WOODSTOCK, ON
OUR GOALS:
➼ website to be updated soon [and made more concise]!
But our main goal is to clean up downtown, showing the artistic, appealing and industrial downtown it used to be; while keeping as many buildings locally-owned [so that money stays here in Woodstock], and the owners with empty commercial units [that continue to be more destroyed by others], have their buildings put back to their original beauty [with the many talents each member of our groups artistic'ness added as a bonus 😁].
& we'll be doing fundraisers [all related to art] to fund both the art projects [murals and such], as well as, what needs to be done to the buildings [with each building's needs determined on a case-by-case basis with the owners, since we'll also be helping with their residential units upstairs, so they're back to benefiting from their buildings being returned to the investment they were always meant to stay].
Each member of our group comes with their own set of talents: since we're mainly artists, some designers, and even some tradesmen!
Some of us artists are joining forces with each other, here in Woodstock, to work on projects to make our downtown more beautiful; cause the more artistic and elegant our downtown looks, the better it is for any and all businesses here, making it a win-win for everyone, especially those involved!
If you're a local artist [be it a painter, illustrator, writer or poet, musician, balloonist, or any other kind of artist, even if you're not a professional artist], send us a email, or give us a call, to join our community group. It's still brand new but already very committed.
Right now, we're planning a large mural on Dundas Street [on the westend of downtown, slightly east of Vansittart]. We have some exciting events planned too, to raise money for our future artistic endeavours - one's a fun painting contest for children [that the kids will be sure to remember], another's to try and break a world record. We'll also be doing classes to raise money, while teaching kids about art [like painting, music, etc.], digital stuff [like animation, podcasting, starting a YouTube or TikTok channel, etc.]; along with other important things for kids to learn young. We also have several other fundraising ideas to bring our art & beautification projects to life.
& all people and ideas are welcome - so even if you're not an artist yourself, but want to help us reach our goals, just get in touch, because the more people who get involved, the more likely we'll successfully reach our imaginative and poetic objectives!
I'd also like to point out that small business owners who make handmade products are also a lot of times artists themselves, with their products being their art (knowing many of you, a lot of you also paint, and do other types of art that aren't part of your business); so if you own a handmade-product-type business, and would like to join us, I'm sure there's many ways you could be beneficial in helping us with our goals (depending on the type of business you have, it could even possibly help your small business as well). The possibilities we're thinking of are endless.
If you're a local artist [be it a painter, illustrator, writer or poet, musician, balloonist, or any other kind of artist, even if you're not a professional artist], send us a email, or give us a call, to join our community group. It's still brand new but already very committed.
Right now, we're planning a large mural on Dundas Street [on the westend of downtown, slightly east of Vansittart]. We have some exciting events planned too, to raise money for our future artistic endeavours - one's a fun painting contest for children [that the kids will be sure to remember], another's to try and break a world record. We'll also be doing classes to raise money, while teaching kids about art [like painting, music, etc.], digital stuff [like animation, podcasting, starting a YouTube or TikTok channel, etc.]; along with other important things for kids to learn young. We also have several other fundraising ideas to bring our art & beautification projects to life.
& all people and ideas are welcome - so even if you're not an artist yourself, but want to help us reach our goals, just get in touch, because the more people who get involved, the more likely we'll successfully reach our imaginative and poetic objectives!
I'd also like to point out that small business owners who make handmade products are also a lot of times artists themselves, with their products being their art (knowing many of you, a lot of you also paint, and do other types of art that aren't part of your business); so if you own a handmade-product-type business, and would like to join us, I'm sure there's many ways you could be beneficial in helping us with our goals (depending on the type of business you have, it could even possibly help your small business as well). The possibilities we're thinking of are endless.
