00:07I came to Toronto in 2000 to study sculpture at OCAD.
00:12You know, everything was new to me.
00:14I was finally studying art, something I'd wanted to do my whole life,
00:17and everything was new and exciting.
00:20First time I got a studio in this building was April 1st, 2005,
00:24which was the day I left OCAD and my 24th birthday.
00:30You know, when we first moved into 888 DuPont, it was awesome.
00:34All the units were artists and everyone was sort of, you know, living in their studios,
00:38and to me it was like eye-opening.
00:41This is the table I used to sleep under, I think.
00:44It's such an exciting time, you know.
00:45I just turned 24, I just graduated art college.
00:48I was really stoked about the space.
00:51Things can be a lot different when you're 25 versus 40.
00:57When all the buildings that used to be the places that you'd move into
01:02are being torn down and turned into luxury condos, what are the options?
01:10As rent increases, artists have had to move to where they can afford studio spaces.
01:17Current future of 888 DuPont is not looking good.
01:21Places like this barely exist anymore,
01:24and I think in the next 10 years just like definitively will not be an option for artists anymore.
01:32I've made a lot of work over the last 17 years, and the vast majority of it is in some
01:37way connected to 888 DuPont.
01:40But just last week they gave us notice that we need to be out in 90 days.
01:45We knew eventually it was just going to happen.
01:49Always going to be a generation of young, hungry artists that are going to find a way to make it
01:54work.
01:54And like I have to believe that to not just lose all hope.
02:01Kind of remind myself that it's a building, it's not a human being.
02:05It's tough.
02:08The Black People
02:09The Black People
02:15The Black People
02:25The Black People
