In 2019, the Riverside BIA proudly welcomed the ‘Alquimia’ mural as a vibrant addition to the neighbourhood’s public art pieces. Painted by Jacquie Comrie, the mural brings life to the walls of Riverside.
‘Alquimia’ (Spanish for ‘alchemy’) is a mural in a semi-abstract style. Paying homage to the Riverside neighbourhood, the mural is an interpretation of the quote “This river I step in is not the river I stand in” that speaks of the inevitable nature of all things: Alchemy and change. “Everything moves. Everything transforms into something else. It is a connection to the past while celebrating its future, progress and growth of the community,” said artist Jacquie Comrie.
Through the use of vibrant colour palettes, the aim is to inject light and energy, hoping to make everyone feel welcome and uplifted, while transforming the corner into a space of mental elevation for everyone.
On the celebration of the launch, the public came together to view the mural take part in the planting of a Pollinator Garden in Joel Weeks Park.
About the Mural Artist
Jacquie Comrie is a multidisciplinary Toronto-based artist and mental health advocate.
Whether as murals on buildings, large scale structures, or canvases, her body of work is a dynamic exploration of colour as a universal language of human emotion. With mental health issues on the rise across the globe, her goal is to continue creating inclusive, colourful spaces of mental reset to ultimately help improve the lives of all individuals, one wall at a time.
She recently worked on the ‘A Streetcar named Toronto’ project and the Black Lives Matter painting at Kensington Market. To learn more about Jacquie, visit her website www.jacquiecomrie.com
Thank You to the Businesses Involved!
A special thanks to Pizza Nova who provided the wall space and continuous support throughout the ideation process. Thank you to Anjuli Solanki who through her leadership during the Riverside Public Art Walk engaged the community in the Alquimia mural’s design. Thank you to Riverside BIA’s Streetscape Committee for all of the hard work and time volunteered in the planning process for the mural. And thank you to the City of Toronto for helping fund the project.
While strolling through Riverside check out the mural, feel uplifted and take some selfies, enjoy some photos and don’t forget to tag us #RiversideTO.
The Alquimia mural is one of the stops on our Riverside Public Art Self-Guided Walk, check out some of the other pieces a part of the tour! Check out the video of the mural launch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE5nQoJ6yUM
The ‘Riverside BIA 40 Years, 40 Stories’ Series is part of how we’re celebrating the 40th anniversary of this incredible neighbourhood of community-builders.
FIND THE SERIES HERE AS WE SHARE NEW STORIES EACH WEEK IN 2020
DO YOU HAVE A STORY OF THE RIVERSIDE BIA? SUBMIT YOUR STORY