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![city of woodstock logo [with a paint effect added], woodstock, ontario - city of woodstock logo on navy background, woodstock - city of woodstock logo, woodstock, on - city of woodstock logo, woodstock, ontario - woodstock ontario logo with paint effect added - woodstock, on city logo - woodstock city logo on a navy blue background for our City of Woodstock logo, Woodstock, Ontario - woodstock, ontario - woodstock, on - ontario small city's, woodstock](/uploads/8/7/4/7/8747582/city-of-woodstock-logo-woodstock-logo-paint-effect-navy-website-watermark_orig.jpg){kind=logo}
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COMMERCIAL
PROPERTIES
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> these images will eventually link, to other pages about their respective topics, all here in Woodstock.
WHY THIS PROJECT?
#1 reason: We, all as local Woodstonians, love our home, here in Woodstock; and because of this, we want to show off the artistic, charming, and desirable place we know it is, so others can see it too!
We're still in the early stages, as more ideas get thought of everyday. But we all know we have far too many vacant properties downtown [and those properties are being bought by out-of-town residents, who are taking that revenue away, which is money that would otherwise be spent here in town, some or most of which at our local small businesses]; and the more empty our downtown has, the more pressure it puts on the surrounding businesses, and also every other business downtown. It also has a snowball effect, beyond just not looking good, it creates additional problems [with our homeless situation and more], so we do plan to also speak with our downtown Churches, that are already trying to address some of those issues, to see if there's anything we could do together to make a greater impact.
But we believe Woodstock's artistic community is best positioned to succeed in the ambition of making our downtown more artistically vibrant [and we won't have the red tape that the city's organizations always promise to do, but can't deliver on]. So the plan is to work with all sides:
We're going to start with the building owners, since a couple owners have already mentioned that their building deteriorated slowly - they stopped being able to keep up with maintenance, and before they knew it, the problems had just grown too big and overwhelming [and too costly]. But, once we speak with the other empty-unit-property-owners, we'll have a better idea for why the majority of the vacancies are in the shape they're in.
For the initial owners we spoke to [and any others in the same position], we plan to find a suitable building manager for them, so that once their building is in good shape again, and looking good, it'll stay the investment it was always meant to be - without them having to do anything extra [since right now, they're losing money]. So if you're a downtown building owner, and you come across this website, and haven't heard from us, give us a call or email, so we can speak to you, and add you to our list!
This will also help some people get apartments, that they otherwise couldn't afford [as rental prices continuing to rise] -- since, as building managers, they'll help take over the upkeep, once we clean them up and make them nice and modern, and make sure they stay that way; and in return, they'll have an apartment for free, or much cheaper than they could otherwise afford.
From the other side, since art is our expertise, and we have tradesmen willing to join in, we also want to help business owners looking for the perfect location for their business, to give them an artistic edge -- we'll help you find a building that'll meet all your needs. Whether it's a long-term lease (to open / move your business into), something you need short-term, like a custom arrangement (such as a pop-up shop, art installations, showcase, event, catering or some other type of particular situation), we can help you find the perfect place that meet your needs!
& vice versa, also contact us if you're looking for a location for your business [even if it's already established], to point out what features you're looking for, etc.; so we can try and find you a building owner who'll best meet your needs; or, even if you don't want to move, but would like to hire our artist group, to help us raise money for our goals, contact us for any artistic ideas you'd like to add to your business, to see if we can accomplish what you've thought of (whether it's an art installation, mural, or something else).
So far, we just have this homepage, but we'll be updating the website as we collect all of the information from the building owners (with listings for all available units downtown -- apartments / homes and offices / storefronts], once we find out what's been preventing them from filling their units. We'll also be including businesses who we do art for, helping those businesses, not only with the art they'd like to add to their business; but also another backlink to their website (and promotion from us of the art -- if the owner approves), which'll help their SEO.
& we'll also be bringing our love of history to every listing on this website -- in each listing, you'll learn the remarkable backstories and fun-facts about the property (since almost every building in downtown Woodstock has a fascinating history behind it].
We'll also be including pages about the history of Woodstock itself.
& that'll just be a bonus if you enjoy history as much as we do!
Woodstock's artistic community, and artistic businesses, will also help our tourism industry [and help bring it back from it's covid-slump): fun events, amazing art installations, the possibilities are endless! Every small city [and small town] is known as "friendly", so we should be leaning into the art, and artists, that our local Woodstock residents possess, to put Woodstock on the map as the most original small city in the area. Maybe Woodstock should go back to being the "Industrial City" [which was our city motto for 100 years, starting in 1901, when we incorporated], with "Artistic" in front of it.
