Street Art in Orillia Ontario
Streets Alive Letters
Streets Alive is an outdoor art exhibit held in Orillia, Ontario, that has been running since 2009. Every year I look forward to walking through the downtown core to view the magnificent sculptures that are created by local artists. Each year there is a different theme. This years theme is letters. of the alphabet. The letters are six feet tall, and there's a total of thirty-two that are decorated and hand painted.
Each letter has a plaque with a number on it. This is so people can vote on their favorite sculpture. The top four artists will receive a cash prize for their work.
All photos in this article are the property of the author Susan Zutautas. Please do not copy or borrow them without first getting written permission.
Street-Art
Where is Orillia? - There's lots of things to see and do in Orillia.
"G" featuring The Stephen Leacock boathouse, The Catholic Church, and Orillia City Hall
An Interactive A
There are four letters in front of Orilla's new library that will stay there permanently. When standing across the street you can see them quite clearly. Since the letters are so big and I was taking them with my iPhone, I wasn't able to capture all of them. The word they spell out is R.E.A.D.
The "A" is quite a unique letter as it is an interactive letter. This letter is covered in musical instruments made from metal, plastic, and wood, that you can play on.
Pictured here is a young boy playing on the letter along with my mother in law.
"R"
Beautifully painted blue jays.
"O"
Orillia Opera House
There's a beautiful Opera House in Orillia, which was built in 1895. Currently it is a theatre/opera house, but at one time it was used as a jail/police headquarters.
Great musicians have played here in the Gordon Lightfoot Auditorium.
Out of all of the letters that I saw this year the "O" in front of the Opera House is my most favorite. The artist for this letter is Kathryn Kaiser-Hiron. It gives me a sense of community, of hands reaching out to help each other.
Vote for Your Favorite Letter
Which letter is your favorite?
R.e.a.d.
The Peoples Choice Winners
for 2013 Streets Alive
The Interactive "A" created by Laura Parna, took first place. Laura won $10,000.00.
Second place was the "C" mosaic, created by Meg Leslie who won $5,000.00.
Two third place winners; the letter "O" 3D hands, created by Kathryn Kaiser-Hiron, and the letter "H" tower, created by Bernie Logan. These two artists each won $1,000.00.
A Few Interesting Things About Orillia
Did you know that Orillia is Gordon Lightfoot's home town?
Orillia was the first municipality in North America to build its own hydro-electric power plant.
Stephen Leacock, Canadian author and humorist spent many summers at his summer home on Brewery Bay in Orillia.
Art Grows Here 2014 Streets Alive in Orillia, Ontario - The theme in 2014 is Planters
Click thumbnail to view full-size
Leacock Chairs
In 2012 Streets Alive was called "Everything Leacock". There were 50 bigger than life sized chairs made from sheet metal and faux wood. Many of these chairs are still on display right here in Orillia.
Pictured here is Stephen Leacock reading from one of his own books.
In 2011 the theme for Streets Alive was 60 Sails
Guitars on Parade was the theme in 2010.
Yearly Event
My mother in law and I look forward each summer to seeing what the theme of Streets Alive will be. It's a fun event and healthy at the same time, as there's a lot of walking involved.
I hope that you enjoyed reading this article as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Do you like street-art? - Thanks for visiting. Please leave a comment to let me know you were here.
- AUTHOR
@marsha32: It sure is :)
How fun!
- AUTHOR
@Brite-Ideas: If you're ever in the Orillia area it is worth while going through downtown during the summer and beginning of fall months to see the Streets Alive art. It is on display until Thanksgiving weekend.
I had no idea about this! wow, it's really beautiful!
- AUTHOR
@esmonaco: So glad you liked the tour, thank you!
Thanks so much for a wonderful tour and amazing pictures, I have to agree with you the "O" is my favorite :)
- AUTHOR
@Wednesday-Elf: Virtual tours are the next best thing to being there in person :)
- AUTHOR
@Merrci: It's truly amazing how many artistic people we have in and around the Orillia area.
