Rebuilding North Topeka
The last and most significant note I made is that art has helped to rebuild the North Topeka community. John Hunter, one of the co-chairs of the board of directors for NOTO, approached my mom and I while I was taking field notes in the NOTO Community Arts Center. He seemed very enthusiastic about the growth of the community. “We have already had 12 artists purchase buildings in the area to renovate. It is really exciting to see the area grow.” While he was telling us about NOTO, a woman approached as well and stated, “I’ve never seen this place so busy before. Last time I came I parked just down the street. This time I had to park five blocks away.” Later, I found out that this woman was an art teacher at a local school and her students were working on projects for Day of the Dead, which originates from a Hispanic tradition and is another big event for artists.
The surprise from the people of the Topeka community about what was happening with the explosion of growth in NOTO was something I noted in other businesses as well. When I was in an art gallery I heard two men talking. One man said to the other, “I’ve never been in here before.”
The other man replied, “Every time I come down here there’s a new place open.”
On the street, as I was walking past a couple looking at a poster about a future event in North Topeka, I overheard them making plans to attend the event. They seemed determined that they would go to it.
These conversations prove that NOTO is growing at a rapid rate. Since there are posters advertising upcoming events in NOTO, it’s easy to see that the area will continue to grow and thrive. Also, the fact that the female teacher has students doing projects for Day of the Dead shows that schools are taking part in the world of art as well.
The surprise from the people of the Topeka community about what was happening with the explosion of growth in NOTO was something I noted in other businesses as well. When I was in an art gallery I heard two men talking. One man said to the other, “I’ve never been in here before.”
The other man replied, “Every time I come down here there’s a new place open.”
On the street, as I was walking past a couple looking at a poster about a future event in North Topeka, I overheard them making plans to attend the event. They seemed determined that they would go to it.
These conversations prove that NOTO is growing at a rapid rate. Since there are posters advertising upcoming events in NOTO, it’s easy to see that the area will continue to grow and thrive. Also, the fact that the female teacher has students doing projects for Day of the Dead shows that schools are taking part in the world of art as well.