Thursday Doors – January 28, 2016

Posted on January 28, 2016 by Norm 3.0

Thursday Doors is a weekly feature allowing door lovers to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos from around the world. Feel free to join in on the fun by creating and sharing your own Thursday Doors post each week between Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time) by using the blue link-up button below. 

The Doors of Graffiti Alley – Toronto (Part #1)

If you’ve been following me on Instagram lately you may have noticed that I’ve developed a bit of a fascination with street art. So, while visiting Toronto just before the holidays I took the time to seek out a place that I’d known about for a while, that has become a very popular for it.

Located downtown just South of Queen Street West, between Spadina Ave. and Portland St. is a place known as Graffiti Alley.

Also known as Rush Lane, this alleyway that’s becoming somewhat of a tourist attraction is about 3/4 of a kilometer (1/2 mile) in length and contains several dozen murals of all shapes, sizes, and colors.

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I took an hour or so with my camera to walk through the main alley as well as the side alleys that lead to it, taking in some of the most original and colorful Fancy Graffiti I’ve ever seen.

Needless to say I captured plenty of interesting doors. So many in fact that I’ve decided to post a few of my favorites here this week while saving some for a future post.

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In some cases you’ll have to look carefully because not all of these doors are easy to spot at first glance, and in others it’s kind of obvious that the door in the shot is secondary to the artwork:

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As always, thanks for looking 🙂

Don’t forget to click on this blue button to add the link to your own Thursday Doors post to this week’s list:

If you share your posts on Twitter and Instagram remember to use the #ThursdayDoors hashtag and please do take a few minutes to visit the Thursday Door posts shared by others.

About Norm 3.0

World’s youngest grumpy old man & heart failure wonder boy. Interests: writing, woodworking, photography, travel, tennis, wine, and I know a bit about power tools.
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87 Responses to Thursday Doors – January 28, 2016

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  8. janemorley2014 says:
    January 30, 2016 at 3:54 am

    Splendid post Norm – fascinating alleyway and some great examples; people really are amazingly talented aren’t they?! I particularly love the ‘underwater’ house and the cool ‘dude’ in the second photo! It almost rivals our local town of Angoulême which has become an international centre for ‘la bande dessinée’ (comic strip) and is full of brilliantly quirky murals.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. kinga.ficek says:
    January 30, 2016 at 2:41 am

    The photo of the face behind the green bars is #stunning. ❤

    Liked by 1 person

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  13. Nato says:
    January 29, 2016 at 8:10 am

    Amazing graffiti. I have to say that is some talent! And your pictures captured them perfectly too:)

    Liked by 1 person

  14. circadianreflections says:
    January 28, 2016 at 11:46 pm

    Great alley and wall art! My favorites – the wall with faces; I love the face in black and white of the old man with all the white hair. It’s almost 3D like. The beard flows off the wall and onto the road. He’s my idea of Zeus or maybe Neptune. Next are the murals with the fish! I love how cheerful and colorful they are.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Sylvia Rourke says:
    January 28, 2016 at 10:38 pm

    Norm, you know what is so amazing is that I was in the same alley and I didn’t see any of your images captured in that same way. It’s amazing how the our soul dictates our output. Love them all.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Norm 2.0 says:
      January 29, 2016 at 9:06 am

      Thanks Sylvia. Everyone sees things a little differently for sure, but I had a little help changing up the look because of the 10-24 mm ultra-wide angle lens 😉

      Like

  16. Corina says:
    January 28, 2016 at 9:52 pm

    Wonderful collection. My son and I came upon an alley like this while in Melbourne some years ago. I took a ton of pictures but still not enough.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Norm 2.0 says:
      January 29, 2016 at 8:59 am

      It’s something to see when there are so many all in one place, it really is impossible to catch it all in one visit. Luckily Toronto is a lot closer than Melbourne so I may just go back in the summer.

