Art on Transit

• unexpected destinations, by Tyneisha Thomas, 2023

  A Barrie city bus
  controlled by one driver,
  encounters lots of different riders.

  Residents come in all heights and sizes, skin tones and hair styles, ages and genders yet ride peacefully together.
  Each person so different,
  on their own daily mission;
  connected through the stop that the bus shelter provides.

  One driver,
  one route,
  yet each person's destination is entirely different.
  Paths are crossed,
  as riders enter and get off,
  some smile before carrying on with their day.

  What if you decided to say hi to the driver,
  or to the person riding next to you?
  What if you missed your stop,
  then walked a few blocks.
  Just imagine...
  how much your perspective would change,
  as you explore the city you call home.

About the Installations

• Art by Brad MacMillan, 2023 | Wards 2 & 7

  Locations

  • Ward 2, Stop 608, near Victoria Village
  • Ward 7, Stop 488, near Peggy Hill Team Community Centre
     

  Artist Statement

  "As a medium of communication, graffiti lies somewhere between art and language." Susan A. Phillips

  In my youth I gravitated towards graffiti because it provided a pathway to free expression. My art portrays my feelings, experiences, and mood at the time of creation. As I grew, I brought this approach to my Fine Arts training. I used mixed media and unusual formats to achieve similar outcomes to painting in the street.

  My fine art practice has developed to focus on urban aesthetics and motifs. Letters themselves play a smaller role in my works these days, with themes, symbolism, and colour having greater importance in conveying my thoughts and emotions.

• Art by Laura Kay Keeling, 2023 | Wards 4 & 8

  Locations

  • Ward 4, Stop 202, 49 Coulter Street
  • Ward 8, Stop 719, near Barrington Retirement Residence
     

  Artist Statement

  I am a self-taught visual artist, currently located in Hamilton, with a practice that questions the relationship between the natural world and the human world; how they exist in tandem, and where they separate from one another.

  My artwork is created by layering and merging a variety of photo-based images from a mix of sources including analog photos, digital photos, and scans of natural elements.

  The following parts of the poem resonated with me, “Paths are crossed” and “Just imagine... how much your perspective would change, as you explore the city you call home.” They remind me of the long transit route I used to take from my home to work, and how I would imagine natural elements in and around the subway car.

• Art by Marne Grahlman, 2023 | Wards 1 & 10

  Locations

  • Ward 1, Stop 332, Gallie Court at Quarry Ridge
  • Ward 10, Stop 728, near Tollendale Village
     

  Artist Statement

  This design can be experienced like a page from a graphic novel. I took the last few lines of the poem that inspired this artwork and turned them into a visual narrative. It intends to mirror the main themes of the source poem, which I interpreted to be diversity, togetherness, discovery, and appreciation.

  The way the main character in the artwork is depicted makes it easy for the viewer to imagine themselves within the same experience. The narrative style and bold colors will appeal to a younger audience, while the introspective subject matter will be appreciated by a more mature audience.

  The design intends to create visual interest in an otherwise mundane environment, while also deterring graffiti.

• Art by Petra Victoria, 2023 | Wards 3 & 6

  Locations

  • Ward 3, Stop 447, near East Bayfield Community Centre
  • Ward 6, Stop 307, on Loggers Run
     

  Artist Statement

  It is a beautiful thing to have such a wide variety of personalities, interests, passions, goals, and values all coexisting in one place. Engaging with those different from ourselves opens us up to new experiences and new learning opportunities.

  In this design, the variety of beings depicted represent the assortment of life that makes up a thriving garden. The focal point, a raccoon doubling as a surreal bus, serves as symbol of curiosity and adaptability. Often misunderstood, this creature is a reminder to seek understanding before judging.

• Art by Reesha Morar, 2023 | Wards 9 & 5

  Locations

  • Ward 9, Stop 704, Yonge Street at Big Bay Point Road
  • Ward 5, Stop 899, Leacock Drive at Frost Trail
     

  Artist Statement

  While waiting for the bus, users can explore this design, find key sites, and appreciate the details the illustration has to offer. These include Downtown Barrie, The Rotary Clock, Centennial Beach, and The Horn and the Heart.

  My work as an illustrator and landscape architect revolves around the themes of exploration, culture, and movement. My illustrations captivate viewers, encourage them to pause, and facilitate a deeper appreciation for their surroundings.

  My artwork intends to be a celebration of playfulness, color, and discovery.