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This new complex combining arts with environment was built in the old TTC repair buildings near St. Clair and Bathurst Streets. The barn buildings are huge and spacious with geared to income live/work studio units for resident artists, gallery work units for artists to display their works, a greenhouse operated by STOP food bank, a weekend farmers market, and another building for performing arts groups. The heating and energy is from underground and the large glass windows allow natural sunlight to save on electric light. Wychwood Barns will probably be a popular hub for those who like arts and the environment, operated by Artscape organization. Combining a farmers market with arts has been done before: in the St. Lawrence Market and Gallery and The Distillery District in historical Toronto, also in Vancouver, Granville Public Market and Arts Theater in Granville Island are popular tourist spots for locals and foreigners. Wychwood Barns is following this successful combination pattern and should become another popular hangout for those who seek such a creative and social mix. Why artists are often the chosen group to combine with the environmental cause, instead of scientists and the environment, is something worth pondering. Nature has often inspired artists to paint landscapes in all seasons, seascapes and oceanscapes, and artists are often the least materialistic of professionals, which makes preserving the environment more important to them than exploiting it for humankind's benefit. Hippies and nudists often try to enjoy nature without harming it. The government probably takes this into consideration when allowing artists to be the chosen residents and guardians of the environment. Of course, gardeners and farmers would probably be an even better choice. Visiting this complex will be individuals who like fresh instead of frozen and canned products, and art fans whose souls get enriched by art and music. Food for the body and the soul are available here. Artists who were approved for a live/work unit had to show their lack of income and prove their dedication to the arts through many years because the units are subsidized by the government and rent is geared to income about 30%. The lucky few were approved after a few years on the waiting list. At the Opening, there were speeches by government officials, musicians playing, artworks on display, and the public went through the buildings and dropped by the artists units. The neighbourhood should feel an increase in visitors and benefit the adjacent businesses and entire community. Other groups can rent some of the barns spaces for events. If this trend of development continues around the world, the green movement will affect not only artists but other professions and the public too. If more big cities such as Toronto lead the way in green development, other cities can follow its model. Technology does not have to destroy the environment since the environment is the source of its energy.
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