Community Print Impression 3D de Scan The Heritage Competition

For the Scan the World Competition I would like to submit the Greek Theatre found in The Guild Park and Gardens in Toronto, Canada. Toronto is a city proud of its culture, diversity, and appreciation for the arts. This is best represented hidden deep in Scarborough, the east-most of the 6 boroughs of Toronto, where there is a sanctuary for relics of the past, and where artists have been celebrated and their creativity encouraged. My home neighborhood of Guildwood is a quiet lakeside haven perched along the bluffs of Lake Ontario, seemingly shielded from the urban setting of the Greater Toronto Area. The residents are a tightly woven community of people from all walks of life yet connected through a unifying appreciation for the neighborhood we share. Within the woods of the area there is the pride of Guildwood: The Guild Park and Gardens. Also known as The Guild, and formerly The Guild of All Arts, The Guild Park and Gardens was an artists colony and inn founded in 1932 by Rosa Hewetson and Spencer Clark on their 50 acre property in Scarborough. Inspired by a similar operation in New York, Hewetson and Clark built workshops and facilities for creatives to use on their grounds. Artists could come and stay at the inn to create, sharing their knowledge and their work with the public in exchange for room and board. The idea was to create a safe place to facilitate and encourage creativity and keep fine art alive in our rapidly changing world. The Guild also acted as several other things, such as a training facility for the Women’s Royal Naval Service and a recovery centre for shellshock victims after the second world war, but its most prolific role was that of relic sanctuary for art and architecture. In the 1950s Toronto went through a development boom. This resulted in the demolition of many buildings that had been standing for decades and had featured stonework elements of exceptional craftsmanship of which many considered historically significant. To preserve the heritage of Toronto, Hewetson and Clark acquired fragments of these buildings and placed them throughout the grounds of The Guild for all to admire for years to come. The pinnacle of this effort was the construction of the Guild’s Greek Theatre, made from stone pieces of the original Bank of Toronto Building, which became emblematic of The Guild and what it stood for. This theatre has become a “best kept secret” for savvy Toronto locals and was even briefly featured in the music video for “Headlines” by Drake (one of his numerous Scarborough references). The original artist colony is now defunct, but the grounds are cared for by Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. These grounds, though unbeknownst to many, are open for the public to visit so they may appreciate the fragments of old Toronto and the sculptures from the creatives that once lived on the grounds. For the residents of Guildwood today, the Guild is the center of the community. For decades neighborhood events, performances, and gatherings have been held in The Guild at the Greek Theatre. The Guild also still hosts an annual arts festival for local creatives to perform or sell their work. Growing up in Guildwood, The Guild was the topic of ghost stories and tales of hidden treasure, a meeting place for friends, and a place to go to be with your thoughts in nature. Though it started as a place for creatives to thrive, Guildwood has become a snapshot of history and a home to many, finding a special place in the hearts of all its residents including my own. I believe the Guildwood community would be honoured if Scan the World included the Greek Theatre, and other artifacts if possible, in their collection. The mission of The Guild was to keep art, culture, and later the heritage of Toronto alive. Not through the lens of a museum, but through a direct connection between the viewer, the artists, and the pieces preserved on the grounds. In this regard The Guild and Scan the World are quite similar. Hewetson and Clark managed to save the physical artwork of their artists and the remnants of old Toronto within their grounds, though the passage of time could cause them to decay. I would assert that Hewetson, Clark, and the Guildwood community would advocate for the digitization of the collection, so that the pieces may be eternalized, and the goal of the guild would be achieved forever. The photos included were taken by myself days before my submission. The first several photos are of the Greek theatre, but I have also included some images of other artifacts on the grounds as well as a photo of Hewetson and Clark to add imagery to my description. Thank you for the opportunity to participate!