Mural by Cesar Alonso in Riverside Toronto at 643 Queen Street East
About the Art
Rooted in Riverside’s rich history, this mural weaves together memory, landscape, and community. The blue jay serves as a witness across generations, watching over the forests, waterways, and evolving streets that have shaped this place. Sunlight carries echoes of memory through the mural, while baseball symbolizes connection and shared experience, honoring the people who have gathered, played, and built community here over time. Flowing between natural and urban landscapes, the composition reflects Riverside’s ongoing story, where ecology, recreation, and everyday life intersect. This mural invites viewers to pause and look closely, recognizing how traces of the past remain present in the places we inhabit, and how the character of a neighborhood continues to be shaped by both memory and change.
About the Artist
Cesar Alonso is a Colombian-born, Canadian-based public artist known for his dynamic murals, illustrations, and public art installations. Over the past two decades, his work has helped transform Toronto’s streetscape through vibrant, community inspired artworks. A graduate of OCAD University, Cesar combines elements of his Latin American heritage with his experiences in Canada to create visually compelling and thought-provoking works. Through his public art, he creates meaningful relationships between people, places, and communities, engaging audiences on both local and global levels. cesar-alonso.com | IG @cesar_alonso_art
Kudos to our partners in art!
Thank you to the City of Toronto Outside Mural & Street Art Program for financial support to make this public art project possible. Thanks to the Riverside BIA for project coordination, financial support and community liaison support, thanks to Downtown Automotive Group for helping facilitate mural production, and to Dream for providing the wall space for public art.