- AUTHOR
@Seasons Greetings: Some of the chairs are still set up. There is one spot by a restaurant that has five of them set up in a courtyard setting. So glad that you get to see the street art up close.
Really nice post! I like the year Orillia did the chairs. It was so nice to see people sitting on them, using them. I'm in Barrie and my brother lives in Orillia so I see the street art a few times over each summer.
They are lovely! It's such a cheerful way to draw interest and more people!
Lovely lens and the pictures are beautiful. I missed this but will look for it next year.
The street art in Orillia is absolutely amazing! Some very talented people participate in this. Thanks for sharing. It's such fun having a 'virtual' tour of things like this that I'd never have the opportunity to see otherwise.
- AUTHOR
@flowerlover: Thank you and nice to meet you flowerlover! Be sure to come back when I have a lens written for this years planters.
This is my first visit to your page. I really enjoy the street art and am looking forward to this year's garden theme.
Yes, I do. Those are really beautiful!
- AUTHOR
@ecogranny: It is a nice place to live most days :) Then are those times ....
What a wonderful tradition! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this page. It seems to me that a town that invests so much in art for its people must be a truly delightful place to live.
I like a lot of it, especially when it finds a way to fit in a community as these do. It adds ease to routine.
- AUTHOR
@Max Globe: Thanks so glad you liked my lens.
These letters are great! Real art
That's so cool! I love how street-art pimps the street, great lens! Greets, Joebeducci
- AUTHOR
@DebMartin: I hope you'll let me know the next time you're in Orillia as I'd love to meet you for coffee or maybe even lunch.
Beautiful lens..:)
I do like some street art. And some of it I don't understand and/or appreciate. But these are great. I'd love to spend some extended time in Orillia.
Yes.
I like that. It is really interesting and artistic. It beautifys a city.
- AUTHOR
@Adventuretravels: Guitars on Parade was one of my favorite Streets Alive. I'm happy that there are still a few of sculptures in and around the city.
I love street art. These photos are a great example. I particularly liked the one of the guitar because I love guitars! Thanks for a very interesting lens.
I love street-art! There are so many beautiful artists out there from we all could learn so much. I especially like graffiti art when it has sense. Street art is telling so mush about thinking of the local population and it is one of the best ways to familiarize yourself with local culture.
i love the idea, it's very unique
- AUTHOR
@FrancesWrites: It's lovely to walk down the streets and see this here.
- AUTHOR
@anonymous: Thank you!
I'm a big fan of street art! In fact I love public art of all types. My favourite letter wa R. It seemed to suit its location whilst being beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Love it!
@JoleneBelmain: Yes! Street art is lovely!
That's very striking and surprisingly cheerful!
- AUTHOR
@JoleneBelmain: It sure does. If you ever in the Orillia area between July and October be sure to tour the downtown area. I'm sure you'd love it.
That is very beautiful street art, it adds to much beauty and colour to the streets :)
- AUTHOR
@anonymous: I just visited your lens on Massey, and very much enjoyed it. Thank you for adding my lens to your.
Absolutely love it! I added your lens to my Street Painting and The Massey Street Painting Festival lens
- AUTHOR
@Johanna Eisler: The A was a fun letter :)
This looks like so much fun! I love the interactive musical A and the 'helping hands' O. I wish we could see all of them! Thank you for sharing!
I sure like this exploration of your city's street arts program. It's a wonderful way to engage passersby with the environment.
- AUTHOR
@RinchenChodron: The Cherry Creek Arts Festival looks like a lot of fun.
Yes, I do. I have written one about the annual Cherry Creek Arts Festival in Denver. This Ontario one looks cool too.
- AUTHOR
@golfspice: I enjoy seeing it very much. Thanks for stopping by!
This street art is a great idea - good to see something original. A great way to brighten up your local neighborhood.
- AUTHOR
@jupiter justice: Thank you, so glad you liked it.
