Creative Spaces
by Purnnita Kotecha
Art is not merely something to be seen in galleries.
We live in a culture where we are constantly reminded of the value of creativity. In corporate buildings and public spaces, artists have the power to pull us away from the mundane tasks of everyday life. From advertising to film, art councils’ logos have become part of our visual language. In commercial venues everywhere, shelves, walls and sound systems present to our eyes, ears and souls the products of creativity.
Art is an integral part of our daily lives and we have come to accept its presence as natural. Canadians support government agendas that enliven our cities and provide pleasure through funding for the arts. Corporate citizens take for granted that the cost associated with commissioned art is necessary. Individuals have come to expect that each year institutional budgets will allocate funds for such expenses. It seems that many of us share Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu’s belief in the creative power of art.
Support for artistic production is part of our cultural ideal, something we expend considerable energy in fostering. Take for example your own neighbourhood; retailers, artists and patrons all become participants in providing art in the places where we live, work and play. Torontonians enjoy art’s infiltration into our daily lives because of the intrinsic value we place on its production and presentation.
In Toronto’s Beach, a community’s love of jazz mobilized artists, patrons and retailers to share in its history and culture. The Toronto Jazz Festival brings local artists and their network of associates together out of the sheer enjoyment of music. Today, the festival plays host to local talent, international artists and jazz legends.
A little less tony but perhaps more sexy are the numerous open stage events that allow any with the appropriate (usually alcohol induced) motivation to realize their dreams of being a star. In Toronto-Danforth, musicians generously host the opportunity for the community to come together and share their talents. The Black Swan Tavern boasts a blues/rock open stage hosted by the unstoppable Wild T. This venue and its front man are so established within the blues circuit that it boasts drop bys and bang up performances of legendary status. Not to be outdone, Pamela Gilmartin, well established in the folk scene, has maintained for over two years an unparalleled jam at the multi-gendered queer friendly Old Nick.
Particularly delightful about these examples is that they flourish out of an equal effort on the part of committed proprietors and tireless artists. Extra staff often work with little expectation that bar receipts will cover their wages. Sleepy (often hung over) management drag themselves to venues to accommodate front of house preparations and sound checks. When all is said and done, road weary artists generously host an opportunity for a community of individuals to come together. The buzz of that fleeting night carries on outside of the community to become a part of Toronto’s cultural landscape.
Not to be outdone by musicians, Toronto’s visual art community is equally active in establishing, creating and nurturing impacts of their own. In bars, coffee shops and restaurants, patrons are treated to a host of ever-changing installations. In Cabbagetown, Dear Tree Restaurant has a 13-year tradition of providing space for artists. Ilango, the manager, speaks with enthusiasm, fondness and pride when he talks about the restaurant’s commitment to supporting artists and to creating a space where art can enliven the dining experience.
In the same neighbourhood only short steps away is Javaville Coffee Shop. A conversation with manager Deke reveals that the pieces adorning the walls are a result of the establishment having employed some of our city’s younger talents. The artists see an opportunity to not only show their work, gain experience and credibility, but also to contribute to positive social action. The first show was installed in 2005 in conjunction with a Regent Park outreach program aimed at mitigating some of the social issues that have plagued the community. Initiatives like this have resulted in the progressive efforts directed to redeveloping Regent Park.
As well as being an opportunity to raise local awareness of neighbourhood issues, retailers and artists have colluded to help create markets by bringing people to the neighbourhood. Queen Street East from Leslie to the Beach has seen restaurants open up. At Gio Rana’s at Leslie and Queen (affectionately known as “the nose”), its stakeholders explain how this studio space was transformed out of creativity and collective effort. He describes how during its construction, parties helped establish the spot’s character and identity. In this case a network of associates helped an establishment create a name and identity.
Further East on Queen Street is Mono Loco Sandbar, whose artful combination of Mediterranean-digital is an urban oasis in that fledging strip between the Beach and Leslieville. Mono Loco’s décor, with its creative use of digital art on large projection screens, custom mosaics, hanging lamps and vibrant materials, offers a hip and modern venue for escape.
Throughout our city, artists and retailers create a culture, the foundation upon which local commerce exists. Without valuing the creative process and those who contribute to it, Toronto would be a less robust place to live. Our neighbourhoods consist of everyday people gathering in everyday places, attesting to how we are not merely consumers but also productive and innovative. For those of you who haven’t done so already, take a walk through your neighbourhood, stop for a coffee, sip a drink or grab a microphone and become a willing participant in the culture of your making. Tell them Riverside Quarterly sent you, then drop us a line and tell us about it! We’d love to hear. ~
