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Join us in celebrating the Butterfly Effect Mural and the fabulous Artists that created it!
Sat Oct 22 2022
1:00 pm-3:00 pm
Centre For Social Innovation
192 Spadina Ave
You are invited to a Celebration of this spectacular work of public art that honours the Monarch Butterfly and the epic yearly migration it undertakes between Ontario and the Oyamel Fir forests of Mexico. The mural’s giant Monarch Butterfly in flight provides an uplifting interruption of healing and joy in the grey urbanscape of this busy downtown corridor.
Butterfly Effect Mural by Artists Paula Gonzalez-Ossa and Nyle “Miigizi” Johnston, Produced by Bureau Of Power And Light Art Collective (BPL), in partnership with StreetArt Toronto (StART) and Centre For Social Innovation (CSI).
Celebration Event Program includes Artists’ Talks, Music, Performance, with light refreshments by Newcomer Kitchen
Please visit our Event Page!!
Centre For Social Innovation, 192 Spadina Ave., Toronto, CAN
The Monarch Butterfly is a powerful symbol of resilience, strength and stamina.
An enormous Monarch Butterfly in flight provides an uplifting interruption of colour amidst a wash of urban grey, radiating love for the lands that sustain butterflies and all life. At the south end of the mural, a boldly stylized Oyamel fir tree bursting with Monarchs roosting in its boughs represents the southern part of the Monarch’s annual Migration between Mexico and Canada. The northern part of their vast migratory route is represented at the corresponding northern end of the mural where local reverence for the Monarch is apparent in a striking portrayal of the Monarch’s favoured Ontario Milkweed.
The idea of the Butterfly Effect, that even a small local occurrence can have tangible repercussions on a larger scale, invites us to reflect on how our individual actions can play a part in cultivating a better world.
Butterfly Effect Mural is rendered entirely in aerosol by renowned Mural, Graffiti and Gallery artists Paula Gonzalez-Ossa and Nyle “Miigizi” Johnston. Produced by Bureau Of Power And Light Art Collective (BPL), in partnership with StreetArt Toronto (StART) and Centre For Social Innovation(CSI).
This work would not have been possible without the invaluable Professional Guidance graciously emparted by Lead Artist Paula Gonzalez-Ossa, and the generous sharing of an Ojibwe Butterfly Creation Story, as told by Nyle “Miigizi” Johnston. BPL producers wish to express our deepest gratitude to the incredible Lead Artists, Paula and Nyle, who invested their multiple Talents, Creativity and Hearts above and beyond expectations to create much needed art medicine for us all. The butterfly stencil designs on this webpage are the same stencil designs used on the mural and were inspired by Paula's desire to incorporate them into the final design, in particular as a "kaleidoscope" arching over the main entrance of CSI. Gracias ! Miigwetch ! Thank You
Thank You local vendors Homebase, Paint Colours Unlimited, Rotblotts, Home Depot, Toronto Collective, Toronto Tool Library & Makerspace.
Thank you to everyone who provided invaluable support and guidance including
Gracias ! Miigwetch ! Thank You !
Lead artist
Paula Gonzalez-Ossa
Born in Talca, Chile, but based in Toronto,Canada, Paula “BOMBA” Gonzalez-Ossa is one ofToronto’s pioneer artists of the New York-based and Hip Hop-founded graffiti writer culture. Her style fuses traditional mural production techniques gleaned from a rich texture of influences and Teachings from her native continent of South America, with the newer phenomenon of street art in North America. Gonzalez-Ossa has applied said process in collaboration with teams of Indigenous organizations and Knowledge Keepers to showcase Indigenous Teachings in relation to the lands of what we know as Canada, highlighting the pivotal stories they tell us. In addition, she has produced multiple murals throughout the city that communicate advocacy and empowerment for racialized, at-risk and under represented communities.
Gonzalez-Ossa has been voted Best Graffiti Artist for the City of Toronto by Now Magazine’s Readers’ Poll in 1997, in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Gonzalez-Ossa is widely known as Canada’s “First Woman of Graffiti”,and has been painting since 1986. She is assistant editor in the production of the 500 page photography book “Toronto Graffiti”,which documents the history of the street- based artistic discipline in Toronto, from 1980-1991.
Gonzalez-Ossa has been featured on CBC radio and Television, Much Music, MTV, GlobalTelevision, City TV, TVO, CTV, Bell Fibe TV1, Rogers Television, and Telelatino, as well as various television show appearances in Chile, Jamaica and USA. She is featured in multiple books and publications that outline the history of underground graffiti culture in Canada. When not producing murals, she works as an Arts Educator and Visual Arts Instructor.
lead artist
Nyle Miigizi Johnston
It is easy to forget that we are all children of Our First Mother of Creation. Examples can be found throughout nature that connects us to our First Family and Plant Nation relatives. From the flowing river systems that are our veins, to the cedar tree that is our brain stem, the patterns of connectivity are not only beautiful but also inspiring. When I draw or paint I humble myself and try to capture a fragment of the messages, stories, instructions, teachings and beauty that Creation has to provide.
