(11 votes, average: 4.64 out of 5)
Loading ...FlyerPlanterboxes!
Do you see that sharp-looking black gentleman waiting for the College Streetcar? (Waiting for the College Streetcar is something you’ll do alot of if you ride the College Streetcar) He’s looking at the planter box in the third photo. This photo was taken the day after the install, which was several days ago. I had come back to check up on how the plants were doing and take photos. When I crossed the road to take closer photos, the fellow noticed my interest in the planter, and said: “That’s great, isn’t it?!” I said, “Yeah! I love it!”. He continued: “Do you think they know?”. I replied “Apparently not, It’s still here!”
As we were talking I continued taking shots, and didn’t notice at first that one of the other dudes waiting for the streetcar wanted to be in the photos too! He was pulling faces for the camera- sticking out his tongue and embarrassing/amusing the younger man he was with! A middle-aged man acting like a five-year-old! Brilliant!
I’ve been getting such a great reaction to this project, both on the street and online! It’s been so inspiring! I think my favorite comment that I’ve seen online so far has been from The Nieman Journalism Lab. The comment is by Reza Farzan, and she says:
“One comment:
Reza Farzan at 2:22 pm, May 27, 2009
As a life-long gardener who believes in creating green spaces, not to mention my years of working in the publishing field, I am happy to see a clever use of empty newspaper boxes around town; perhaps we no longer see these boxes chained to the posts, or even smashed by vandals; instead, we will see these flower boxes decorating our sidewalks. This, I truly believe would offer us a soothing transition from print to digital era that has come in our midst.”
It’s very satisfying to see support come from people involved in the industry itself- whom I assumed would be dead set against this project on principle. Maybe the box owners haven’t been the ones removing these planters (This particular planter walked away yesterday, by the way. No flyers have been put in its place- Yet again, the box is just empty) Perhaps I’ve been too quick to assume. After all, it would seem that plants are popular with thieves in my town.
May 30th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Haha jesus, those Purity stickers really are everywhere.
Cute planter.
August 13th, 2009 at 8:31 am
[...] [Blade Diary via BB] [...]
August 13th, 2009 at 8:33 am
You’ve taken a giant fucking step backwards for guerrilla gardening congratulations. Messing with unused/poorly used PUBLIC space or underutilized city planters is one thing. But you do realize how negatively this is going to be spun right? Evidently you don’t so I’ll spell it out. Those boxes sit in space that is rented out for thousands of dollars a year in many instances (collectively definitely per space varies) and now the city is going to be in breach of contract if they don’t clear those spaces out (and they will because otherwise they have to fork over $’s) this is going to result in a directive from city officials to bylaw officers and police to go after guerrilla gardeners in general. Thanks a fucking lot.
August 13th, 2009 at 10:33 am
Keep up the great work! Toronto needs more art like this
August 13th, 2009 at 10:37 am
[...] newspaperbox gardens by Toronto artist [...]
August 13th, 2009 at 11:20 am
Hey, go put one in a NOW box!!! I was an employee of NOW until June and think those boxes would be good candidates for a planter. It will drive my former manager insane, but Alice, the CEO of NOW, will love it. Take lots of pictures!!! I recommend the box at Queen and Denison street, north side — it gets grungy and that corner could use some prettifying.
August 13th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
This idea doesn’t seem to particularly “beautify”
the ugly newspaper rack in the photo.
I can see that once the program fades away
all that Toronto will be left with is piles
of dirt (with worms and spiders) inside
old ugly newspaper racks
Anyway, news racks won’t be an eyesore
in the near future because the internet
will have killed off all newspapers.
August 14th, 2009 at 10:39 am
AHAHAH! i am delighted by the flowers! Absolutely delighted! Though i must say those things ARE refilled daily! i’d love to see the expression on the person’s face who has to refill the box with the mornings new 24 papers. I wonder what they’d do? I’d stop and stare and then gently pet the flowers and carry them about and then return them in after noon when the box has been depleted of all its newsy wonders! I’ll keep an eye out for them when i go downtown today! DELIGHT!