Breaking out of the trance

Thiviya Manoharan
Contributer

In the lively core of downtown Toronto, business folks, shoppers and university students alike shuffle and dance through a mass of people who simply pose as obstacles to their destinations. It’s all about being busy and rushing from place to place, and it leaves people unaware of their surroundings. In this systematic routine, where can people find the time for the fun and spontaneous discovery that could change their world?

I am a York University student who lives downtown and occasionally visits Yonge-Dundas Square. Just recently, however, I took note of certain things I hadn’t noticed while traveling in the area before. I had just walked out of the Eaton Centre with a few friends when I felt a sound crawl into my ear, gradually getting louder and louder. I turned to the direction of the sound to find a group of street musicians slamming and jamming their hearts out.
They seemed to have been there for a long time, because the crowd around them was like a brick wall that I could barely get past. I finally succeeded in crawling through the crowd to see two drummers and a tambourine player making some of the best music I’ve heard street performers play. These guys were pros. Their music slithered into my ears, trickled down my veins and pounded into my heart as I felt the life of their sounds grasp hold of me. I felt revived.
To their left was a man creating artwork on the pavement while bobbing his head to the beat of the drums. I saw inspiration in his eyes as a woman appeared on the pavement. I wondered, why haven’t I noticed these people before? They were amazing! I looked around to see many people pushing and shoving by without even a glance at these street artists, and I couldn’t help but wonder what the hurry was.
I feel that most people, especially students, should learn to take notice of and respect the art that isn’t in galleries, concerts or on TV. Many organized events happen at Yonge-Dundas Square, but it’s little things like small-scale street performances and spontaneous artwork that should be equally appreciated as part of the beauty of downtown. It’s important to take the time to let your soul feel around your environment.
The many times I walk by Yonge and Dundas, I now stop to admire these unrecognized artists and their exceedingly wonderful talents.
For students who feel the need to step into the city to escape the tortures of assignments and exams, why not take a step out of the campus to stop and breathe in the everyday art culture of Yonge and Dundas, or anywhere else in the downtown core known for its vibrant and unpredictable art community? Whether you’ve done it or not, it’s sometimes worth it to explore.