A team of Indigenous workers are bringing Paul Martel Park back to life
Paul Richard (left) and Joseph Sagaj, part of a team of Indigenous gardeners, have been working tirelessly to bring Paul Martel Park (located on Madison Avenue, north of Bloor Street) back to its original vision. BRIAN BURCHELL/GLEANER NEWS
August 7th, 2020 · Comments Off on OBITUARY: Architect leaves indelibe marks (July 2020)
Martel was a planner and architect who turned parking into parks
Paul Martel (3rd from left) with his loyal band of Ecology Park volunteer gardeners. He saw the project as contributing to the greening and cohesion of the Annex. COURTESY MICKEY FRATERMAN
Rosalyn Martel (left), and Philip Gevik (right) flank Sally’s Fright (1968). The exuberant colour-field landscape by Canadian abstract art pioneer, William Ronald, belonged to Martel’s grandfather, Paul Martel. The painting was recently purchased by Gevik Gallery in Yorkville. NICOLE STOFFMAN/GLEANER NEWS
Yorkville’s Gallery Gevik has acquired, Sally’s Fright (1968), a rare colour-field landscape painting by William Ronald from the collection of Paul and Joan-Wilsher Martel. Ronald was a trailblazer, founding Painters Eleven in 1953, a collective of artists that introduced abstract art to Canada. The 9×12 foot work was a birthday gift for Mrs. Martel, a modern artist in her own right, from her husband in 1968. Mr. Martel, an architect who led many greening projects in the Annex, passed away on April 3, 2020. Joan predeceased him in 2017. Read more