September 2011
31 posts
IDEAS WORTH SHARING
I have spent more time than I would like to admit YouTubing TED Talks, so naturally I was thrilled to be accepted as a delegate for this year’s TEDX Toronto event.
Redefinition was the theme of the day. The event’s speakers ranged from tech wizards to doctors to activists and teachers. Nicholas Shiefer, a grade twelve student, discussed his frustration with current search ...
DRAWING CLASS AT CITY HALL
Last week, I attended a figurative drawing class at City Hall. The class took place before the ten o’clock Council meeting in which Ford’s proposed cuts to the Arts were to be debated. All onlookers were invited to draw the Counselors as they debated the fate of the Arts. Those who submitted their drawings at the end of the meeting will be included in an art show called...
GOOD FRIENDS
A number of weeks ago, we were contacted by Iva, a student at Humber College (Lakeshore Campus). She expressed her frustration at drabness of the the school’s surround saying “commuting everyday through cement-filled and highway-crossed Etobicoke is not the most visually appealing of experiences.” Iva’s thought was to add colour to the area with a GOOD BIKE. Though...
ST JAMES TOWN BIKE REDUX
On August 27, we joined The Bicycle Commons and a number of other cycling community groups at the St. James Town Bike Redux, a free bicycle clinic that set-up shop at the Wellesley Community Centre. Mechanics from Bike Sauce, The Toronto Cyclists Union, Charlie’s Freewheels and a number of other organizations came together to tune-up, repair and teach. There was even a bicycle wash...
GOOD LOVE
I was messing around with a disposable camera the other day, and I took some photos of the good bikes while cycling near home. Here’s some of the pictures if you’d like to use them.
Anthony (Toronto)
GOOD FRIENDS
This project started with a trip to the Bomb Shelter on Spadina in May. What we thought would be a one-time shop-stop morphed quickly into something huge, and soon we were dropping by the Bomb Shelter every few days for more spray paint. Dolling out advice and nozzles from behind the counter was Jedi, a retired B-boy and serious cyclist who bikes in to town from Scarborough daily. Thank you,...
GOOD FRIENDS
An artist herself, Ananya has dedicated many days to our project that could have otherwise been spent making her own art. We first met Ananya at our painting event in Kensington Market. Although the sun was scorching and the masks we had to wear were suffocating, Ananya painted bike after bike, stopping only to hydrate herself and comment enthusiastically on the music selection. The next day,...
GOOD FRIENDS
Blake Macfarlane crouching on College, getting footage for his amazing GOOD BIKE short. The film also features his own music track —- check it out! Thank you, Blake!
GOOD BIKE
125 KING STREET EAST ————— During the 1950s Painters Eleven member, John Hodgson, worked out of the third floor of a factory at the corner of King and Church. Hodgson was perhaps the wildest member of the group of abstract painters known as “the wild ones of Canadian art.” He threw legendary parties at the studio; his most famous – a party in which he projected...
GOOD BIKE
17 ST JOSEPH ST ——- A Space Gallery was incorporated as a not-for-profit in 1971, making it one of the oldest artist-run centres in Canada. Artist run centres emerged on the Canadian art scene as re-imagined gallery spaces, managed by practicing artists as opposed to administrators or curators. On its fortieth anniversary, A Space should look back with pride at the pioneering stand its taken...
GOOD BIKE
Severn St ——- Tucked away behind the Rosedale ravine is a three story loft space where the iconic Group of Seven lived and worked for forty years. The studio complex with north facing windows was built by Lawren Harris in 1913.
GOOD LOVE
This post-it was left on a painted bike that we had forgotten out back behind the OCAD U Student Gallery overnight. Thank you for the pep-talk, stranger! This was a serious treat.
GOOD BIKE
HART HOUSE CIRCLE ————— Hart House was the centre of cultural activity at the University of Toronto when I was student at Trinity College in the 1970’s and continues to be so today. I was involved in numerous theatrical productions and art exhibitions and saw both historical and contemporary art work first hand on a regular basis on campus. A historic site, Hart...
GOOD BIKE
AUGUSTA AVE AND QUEEN ST W ——- Behind the increasingly sterile, branded commercial spaces of Queen Street West lie some of the cities most colourful, vibrant and artistic walls. Recently, our Mayor threatened to “clean up” the graffiti alley by white washing the murals and tags that transform the space from a decrepit back alley to an outdoor art exhibit. Thanks to City...
