DOORS OPEN TORONTO
This past weekend , May
26-27 2012, I was participating into the 13th Annual Doors Open
Toronto. The event is commemorating the bicentennial of the war of 1812(
1812-2012)at Fort York .As somebody wrote
in one local newspaper “ in 1812 people
around here were most likely closing doors than opening them”.(Christopher Hume
–Toronto Star, May 24th 2012)
As usual new, insignificant countries on the world map, such
it was Canada 200 years ago, was caught up in yet another
European conflict - everything bad starting there most of the time - this one between
France and Great Britain. Our part of the conflict began when Americans
declared war to the British , which over here then meant, British North
America. “American forces invaded Canada. English forces raided the US, and so
it went , back and forth .Even today no one’s sure who won “ The story of all
wars , I presume.
Regardless of the war
in 1812, now long forgotten, the military outpost, Fort York, started to build up. From 1450 people in 1812,
to 9250 people in 1834 ,when was incorporated to Toronto. The settlers poured and
that young community grew into a conglomerate of over 6 million people(census 2011) who live now in
Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Doors Open Toronto is a popular weekend event ,when hundreds
of buildings throw out the welcome mat
and reveal themselves to the visitors. A citywide celebration of Toronto’s
spaces and places showcasing important historical, cultural, social venues, 135
to be precise .
This year’s event presented a number of locations with
unique happenings including photographic exhibitions, re-enactments, landscape
painting classes and crochet instructions.
On the visitors map The Distillery District was site
#37,and was open from 10am to 5pm.We had organized tours , every hour ,
and we, the artists who have had chosen to be a part of the event, interacted with many people who came to get
inspired by the old buildings and artsy
atmosphere.
I had conversations about book binding, calligraphy, art
history, the past royal visit, architecture, food and drink industry, politics,
farming, global warming, music…the clashes of the generations…everything you
can think about (sigh).Families with kids in search of cultural adventures, or
lone photographers looking for the perfect shot, young artists looking for
future studios, collectors, art lovers, tour guides, tourists from abroad, all
poured in and brought me their stories. It was all life experience exchange
time , that enriched both sides-
I know I felt” richer “after the weekend !
