I hope my blog friends and readers in the United States who celebrate Thanksgiving had a nice Thanksgiving on November 23 and a great holiday weekend. Canadian Thanksgiving is on the second Monday of October.
This week has been a traveling week for me so I’ll keep this post short. I discovered these two painted utility boxes while I was out cycling and walking on the Waterfront Trail in Toronto. Even though the art designs are not my style, the bold and bright colours made me smile when I saw them.
Both boxes have different murals on four sides. I hope they also bring you a smile. Click on any image to see its bigger version and the doors. They are my entry to Dan’s Thursday Doors photo challenge and Min’s #WWWhimsy link-up.
Outside the Box #1
This big utility box was painted by Toronto muralist FPMonkey (Julia YH), who often expresses ideas with a surrealist and fantastical flair. Much of her work has elements of Chinese and overall Asian culture from which her roots are. Her design on this box looks like a dragon is swimming in Toronto Harbour.
Outside the Box #2
This utility box was painted by a muralist who goes by the name Eats Verbs. On the left side of the door, there are vertical letters that look like ‘MERGS’ to me. The bold red exudes energy and demands attention.
Weekend Coffee Share
I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or public art around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #142 below.
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Natalie the Explorer 
These utility boxes are amazing! I love when people find a way to beautify our world “outside of the box”, no pun intended. 🙂
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Lisa, I’m glad you like these utility boxes. Thank you for stopping by.
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Those are really cool!
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Dawn, I’m glad you think they’re cool. The bright and bold colours were a nice surprise to me.
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Delightful doors, Natalie. You guys take utility box painting to amazing heights. I’m happy when I see a small box painted on one or two sides.
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Thank you Dan. We have many painted utility boxes in different sizes all over the city. The artists who painted them are skilled professionals.
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That is lovely artwork on the boxes. Another great share, Natalie.
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Thank you Shari. Both artists were new to me when I discovered these boxes.
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These are wonderful photos… but kind of creepy. Like someone is out to get whoever walks by.
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Ally, It’s interesting that you thought the photos were kind of creepy. That didn’t occur to me.
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Great utility boxes, Natalie. Wishing you a good weekend.
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Thank you Jo. Wishing you a good weekend, too.
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Great selection of utility boxes – what fun!
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Thank you Barbara. There is always something new when I go outside.
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I love the way they do this. It really brightens a streetscape. (Enjoy your travels!)
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Lydia, I agree these painted boxes brighten a streetscape. Thank you for stopping by.
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Wow, a whole new approach to utility boxes!
Here is my entry for PPAC https://wanderingteresa.com/paris-here-we-come/
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Teresa, Yes, there are many painted utility boxes in different sizes in Toronto. Thank you for your PPAC entry.
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Just looking at your posts I could tell that Toronto is my type of place.
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Teresa, I think you’d have so much fun with your camera here.
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I am sure I will, maybe one day. Thanks for the comment.
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Very interesting art work on these utility boxes. Happy travels!
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Thank you Maria. I want to maintain continuity to the weekly link-up even though it’s less easy to host when I travel.
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Well done!
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Thank you.
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These are great examples of public art Natalie and certainly brighten their environment.
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Thank you Debbie for your comment. These bright and bold painted utility boxes were a nice surprise to me.
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I love these painted boxes. People’s creativity always amazes me.
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Hi Donna, I’m amazed by people’s creativity, too. These painted boxes were a nice surprise to me.
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Hi Natalie. I don’t usually go for bright colours, but I love the colour and design of Outside the Box #1. Yes they did make me smile:)
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Jennifer, I’m glad box #1 made you smile 🙂
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I do like both boxes. Maybe not 100% “my style” either, but they are both well done and cool in their own ways. Happy travels!
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Trent, I’m glad you like both boxes. The colours just shout ‘look at me’. Have a great weekend!
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The utility boxes are amazing!
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Thank you Aletta for your comment. I’m glad you like these utility boxes.
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You’re welcome 😃
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Bright & Bold indeed. I think I like the blue one best. They are both unique works for art.
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Thank you Karen for your comment. Yes, they are both unique.
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Beautiful pictures! Thanks again for sharing your beautiful city with us. Wonderful that you got to be on your bike this late in the year!
Have a great week 💜
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Thank you Dinah for your comment. I’m glad you like my pictures. I cycle almost year round; except on stormy days and when I’m away.
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Those are so very cool. Sometimes it is the hidden things in the city that make it so cool. Thanks for sharing them. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
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Thank you Patrick for your comment. Yes, these boxes are on the side of a trail and not visible from the main roadway. Have a great week!
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You find the coolest utility boxes! Even though Tucson has lots of murals, our utility boxes are, well, utilitarian. Thanks for sharing, and have a wonderful week!
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Thank you Janet for your comment. We have lots of painted utility boxes and murals around town. Have a great week!
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These boxes are amazing! Thanks for the tour.
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Thank you Antoinette. These boxes were a nice surprise to see. Have a great week!
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Ogopogoo meets Toronto!
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Ogopogo, the lake monster, has traveled a long way 🙂
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That’s what I saw in the painting!
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Now I’ll think of Ogopogo and you when I see that mural on my walk.
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Hi Natalie,
Thanks so much for sharing the street art. Very striking images and they look amazing. Not a lot of exciting street art around here, but we do have the beach.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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Hi Rowena, Sea, sand and sun can be a lot of fun. Thank you for stopping by.
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You’re welcome Natalie. Hard to believe another week has gone by.
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My week seems shorter than the calendar week as I start hosting on Friday morning.
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we have a programme here where people can paint the signal boxes around town. It is such a great idea. I do love street art!
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Sherry, Yes, we also have a program for street art here. Thank you for stopping by.
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I adore painted utility and phone boxes – but rarely photograph them. Thanks for bringing some colour to my morning.
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You’re welcome, Jo. Photographing public art is one of my current hobbies.
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I love the colourful ways in which what might have been eyesores are made to engage us and our senses. Denyse #WWWhimsy
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Me too, Denyse. Thank you for stopping by. Have a great week!
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I was somewhere in the last few weeks and spotted a painted utility box as we were driving, but I didn’t have a chance to stop and take a photo.
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That happened to me before. Do you remember what was painted on that box?
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Hi Natalie, those are amazing! Like you, they’re not really my art style but I love the colours and admire the artmanship (is that a word?)! They are really well done by someone very talented! Thank you so much for linking up with #WWWhimsy Wishing you a wonderful week ahead!
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Hi Min, It’s fun to see the different art styles and use of colours by these muralists. I enjoyed linking up with #WWWhimsy to share and connect. You have a wonderful week, too.
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Hi, Natalie,
Hats off to you for getting out to do some hiking and biking, then sharing your artsy finds with the rest of us. Looking forward to learning where your travels took you. Have a great week and stay warm up there. Joe
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Thank you, Joe. There’s always something new when I go outside. We got occasional snow flurries today but not enough to cover the ground yet. Have a wonderful week!
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I love those utility boxes, Natalie. I wish they would do that around here.
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Christie, I’m glad you love these utility boxes. Over here, we have structured program to support artists and muralists who paint utility boxes, garage doors and walls.
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As you might recall, I am so very in love with murals on utility boxes (thanks to you!). This one by FPMonkey is particularly fabulous! It has a very “Aphrodite rising from the sea” vibes with Chinese opera influences and an exciting story in the telling.
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Ju-Lyn, I love what you thought of the mural by FPMonkey. I’m happy to hear I played a part in your love for murals on utility boxes.
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