Toronto: Community-engaged art project transforms Wilson subway station in North York

[marmar]

When Natalie Volkova walks to or from her North York home, she no longer passes by “plain concrete” as she makes her way through a pedestrian tunnel at Wilson subway station. She passes by a meaningful cultural space instead.

Volkova has been living near the subway station, at Wilson Avenue and Allen Road, for more than a year and uses the station daily. She was among dozens of local residents who turned out for the recent unveiling of “Daily Migration,” a 1,400-square-foot mural by Canadian-Chilean artist Shalak Attack that transformed the station into a cultural space.

“It’s a new neighbourhood and it’s a developing one,” Volkova said of the area southeast of the subway station, where several residential buildings have been built over the past few years.

The mural, she said, is a “way to attract more people here because it’s a nice touch to the otherwise gloomy” pedestrian tunnel at the station, which sees more than 17,000 daily visitors. “It’s very beautiful. It’s very bright and vivid, and it tells a nice story,” she said of the artwork. “Every day when you walk in there, it’s not just the plain concrete anymore. (There’s) something to look at and enjoy.” .............(more)

https://www.toronto.com/news-story/10504406-community-engaged-art-project-transforms-wilson-subway-station-in-north-york/?