Evergreen @ the Brick Works

www.evergreen.ca/rethinkspace/

In the Don Valley, fires periodically swept through the natural grasses long before the Brick Works’ kilns were fired up. These massive kilns, now derelict yet largely intact and still on site, basically ‘built’ Rosedale’s exquisite and stately homes along with many of the historic buildings of original Toronto.

Evergreen’s proposed transformation of the historic Don Valley Brick Works site is visionary and truly inspiring, and is poised to offer an incredible, culturally rich hub for Toronto’s system of ravines and natural trails.

Having been given a green light to wander the site, I recorded a few short pieces, including selections from ‘Oliver’ as it turned out, testing the acoustics in the rough-and-tumble, graffiti-ed and fantastically Dickensian warehouse spaces.

It was only after having recorded from within the last remaining of the four original smokestacks on the site, that I realized the selection ‘Chim-chimney’ was really quite apt!

I hope to return to play more in this wonderful setting, perhaps with colleagues as a fundraiser for the Evergreen!

…for detailed info on Evergreen’s plans:

www.cdnarchitect.com/issues/ISarticle.asp?id=183218&story_id=198691134637&issue=01012007