On September 3rd, 2020, Mural Routes, Lead Artist Tara Dorey and volunteer artists worked together to restore the Connections Mural on Don Mills Road. The volunteer artists included: Stephanie Caldeira, Niloofar Elahi, Amy Shackleton, Taryn Wilson and Cameron Jamieson – a local resident and artist who offered to paint with the team for the day.

The day began with painting over the tagging that had accumulated over the past four years. After a lunch break, each participant was able to add one new stencil pattern to the Connections Mural, for a total of six new textile additions. We would also like to acknowledge photographer Harry Choi for committing his talent to the project.
The restoration was made possible with the support of StreetARToronto.

Here is a video summary of the maintenance project:

 

The Connections Mural was created in 2016 as a Signature Project of the Cultural Hotspot, produced in partnership with the City of Toronto. The Mural covers a 760 foot long cement wall with gradients of bright colours and designs representing textile patterns from around the world. Connections is located at Don Mills Rd. and Sheppard Avenue E. and is seen by thousands of community members and commuters in this diverse area of North York.  It was originally painted by lead Artist Rob Matejka, Assistant Artist and Volunteer Coordinator Tara Dorey, assistant Frances Potts, and youth team members Leo, Teddy, and Vince, and dozens of volunteers to complete the project. The team began the mural making process in early July 2016, gathering textile patterns from various cultures and hand-cutting each stencil. Rob and the team mixed all 300 colours included in the mural and painted a total of 1161 concrete blocks on the expansive retaining wall.