Yesterday, the TTC issued a job posting for a $420,000 contract as an art consultant for the planned Eglinton LRT line. The contract was not long for this world: It was pulled the next day, amid hoots of derision and political scorn. Despite Toronto’s reputation for austere subways-owing in part to the unadorned Bloor-Danforth Line, dismissed as the world’s longest public washroom by some, yet adored by others-the TTC is no stranger to public art. Some installations are extravagant yet doomed (like Arc-en-ciel, the defunct neon rainbow at Yorkdale Station), while others have become understated-perhaps even overlooked-classics. If we’re going to pay for public art in subways-and consultant or no, we probably will-let’s take a look at what works and what doesn’t. WHAT WORKS 
3. Dupont Station – “Spadina Summer Under All Seasons” by James Sutherland The mammoth, botanical mosaics displayed on track and mezzanine level cast a pyschedelic peachy glow on the station’s curved subterranean platform, helping to distract commuters from the lingering eau de trash aroma. The station’s womblike curves, birthing passengers up to the Casa Loma neighborhood, turn the architecture itself into a piece of urban art. Photo: lp_gregory via Flickr 
2. Eglinton West Station – “Summertime Streetcar” by Gerald Zeldin Exhibited on an exposed brick and concrete canvas under skylights (a treasure amongst Toronto’s fluorescently-lit, washroom-tile clad stations), the vibrant, stop-motion-esque art depicts an iconic PCC streetcar in motion from various vantage points. Not trendy or stop-in-your-tracks tacky, the art captures your eye and allows you to focus on something other than the all-too-close bits of other riders. Photo: Nayu Kim via Flickr 
1. College Station – “Hockey Knights in Canada” by Charles Pachter The Leafs (southbound) and Canadiens (northbound) exchange cross-platform stares at this station’s public art, a fine tribute to the historic Maple Leaf Gardens nearby, which is currently being gutted and turned into a Loblaws. Hopefully the nostalgia reminder of what was is not replaced with a mural of President’s Choice frozen products. Photo: Alex Cameron via Flickr WHAT DOESN’T 
3. Museum Station – Royal Ontario Museum exhibitions, Designed by Diamond and Schmitt Architects and constructed by Jeviso Construction Corporation The Station’s April 2008 renovations made the old platform appear quasi-older in an attempt to evoke exhibits in the Royal Ontario Museum to those navigating the city’s bowels. The impressive-on-first glance Egyptian, Toltec, Doric, Ancient Chinese and First Nations supporting columns make the station appear as if you’ve just walked into an ancient history-themed Halloween party where everyone is standing awkwardly, guzzling alcohol, in hopes of erasing the memory of the event all together. Photo: Rasonho via Wikimedia Commons 
2. Bayview Station – “ From Here Right Now” by Pania Clark Espinal Melting ladder, drippy stopwatch, and mushy strawberry. The station contains 24 hand-drawn images “projected onto the architecture of the station” that appear realistic or abstract, depending on your perspective. The result: a visual salvage yard for abnormally large salvidor Dali-inspired clip art, entrancing already slow walkers into taking cell pictures of the illusions, creating unnecessary commuter crowd blockages. Photo: Kev089 via Flickr 
1. Queen Station – “Our Nell” by John Boyle Supposedly “celebrating” the history and architecture around Queen Station, the station’s fatigued mural has been assaulting passengers since the 1970’s with funhouse perspectives of the city’s landmarks and uglified celebrated figures. Possibly the worst is a grotesquely distorted painting of William Lyon Mackenzie, who appears to have a (hopefully fake) decomposing, radioactive, cheddar cheese head. Photo: hanneorla via Flickr
