A life that ‘was just blossoming’
Working alone on hydraulic platform in Downsview Park His colourful work was beginning to surface across the city
Pedro Alderete was putting the finishing touches on his largest and most public piece of work — a five- part mural on the outside of a million square- foot building at Downsview Park — when he died Monday. Working alone on a section of the mural that symbolized stewardship and included a portrait of his five- year- old daughter, the 44-year-old was crushed between a hydraulic platform and the warehouse-style door he was painting. Emergency workers who rushed to the scene were unable to revive him, said park spokesman Garth Hardie.
Alderete’s mural at the national park was the up- and- coming artist’s biggest commission yet and his own idea. A casual visitor at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health on Queen St., Alderete sold his first piece in a patients- only show there last summer and was in the midst of planning a solo display at the centre set to open next month. Friends said the Cuban expatriate devoted much of his last 15 years to volunteering for an eclectic mix of local artists’ organizations. Finally, his work had begun to surface across the city.
“ In the art community in Toronto, everybody knows Pedro,” said Ilona Zaremba, a visual artist and close friend. “ His voice was always the loudest. He was always smiling, helping people, always willing to talk. He was very committed as an artist. Five months ago, people started loving his work,” she said. His pieces were so good, Zaremba said, that Alderete was invited to travel to a Mexico City art show last year. A fear of flying kept him grounded. Frustrated, Alderete vowed to conquer his fear this year and purchased a plane ticket for a trip to home to Cuba in December.
Hardie said he didn’t know of anyone who was working near Alderete at the time of the accident. Yesterday, investigators removed the equipment that crushed the artist, Hardie said, adding that the labour ministry is still investigating the incident and few details are known. Offi-
cials from the ministry did not return a call for comment.
Alderete was a member of the board of directors of A- Space, which displays politically- motivated work. Last summer he was featured in Our Roots and Beyond, a display at Gallery 61 on Ossington St. In 2004 his work was shown in a display of Latino art at The Deleon White Gallery on Queen St.
Jazz singer Chantal Aston, Alderete’s partner, said she learned of Alderete’s death late Monday afternoon when police came to her door. Too stunned to speak, she made her way to Zaremba’s on Queen St. W. where she, Alderete and their daughter, Irea, often gathered with friends.
“She just obviously couldn’t talk,” said Zaremba. Instead, Irea told them what she had gleaned from the police.
“ She said, ‘ My daddy was killed in an accident,’ ” she said. By nightfall, a small group of artists had gathered at Zaremba’s. Bewildered and disbelieving, they held an all- night vigil at the house, savouring the memory of their friend bike riding along Queen St. and creating mixed-media installations to decorate his apartment.
Yesterday, the group went to the park to lay bouquets, light candles and pay their respects. They also met with park officials to discuss building a permanent memorial at the site.
“ We need something,” Zaremba said, pausing, “so that he doesn’t go away just like that.” The group spent much of yesterday night figuring out how to help Aston pay for Alderete’s memorial service. Bruno Dillio, a friend and artist, said the group intends to hold an exposition in Alderete’s honour at the Gladstone Hotel on Queen St. W. in the coming weeks. Zaremba said they’re also planning to set up a trust fund for Irea and to lessen the burden of living without Alderete.
“ They will have trouble,” she said.
Already, Alderete’s death has created a void. “It’s hard to imagine who I’m going to have finish my sentences,” Aston said. “ Through a lot of hardships that he endured, he was just blossoming at this time in his life. Work was going well. He was having shows. He had a great mural that he was painting . . . all of this was happening when this happened.”