Toronto: Community-engaged art project transforms Wilson subway station in North York

When Natalie Volkova walks to or from her North York home, she no longer passes by “plain concrete” as she makes her way through a pedestrian tunnel at Wilson subway station. She passes by a meaningful cultural space instead.

Volkova has been living near the subway station, at Wilson Avenue and Allen Road, for more than a year and uses the station daily. She was among dozens of local residents who turned out for the recent unveiling of “Daily Migration,” a 1,400-square-foot mural by Canadian-Chilean artist Shalak Attack that transformed the station into a cultural space.

“It’s a new neighbourhood and it’s a developing one,” Volkova said of the area southeast of the subway station, where several residential buildings have been built over the past few years.

The mural, she said, is a “way to attract more people here because it’s a nice touch to the otherwise gloomy” pedestrian tunnel at the station, which sees more than 17,000 daily visitors. “It’s very beautiful. It’s very bright and vivid, and it tells a nice story,” she said of the artwork. “Every day when you walk in there, it’s not just the plain concrete anymore. (There’s) something to look at and enjoy.” .............(more)

https://www.toronto.com/news-story/10504406-community-engaged-art-project-transforms-wilson-subway-station-in-north-york/?