Wonderful street art letters. I have not seen so many wonderfully colored letters like these before. I'm going to have to make a trip to Orillia for sure. Thank for the great lens!
- AUTHOR
@qikey1 lm: Thanks, This festival goes until October, so I hope that you will get to see it.
We have friends and family that have cottages near Orillia so we have visited it often. It is a beautiful region and lovely town. I have never been their during this festival but I recognize the main street ;) Nice lens.
- AUTHOR
@Michelllle: Thank you.
I love street art. Super cool lens.
I adore siuch bright ngredients in the mixture of day-to-day routine. It is just great when such details can brighten up the grey reality.
- AUTHOR
@aesta1: Thanks, and I hope you enjoy seeing it this year, and in the years to come.
- AUTHOR
@Doc_Holliday: Thanks!
- AUTHOR
@TipsForMoms: Thank you!
- AUTHOR
@jura: Thanks for reading and for commenting!
- AUTHOR
@favored: Thanks, glad you liked it!
- AUTHOR
@RebeccaRubia: Thank you!
- AUTHOR
@Rock Artist: Thank you, so glad you liked it, and thanks for the pin too!
I like street art very much and each time we drive between our cottage and Toronto, we go through Orilla. I have to remember to go through the town next time. Such a great idea.
I like the idea. Very festive.
What a wonderful lens and a great idea to nurture local talent, not to mention how beautiful the city must look. How creative!
This is an art they look lovely .
Yes, and this is so cool. I wish I could be there to experience it. I appreciate this very much. Thanks.
How lovely!
Really nice lens, thanks for sharing this amazing art! Pinned!
- AUTHOR
@ColorPetGifts: Thanks! It would be nice if all streets were created equally :)
Wow - what a great presentation of some really cool street art - loved the pictures. If only all streets were created equally :)
- AUTHOR
@mina009: I agree!
Street Art looks great and makes our surroundings a lot more pleasant to look at.
- AUTHOR
@smine27: Thanks for having a look :)
What a cool event! Love it!
- AUTHOR
@CrazyHomemaker: Thanks for stopping by and for leaving a comment!
- AUTHOR
@girlfriendfactory: I like that one too :)
- AUTHOR
@Coffee-Break: There's always something going on here. In the winter we have a Polar Bear Swim, and a Winter Festival, which is always fun to attend.
- AUTHOR
@gamingprotips: I'm sure that your Grandfather has seen and created many beautiful sculptures.
This is so cool! You are fortunate to have an interesting place to live. I also LOVE Gordon Lightfoot. Thanks for sharing.
Very cool! We liked the blue jays!
This is a great event, and the art is amazing. You are lucky to live in a city like this.
These are truly art. My Grandfather was dean of the Heron school of arts for many years. While he has since retired I think that, as a sculptor, he would agree.
I LOVE street-art.
- AUTHOR
@SheGetsCreative: A long way to come, but I'm sure you'd enjoy it.
- AUTHOR
@anonymous: There's something new every summer.
- AUTHOR
@Fifthmoon: Streets Alive Letters Street-Art in Orillia Ontario. Thank you.
- AUTHOR
@SBRTechnologies1: Thanks you!
Wow, these arts look amazing...
Susan, Enjoyed your lens is that what it is called? Great photos and information. moonlake
Street art! hmmmm i want to visit orillia
Love street art and would love to be there at least once for this annual event.
- AUTHOR
@JaspinderKaur: Thanks me too.
- AUTHOR
@Corrinna-Johnson: Just to let you know we have a Jazz & Blues festival, and a Beatles festival coming up in the fall. Thanks so much and nice to meet you!
Beautiful photos and street art! I would love to visit Orillia and it is now on my list of places to visit!
i like the street art. beautifully painted.
- AUTHOR
@anonymous: Its a small city but there's usually something going on.
- AUTHOR
@LiteraryMind: I'm always sad when October comes and most of them are then removed.
116