My Spirit Name Wiishkoonseh Miigizi'enh means Whistling White Headed Eagle. I grew up in the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation and I have apprenticed with Storytellers since I was young.
I have a responsibility to continue this legacy for the healing of my own people while connecting to the broader world. Sources of my artistic inspiration include Woodland Painters, Storytellers and the traditions of my culture. In a time of reconciliation, it is important for all people to know that we exist and have such a strong, beautiful legacy of stories and teachings from the Anishinaabe Nation that are grounded in my experience and identity.
As an Oshkaabewis (Traditional Helper) who previously worked with Anishnawbe Health Toronto, I have been able to incorporate teachings based on traditional knowledge into each project. Our stories resonate with people across different cultures and they carry universal messages of love, kindness, fairness and care for Mother Earth.
Together in partnership with TakingITGlobal, I developed the Connecting With Our First Family collection of 81 images of animals and plant medicine that have been featured as part of the Ojibwe Language learning resource materials in support of Indigenous students who are part of the Connected North program. Connected North serves over 10,000 Indigenous students in 42 schools based in northern, remote communities across Canada through virtual field trips with inspirational guest speakers and role models.
Miigwetch,
Nyle Miigizi Johnston, Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation
coming soon....
featured AR artist
Quinn Hopkins
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Quinn Hopkins (b. 1998) is a Digital, AR, VR artist and Painter, Rock-painter, Mural artist. He is a student at OCADU studying Drawing & Painting for his Bachelor of Fine Arts. Quinn is grateful to have Conrad Bobiwash, Blake Angeconeb and Nyle Miigizi Johnston as artist mentors, teachers and helpers. He was recently featured on CBC for his involvement with the innovative non-fungible tokens (NFT’s) and empowering other indigenous artists with the technology. Quinn uses Adobe Creative Cloud, Blender, and SparkAR to create his AR artworks for use on Instagram. This practice is developing to be integrated with all of Quinn’s physical pieces. Quinn considers his art practice as a “medicine that creates balance in his life and remedies his mental health struggles”.
Transformation
The life cycle of a butterfly is one of nature’s most profound examples of transformation. From egg to larva to caterpillar to the seemingly miraculous dissolution and reformation in the chrysalis, and finally, to the butterfly, capable of marathon flights and precise navigation, this cycle has many parallels in human psychology and spiritually.
The pandemic has underscored and amplified social inequities and injustices here in Toronto and around the world. Going back to what some might consider "normal" is not an option as many systems are revealed to have been catering to some while shutting out, oppressing and brutalizing others. How can we meaningfully engage in cultivating a more just, compassionate world for all living beings?
Migration
For such a small, delicate creature, the Monarch butterfly is a powerful symbol of resilience, strength and stamina. Capable of marathon flights and precise navigation, Monarchs have been making the same journey between Ontario and the Oyamel fir forests of Mexico since time immemorial, oblivious and unencumbered by human-made borders and fabricated boundaries.
Medicines
The idea of the butterfly effect is that even a small local occurrence can have tangible repercussions on a larger scale. A great metaphor for how our human actions can play a part in cultivating a better world. Each time we act with meaning and purpose we are cultivating a new world. Reflecting on these ideas while taking in the visual and digital stories within the mural offers a respite from the surrounding frenetic urban landscape. Engaging with the mural can be an internally valuable mindfulness pause, and a healthy way to reset how we process and respond to the world around us.
PARTNERS
Street Art Toronto (StART)
This project would not have been possible without the StART Partnership Program!! Thank you Jason Campbell, Catherine Campbell and Carolyn Taylor for your support throughout. Much Love:)
Centre For Social Innovation
Thank you CSI staff for your support throughout and your generous accommodation!
"Social innovation refers to the creation, development, adoption, and integration of new and renewed concepts, systems, and practices that put people and planet first. Members of the Centre for Social Innovation work across sectors to create a better world. We accelerate their success and amplify their impact through the power of coworking, community and collaboration. Together, we’re building a movement to put people and planet first."
thank you to the following for your invaluable support:
Artists
Paula Gonzalez-Ossa
Nyle Johnston
Quinn Hopkins
Street Art Toronto
Caroline Taylor
Jason Campbell
Catherine Campbell
Randy McLean
Centre For Social Innovation
Stefan Hostetter
Marcus Huynh
Sami Saeed M. Hassan
Glen Guerin
Andrea Sayde
Tonya Surman
Shona Fulcher
Matt Guthrie
Ameel Mohammed
Tool Library & Maker Space
Tim Willison
Mark Shulutman
Jennifer Cote
Newcomer Kitchen
Cara Benjamin-Pace
David Suzuki Foundation
Alex Portman
Jode Roberts
Homebase
Jason Wing
Mark
Home Depot
Monica
John
Louie
Stopgap Foundation
Luke Anderson
Lee-Anne Bigwood
Jojo Decares
@pourgirlarts
Sherwin Williams
Paint Colours Unlimited
Bill Eagles
Trevor
Early Days Support
Les Harper
Marcella Tomas
Fathom
Brian G Smith
Marie Larsson