Painting this street mural was a rewarding way of making work for members of the public who would typically not otherwise be engaged with art. A simple way of brightening up the neighbourhood while educating people about the different species of trees commonly found around Toronto. The design was inspired by botanical illustrations and includes footnotes that denote the names of the species depicted. My hope is for people to be more aware of the natural life that surrounds them, especially the unique species native to the local landscape, and in turn develop a greater appreciation and sense of reciprocity for the land we live on.

‘Native Trees of Toronto’ mural for StreetARToronto’s ‘Outside The Box’ series of painted utility boxes, 2018.