I think "Woodstock - The Artistically Industrial City" has a great ring to it, and makes us sound like the distinctive city we are!
But we believe Woodstock's artistic community is best positioned to succeed in the ambition of making our downtown more artistically vibrant [and we won't have the red tape that the city's organizations always promise to do, but can't deliver on]. So the plan is to work with all sides:
We're going to start with the building owners, since a couple owners have already mentioned that their building deteriorated slowly - they stopped being able to keep up with maintenance, and before they knew it, the problems had just grown too big and overwhelming [and too costly]. But, once we speak with the other empty-unit-property-owners, we'll have a better idea for why the majority of the vacancies are in the shape they're in.
For the initial owners we spoke to [and any others in the same position], we plan to find a suitable building manager for them, so that once their building is in good shape again, and looking good, it'll stay the investment it was always meant to be - without them having to do anything extra [since right now, they're losing money]. So if you're a downtown building owner, and you come across this website, and haven't heard from us, give us a call or email, so we can speak to you, and add you to our list!
This will also help some people get apartments, that they otherwise couldn't afford [as rental prices continuing to rise] -- since, as building managers, they'll help take over the upkeep, once we clean them up and make them nice and modern, and make sure they stay that way; and in return, they'll have an apartment for free, or much cheaper than they could otherwise afford.
From the other side, since art is our expertise, and we have tradesmen willing to join in, we also want to help business owners looking for the perfect location for their business, to give them an artistic edge -- we'll help you find a building that'll meet all your needs. Whether it's a long-term lease (to open / move your business into), something you need short-term, like a custom arrangement (such as a pop-up shop, art installations, showcase, event, catering or some other type of particular situation), we can help you find the perfect place that meet your needs!
& vice versa, also contact us if you're looking for a location for your business [even if it's already established], to point out what features you're looking for, etc.; so we can try and find you a building owner who'll best meet your needs; or, even if you don't want to move, but would like to hire our artist group, to help us raise money for our goals, contact us for any artistic ideas you'd like to add to your business, to see if we can accomplish what you've thought of (whether it's an art installation, mural, or something else).
So far, we just have this homepage, but we'll be updating the website as we collect all of the information from the building owners (with listings for all available units downtown -- apartments / homes and offices / storefronts], once we find out what's been preventing them from filling their units. We'll also be including businesses who we do art for, helping those businesses, not only with the art they'd like to add to their business; but also another backlink to their website (and promotion from us of the art -- if the owner approves), which'll help their SEO.
& we'll also be bringing our love of history to every listing on this website -- in each listing, you'll learn the remarkable backstories and fun-facts about the property (since almost every building in downtown Woodstock has a fascinating history behind it].
We'll also be including pages about the history of Woodstock itself.
& that'll just be a bonus if you enjoy history as much as we do!
Woodstock's artistic community, and artistic businesses, will also help our tourism industry [and help bring it back from it's covid-slump): fun events, amazing art installations, the possibilities are endless! Every small city [and small town] is known as "friendly", so we should be leaning into the art, and artists, that our local Woodstock residents possess, to put Woodstock on the map as the most original small city in the area. Maybe Woodstock should go back to being the "Industrial City" [which was our city motto for 100 years, starting in 1901, when we incorporated], with "Artistic" in front of it.
I think "Woodstock - The Artistically Industrial City" has a great ring to it, and makes us sound like the distinctive city we are!
Quench Photography
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🢀 all artists in our group will have their art featured on our site [this below section will soon be on it's own page, linked from the Quench Photography logo, to showcase my photography at Quench - just like the other artists / tradesmen in our group - that'll display their amazing art and workmanship], since we all have different art and trade skills, to exhibit what we can do collectively.
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🢂 my latest set of personal images: hanging out with the ducks at Pittock Park, our beautiful park, right here in Woodstock ♡
& all still #unedited:
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