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Elusive Trope says:
    January 28, 2016 at 7:34 pm

    Capturing street art is one of the more difficult urban shots to make, in my opinion, because of the length and width of the works along with the medium on which they occur. You’ve done an amazing job capturing the vitality and vibrancy of the works, along with the blending of doors into the art work.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. reocochran says:
    January 28, 2016 at 7:25 pm

    I liked the child’s head and the flowers around it. This was special to me, as if the artist had a particular child in mind. I like how graffiti artists choose to sign their art. I put one car in a train on my post within a week. I called it Art in a Different Form, I think! Nicely done alley, Norm. I like that there are doors here, hiding in the artwork! Smiles, Robin

    Liked by 1 person

  19. pommepal says:
    January 28, 2016 at 5:15 pm

    What a great way to brighten up what looks like a rather derelict laneway. I love the fishes art especially the hammerhead shark. Some doors I had to look twice to spot them. I’m in the country this week.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Jean Reinhardt says:
    January 28, 2016 at 5:10 pm

    My goodness, Norm, I had to really scrutinize some of those walls to find the doors. Brilliant street art. Thanks for sharing that.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Patricia Stoltey says:
    January 28, 2016 at 4:48 pm

    A person could spend hours checking out the fantastic graffiti here (especially the doors). Found you by way of Marion Allen.

    Liked by 1 person

  22. Cee Neuner says:
    January 28, 2016 at 4:21 pm

    Norm, you have such a colorful collection you have this week. Love it.
    Here is my entry this week.
    http://ceenphotography.com/2016/01/28/thursday-doors-january-28-2016/

    Liked by 1 person

  23. The Name of Rose says:
    January 28, 2016 at 3:16 pm

    Hello Norm. You have great pictures of doors. I would like to share my entry for this week. I hope you will like it https://thenameofrose.wordpress.com/2016/01/23/the-doors-of-hope/ . Greetings from Tel Aviv, Laura

    Liked by 1 person

  24. jesh stg says:
    January 28, 2016 at 2:06 pm

    The first fish door is my favorite! Some of these doors maybe hard to find at night:) My son sent me pics of something similar in Berlin (where the Wall to East Europe used to be). These walls I wouldn’t call graffiti, but definitely art:)

    Liked by 1 person

  25. jan says:
    January 28, 2016 at 12:47 pm

    My goodness – what an assortment! I don’t have a door this week – not even if I cheat! But I look forward to checking out everyone else’s!

    Liked by 1 person

  26. joannesisco says:
    January 28, 2016 at 12:29 pm

    Amazing! This is the first I’ve heard of Graffiti Alley and now I want to check it out too!
    The aquatic themes were my favourite – especially the 1st one – but the green grill door with the Picasso-style face behind it is a very close 2nd!!

    Liked by 1 person

  27. sustainabilitea says:
    January 28, 2016 at 12:15 pm

    Norm, these are stunning! I especially enjoyed the two with aquatic themes. The bright colors are wonderful on all of them. As with all street art/graffiti, I always hope it’s not somewhere that it’s unwanted. 🙂

    janet

    Liked by 1 person

    • Norm 2.0 says:
      January 28, 2016 at 10:27 pm

      The underwater scene actually covers the entire building. This is all done in the back alley behind Queen St. and all the merchants whose buildings were painted are onboard. It really has become a tourist attraction.

      Like

  28. facetfully says:
    January 28, 2016 at 12:13 pm

    Also, I can’t see the first image. Curious what you would put up as #1 when the others are so good!

    Liked by 1 person

  29. facetfully says:
    January 28, 2016 at 10:44 am

    Great post again! I enjoy street art, what I call graffiti, though it has evolved to such better art than the word implies from its beginning. We might be going to Toronto this year, so I will have to look this up. Thanks for sharing!

    Liked by 1 person

  30. Charlie@Seattle Trekker says:
    January 28, 2016 at 10:15 am

    I love street art, this is really fabulous.

    Liked by 1 person

  31. basildonkitchens says:
    January 28, 2016 at 9:27 am

    Wonderfully captured 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  32. jhoudephotography says:
    January 28, 2016 at 9:25 am

    Wow, right up my alley!!! I would love to visit this place. I will have to visit this place!

