacy classes for immigrants. She lives in Brazil. Portuguese-born Marcie Ponte (Santa Maria) first became involved in immigrant women’s activism as a college student, initially with St. Stephen’s Community House. She was a union organizer for the International Lady Garment Workers Union and served on the Labour Council. Since 1999, she has been Executive Director of the Working Women Community Centre, a woman-focused settlement agency for newcomers.

 Painted on wood and digitally reproduced on vinyl, 8th Fire by Philip Cote, is a visual journey into the Indigenous history and ongoing Indigenous narrative of the greater Toronto area, serving as compelling graphic acknowledgement of the continued contributions of Indigenous creators to the culture of our city.

The mural title refers to a 1200 year-old prophecy that foretold the age of the 8th Fire when settlers and the Indigenous people would come together and create a new space for future generations.

From fatspatrol's Instagram

On her way to the airport leaving Toronto @hera_herakut called to tell me she was leaving the start of a mural on Dundas West she wanted me to finish. 🙌 Like a call and response!
So I trotted out, found this beautiful little bird person and added the piece on the left and the stars to create a story.. Something about sharing magic. Stories and wisdom. Art. All the good things in the world. ✨