Celebrating Public Sculpture in Toronto Neighbourhoods

Sculpture enhances the neighbourhood experience for residents and those who visit, even for a moment. There are many sculptures in the City of Toronto for all to enjoy. Take a walk and learn a little bit more about two sculptures in our Deer Park Neighbourhood.

The first photograph is John Fillion's Reclining Figure 1967. It is located on the west side of the raised front entrance plaza to the office tower at 95 St. Clair Avenue West. This is large scale Bronze figure of a male torso sits on a dark grey marble base. John Fillion RCA wrote, "Love and Art have nothing to do with communication: they have to do with Communion". Fillion who taught at the Ontario College of Art and Design created works which are both bold and dramatic.

On the north-west corner of Avenue Road sits Glenn Gould Park, the location of the Peter Pan sculpture in the photograph. Many local residents, and especially children, will know it as Peter Pan Park. Sitting in the middle of the play area is the Peter Pan sculpture by Sculptor Sir George Frampton. The replicas were cast from the original mould of the famous Peter Pan statue which is located in London's Kensington Gardens in England (1927).

Based on J.M. Barrie's immortal character, Peter Pan, this bronze statue features Peter standing on a tree stump playing a flute whilst a collection of fairies, rabbits, squirrels and other little creatures gather to listen. The main fairy is believed to be Tinker Bell reaching towards Peter. Frampton described his masterpiece as follows; "The animals and fairies on the statue are listening to the Pipes of Pan, one of the mice is completing his toilet before going up to listen to the music, and the squirrel is discussing political matters with two of the fairies."

There are seven Peter Pan sculptures around the world. The other six are located in Kensington Gardens, London, England; Sefton Park, Liverpool; Egmont Park, Brussels; Rutgers University in Camden, New Jersey; Bowring Park, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada; and Queen's Gardens, Perth, Western Australia.

The inscription at the base of the Peter Pan sculpture in Toronto reads, "To the Spirit of Children, Erected by the College Heights Association, September 1929". This sculpture entertains the children in us all.

For much more information and photographs on Public Art and Sculpture Toronto Streets and Parks http://www.ruthard.ca/art/uptown.html