    Liked by 1 person

  33. Suzanne et Pierre says:
    January 28, 2016 at 9:03 am

    Great collection of street art and that alley has way more than when we used to live in Toronto. I can understand that it is so popular with tourist. I think it is also there that Rick Mercer films his weekly rant…

    Added my contribution to your door themes.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Norm 2.0 says:
      January 28, 2016 at 10:08 pm

      It fills the entire alley and most of the side alleys from one end to another. Yes Rick Mercer does his weekly rants there. I was going to put that in the post but wasn’t sure if anyone outside of Canada would know what I was talking about 😉

      Like

  34. Holly says:
    January 28, 2016 at 8:54 am

    Street art just fascinates me with the energy level behind it all, regardless of the subject being rendered. Great shots, perfect way to start the day with these colors and interpretations 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  35. Helen Jones says:
    January 28, 2016 at 8:22 am

    Fabulous street art, Norm! And Toronto is a city I love – it’s nice to see it’s as gritty and arty as I remember 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  36. Faraday's Candle says:
    January 28, 2016 at 8:20 am

    Though we don’t participate in this challenge we look forward to it!
    Those graffiti doors are so vibrant and artistic. Awesome gallery!

    Liked by 2 people

  37. joey says:
    January 28, 2016 at 8:07 am

    I love good street art, and by good, I mean, whatever pleases my own eye! 😀
    I love that hammerhead shark! That whole wall is just fabulous. Colorful infusion, right down to the window panes!
    And those bunnies. Gosh, those bunnies are popular!
    Great, fun post, Norm.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Norm 2.0 says:
      January 28, 2016 at 10:02 pm

      Thanks Joey. I had a lot of fun on that walk. And that underwater scene? It wasn’t just a whole wall – it was the whole fricken building! I’ll have to post some of the other pics next week.
      Not sure what the deal is with those bunnies, but yeah you see them everywhere.

      Liked by 1 person

  38. tgeriatrix says:
    January 28, 2016 at 7:57 am

    Beautiful gallery!

    Liked by 1 person

  39. Lynn says:
    January 28, 2016 at 7:56 am

    I will have to check these out next to time I am in that area! Beautiful Norm!

    Liked by 1 person

  40. marianallen says:
    January 28, 2016 at 7:49 am

    I’m zoning out on the Picasso behind the grill, wondering if it was painted before the grill or in spite of the grill. I love the variation in styles and inspirations. Looking forward to more!

    Liked by 1 person

  41. leannenz says:
    January 28, 2016 at 7:41 am

    I love street art too. It’s great you could incorporate it with your doors challenge!

    Liked by 1 person

  42. Judy @ NewEnglandGardenAndThread says:
    January 28, 2016 at 6:51 am

    Fun post, Norm. 🙂 Applause for all of these talented artists. I Love the fish mural on the walls, windows, and door. I’m still waiting to see someone paint a garden with beautiful flowers and delicious fresh veggies. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  43. Dan Antion says:
    January 28, 2016 at 6:42 am

    These are very interesting Norm and beautifully done. Despite the fact that graffiti, at least begins as vandalism, these images seem almost transformative. I like how some artists seem to ignore the doors, and how some use them as a focal point. I guess there’s a method to their approach. In any case, it’s a colorful shot to get me going this morning. I can see why you spent the time photographing this street.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Norm 2.0 says:
      January 28, 2016 at 9:49 pm

      Thanks Dan. I find this stuff can be an eyesore when it’s not done right or when it’s in the wrong place. These are almost all in the back alley and were done with the building owners’ blessings. The whole walk was an amazing explosion of colors.

      Liked by 1 person

  44. Manja Mexi Movie says:
    January 28, 2016 at 6:33 am

    Oooo, these are so very much pleasing my inner child. 🙂 I especially like the shark one, the fish one and eye one. Looking forward to the rest of them!

    Liked by 1 person

  45. Kerry S. says:
    January 28, 2016 at 6:05 am

    These are great shots – SO colourful! I love that the hammerhead shark wall contains pictures of things you wouldn’t ordinarily expect to find underwater – including what appears to be a land dwelling dinosaur! Brilliant.

    Liked by 1 person

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