GOOD LOVE
Just wanted to thank you guys for the great bike. We love it, it looks cool out there. Keep up the good work! All the best,
Paul, Tricia and everyone from the Commy
GOOD FRIENDS
Where would we be without Ray of The Bicycle Commons? Ray is our guardian angel. He showed up at our door one day to offer us bike locks and a helping hand, just when we needed both. Our confidence in the City was waning as it looked increasingly like their promise to offer up sponsors was an empty one. We were weeks into the project and had yet to get any of our good bikes out onto the street...
GOOD BIKE
215 BLEECKER ST——- St. James town is Canada’s most densely populated neighbourhood, and one of its most culturally diverse; all on account of the high-rise developments that went up onsite in 1950s. Jane Jacobs was against the construction of apartment towers, making the successes and failures of this inner-city community ripe for a related case study.
GOOD BIKE
UNIVERSITY AVE AND GERRARD ST W ——- This bike is a very special bike as it was donated to us by Tony Wolfaardt in memory of his wife, Barbara, who died of breast cancer last year. Barbara was an avid cyclist, whose daschund used to enjoy riding as a passenger in her basket. Together, Tony and Barbara started Cancer Warriors, which is why we chose to paint the bike light pink and place...
GOOD BIKE
SHALE PIT ——- Past and present students of Lambton Kingsway Elementary School all have an affection for the Shale Pit behind the school’s grounds. It’s where we held hands, made flower wreathes, went tobogganing on garbage bags during lunchtime, and tasted independence for the first time. This bike is particularly for the P.A. Sleepover Club, the group with which I spent my...
GOOD BIKE
SORAUREN PARK GATE ——- This bike marks a one of the few remaining factory buildings in Toronto still operating as artist studios. Jesjit Gill, who designed the good bike graphic, works here in a space plastered with artist proofs, paper samples, drawings and the like. The freight elevator and iron paned windows compel us to say: ‘they just don’t make ‘em like they...
GOOD BIKE
80 WINCHESTER ST ——- Nestled among the old Victorian houses of Cabbage town, sits The Winchester Street Theatre. The constant sound of feet stomping and pattering on the creaky wood floors echo throughout the tall ceilings and brick walls of the converted Church. The theatre provides a variety of classes that range from ballet to modern to African dance and although the venue feels...
GOOD BIKE
3030 BLOOR ST W ——- Originally built in 1939, the Kingsway Theatre was reopened two summers ago after having been closed for three years. The movie theatre’s new management has generated serious neighbourhood buzz by opening an in-house cafe and playing recent films.
GOOD BIKE
519 PARLIAMENT ST ——- Jet Fuel is where Toronto’s cycling community and its coffee culture collide, big time; the cafe even has its own cycling team! This is one of Toronto’s oldest independent coffee spots; and when it opened in 1992, bike couriers were the main clientele. These days, the place is always packed with dogs, families, neighbours, students and cyclists alike. The...
GOOD BIKE
FENCE ON AYLMER AVE ——- This bike, visible from the subway tracks between Rosedale and Bloor/Yonge stations, is placed here in homage to Mayor Miller’s now defunct Transit City plan. Announced in 2007, Miller’s plan included replacing several streetcar routes with dedicated light rail lines, extending the the Scarborough RT line, adding new bus routes and increasing the...
GOOD BIKE
1137 DUPONT ST ——- The Liason of Independent Film Makers (LIFT) is an artist run centre that is dedicated to providing affordable equipment, support and education to young filmmakers. The collective’s acronym says it all, no?
GOOD BIKE
58 OSSINGTON AVE ——- Supported by OCAD University’s Student Union, XPACE is a meeting place for the up and coming art scene. The dedicated staff work to bridge students with their established counterparts by hosting killer parties, workshops and community building events.
GOOD LOVE
I’d just like to say that I love what you guys are doing Every time I see a coloured bike around the streets, my mood lifts and I feel so much better knowing that there are people who know how to have a little fun in the world by making everyone’s day a little more colourful. Keep it up! Take care,
Assaf (Toronto)
GOOD BIKE
12 FLEMINGTON RD ——- Pedal Pushers is a youth bike recycling project operating out of the garage of Unison Health and Community Services in Lawrence Heights. In Pedal Pusher’s first summer, over 40 students enjoyed learning how to fix bikes. With the help of Bicycle Commons, they repaired dozens of bikes which are now being used in their community.
MY STREET HAS MORE TREES
On Friday, Hayley and Angel of My Street Has No Trees set up shop with us at the OCAD U Student Gallery booth as part of the University’s Student Union orientation fair. With plastic bottles donated to the cause by Vitamin Water, we teamed up with incoming students to make mini planters for the tops of bicycle rings around campus. The workshop was a complete success and we met lots of...
