Creative Class
The old TTC barns near St. Clair and Christie are reopening as an idealized eco-commune for artists. Meet the lucky new tenants By Stéphanie Verge
After six years of planning, the creative types at the urban development corp Artscape have
turned the Wychwood TTC streetcar barns into a touchy-feely utopian enclave. Hand-picked out of 324 applicants, a select cluster of artists, theatre companies, enviro not-for-profits
and neighbourhood boosters is moving in, proving that if you build it, they will indeed come.
DEBORAH SANDERSON, 36
Goldsmith
Moonlights as: Mother to a 13-year-old son.
Personal space: 730 square feet.
Old ’hood: Barrie.
Why the Barns rock: "I like the potential for
sharing information and ideas, but my son is excited
about the greenhouse."
Why starving artists deserve your tax dollars:
"It’s so important that we have access to handcrafted Canadian art—heirlooms that we can pass on to
our children. Seriously, what do we have in our houses
now that we would consider leaving them?"
MINNA KOISTINEN, 41
Glass designer
Moonlights as: Mother to sons aged one and four,
workshop instructor at Geisterblitz Studio.
Personal space: 730 square feet.
Old ’hood: A few streets over.
Why the Barns rock:"I’m excited about the whole
thing. It’s my dream place."
Why starving artists deserve your tax dollars:
"Every culture that’s ever left a mark on the world has
made sure to protect art. It’s called civilization."
RUTH TAIT, 55
Illustrator/painter
Moonlights as: Web site administrator, artist’s assistant, teacher, storyboard illustrator.
Personal space: 400 square feet.
Old ’hood: Liberty Village.
Why the Barns rock: "I can’t wait to get my hands dirty
in the garden."
Why starving artists deserve your tax dollars:
"The trite answer would be to paraphrase Virginia Woolf.
All an artist needs is enough to live on and a space,
and then they can proceed to do whatever it is that they
are motivated to do."
GREGORY EDWARDS, 62
Photographer
Moonlights as: Volunteer head of an arts program
at the Franklin Horner Community Centre.
Personal space: 440 square feet.
Old ’hood: Etobicoke.
Why the Barns rock: "It’s not just about the artists.
The whole neighbourhood is going to flourish."
Why starving artists deserve your tax dollars: "It’s
difficult when you decide to dedicate yourself to your craft full-time knowing that you won’t have a steady income."
The official public opening of the Artscape Wychwood Barns takes place Nov. 20.
Photographs by Nikki Ormerod
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