This sculpture of Hermes, the Greek messenger god, is found in the quadrangle at Hart House and is slightly visible towards the centre of yesterday's pic. I can find no info on the artist but did find info on an etching of it done in 1920 so it was probably installed soon after the building opened in 1919. The patina gives us a good indication that it has been out there for a long time.
I have shown several pics of Hart House and some of its art that you can see by clicking the Hart House label below, but decided to take the tour during Doors Open of a couple of weeks ago. This is the inner quadrangle of the Gothic Revival building and it is a lovely space that includes a patio for al fresco dining and also for many wedding receptions, a usage which was not always allowed since Hart House was male-only from its construction in 1919 until 1972 when women were finally allowed throughout the structure. It was built as a student activity centre but only for male students!
I was wandering along King St and spotted this wonderful rusty gate positioned between an older restored building and a newly constructed one and it looked as if it belonged to neither. I have since discovered that this walkway leads to a Spanish tapas restaurant called Patria that has just recently opened. Love that metalwork!
Taking part in Signs, Signs. Click here for more signs.
Early on a Sunday morning is probably the only time you would want to be standing in the middle of Adelaide St taking pics as I was for this one. St Mary's Roman Catholic Church on Bathurst St makes a perfect terminus for the street. This Gothic Revival church was finished in 1905 and served for an Irish congregation then but now is a major centre for the Portuguese community in the city. I'll have to get a close-up on another Sunday morning!
I am back to the murals in the Islington neighbourhood and the snow gives a hint that I took this pic in March but never got around to posting it. This is yet another mural painted by John Kuna and it is called "Prodigy" since it depicts a young Glenn Gould taking piano lessons at the Royal Conservatory of Music on Bloor St, and this building housed a satellite location of the Conservatory from the 1950s through the 80s. Gould, the most celebrated former student of the RCM, is pictured against a background showing the new concert hall (Koerner Hall) at the Conservatory.
Taking part in Monday Murals. Click here for more murals.
My last day at the Munk building and I had to show you one of the many great doors found in the building. You can really see the skill of the bricklayers on all in the doorways throughout the whole building. That fuzzy sign is one of many ticker-tape style news boards that are found along the hallways.
I didn't show much of the art that is all over the building, except in the round room where you can see some, but they are considering having a guided tour of their art during Doors Open next year.
I like this pic because it shows the wonderful brickwork in the Munk School of Global Affairs building with each edge of the arches and all of the corners in the building made with these lovely curved bricks. And the new millwork of doors and trim show the same level of craftsmanship as that of the original building's work.
