The Spirit of St. Clair Mural by Akim MOCA Alum
While we’re all stuck inside our homes these days looking for activities to pass the time it is still important to stay physically active so why not peel yourself off of your couch and take a trek around your neighborhood? If you find yourself in the St. Clair Avenue West area you may even spot ‘The Spirit of St. Clair’ mural at 900 St. Clair Avenue West.
Recently, Canderel and KingSett Capital celebrated the start of construction at 900 St. Clair West on with a sneak peek unveiling of ‘The Spirit of St. Clair” – a massive mural that will eventually span 55 ft. of site frontage along St. Clair West. Inspired by a 1961 photo captured by Eric Trussler of a woman waiting by the transit loop at St. Clair Station, the public art piece recreates the scene while injecting an in-colour present-day TTC streetcar, reflecting the vibrant past, evolving present, and promising future within this community along St. Clair Avenue West.
“Through research and exploration, we noticed that although people continue to move into this neighbourhood, there’s a beautiful way that it coexists. The ‘Spirit of St. Clair’ is shifting demographics yet a strong sense of connectedness. The essence of culture within St. Clair West has, and likely always will, remain,” says Leone McComas, an artist and student at the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Image source: Ziyaad Haniff
This mural was created by Akin MOCA alum Leone McComas, Liang Wang, and David (Nuff) Balogun and organized by Akin’s Ozge Aytekin in collaboration with Canderel.
