Mural of collaboration: Justice & Artists at 311 Jarvis Street

Collaborators stand in front of the mural

In a matter of a few weeks a group of young people, judges, community art leaders, Service members and a charity created a beautiful canvas on a drab city wall once used to house young people before their trials. 

The “Justice & Artists” mural was unveiled on July 18, in the rear courtyard of the Jarvis Street Youth Court, at 311 Jarvis Street.

The mural is the final step in converting the unused space between the courthouse and the currently non-operational York Detention Centre into a common area that is used by the employees of the court. Previously the courtyard had been a part of the detention centre's security perimeter. The wall is symbolic of a significant reduction in youth incarceration.

Court Officer Susan Klonoski said she’s seen a dramatic drop in the number of young people coming through 311 Jarvis Court and was pleased to be asked to help find a way to make the courtyard a beautiful place for those who work at the courts.

“These kids are phenomenal and mature beyond their years,” said the 20-year court officer, of the artists made up of OCAD University students as well as students from Central Technical School.

“I think it’s so important to keep in touch with the youth of today.”

Justices Brian Weagant and Penny Jones kick-started the project to turn the courtyard into a gathering place for the building. Weagant said the collaborators worked hard to make it a reality.

“We could turn it into something with a little bit of energy,” he said, of the courtyard, before handing letters of appreciation to the young people involved.

“The reason we could that was because the Toronto Police Service, local artists, the judiciary and court staff all worked together to make something happen and it’s just been a matter of weeks so you can imagine my delight.”

The project was funded by ProAction Cops & Kids, a charity dedicated to linking youth with police officers.

“Our goal is to build stronger relationship between youth and police officers… so kids aren’t afraid to talk to cops, work with cops and make the community safer,” ProAction Special Events and Communications Coordinator Sabrina Holmes said.

“It’s a little bit more than just a beautiful picture. It does make the court look wonderful, but to us it is an indication of young people working with us, working with the officers to make the community more beautiful and safer.”

The mural project was a unique collaboration between artists from OCAD University, Central Technical school art program, community youth volunteer artists from the ProAction Cops & Kids Cross Fit Graffiti Art program that operates with Toronto police in conjunction with local mural collaborators Steve Ferrera and Lisa Martin of Well and Good – a volunteer organization supporting art in the city.

The artists, youth, judiciary, police and court staff involved all had roles being creators, manufacturers, producers, and supporters of contemporary art, including working with many artists who are supportive of art forms on margins like graffiti and street art.

The launch included participating artists Erika Ogilvy, Iago Mcevenue, Stephanie Kenzie, and Nicole Dobrowney, City of Toronto Project Lead for the Graffiti Management Plan Team, Jodi Callan, Youth Court Justice Brian Weagant and Justice Penny Jones, Court Services manager Susan Walker-Knapper, Court Officer Susan Klonowski, Court Shift Supervisor Carla Corsi, Const. Scott Mills and S/Sgt. Steve Pipe of the Toronto Police Service, Jean Milligan and Sabrina Holmes of ProAction Cops & Kids, and Toronto Police Youth In Policing Initiative students Nicholas Fraser and Malik Manning.

The organizers are working on the possibility of engaging more artists for more projects, at and around the court, that engage youth in positive community building endeavours that lead to marketable skills for the involved youth.

Jodi Callan, of the Graffiti Management Plan Team, said the collaboration is something the city encourages throughout the city through grants.

“The grant program is to support projects such as this. We just love to see stuff like this around our city.”

Story and Photos by Malik Manning