Press

New vision of city from James North – The Hamilton Spectator, Feb 25, 2009

“The view from where Kuruc stands has elements of Jane Jacobs and Richard Florida, but without the pseudointellectual cocktail chatter. It’s stripped down for Hamilton realities. Essentially, the renewing comes down to re-old-ing. A return to the inner core. Bringing out the architectural beauty and efficiencies of existing buildings. Re-energizing neighbourhoods. Building the city up, vertically, rather than out, horizontally, as has happened, the superseded farmlands of yesteryear trussed up in silly-looking suburban corsets. Less money, more barter.”

Best Community Builders – Hamilton Magazine, Fall 2008

“Dave and Teresa Kuruc, proprietors of art supply store Mixed Media, recently bought a 19th century building at the corner of James and Cannon (154 James St. N. at Cannon, Hamilton). Kitty-corner to the new Hamilton Artists Inc., they’ve been catalysts for the rejuvenation and gentrification of the neighbourhood. Dave is the more visible of the two; the Tony Robbins of downtown Hamilton’s grassroots arts community, he’s behind such events as the James North Art Crawl and Maker’s Market, helping fire up enthusiasm for the James North gallery district, the Beasley neighbourhood and the lower city. You could practically light a neon sign with his apple-cheeked optimism.”

Hamilton : Gallery-going – Canadian Geographic, March 2008

Galleries and a little grit around the edges define the vibrant James Street North arts district (north of Cannon Street, near the old Armouries). Here, you’ll find a stimulating range of exhibits in a variety of settings, including a former tailor’s shop (Hamilton Artists Inc.) and The Print Studio, which draws working artists from around the world. For the James North Art Crawl, a festive event on the second Friday night of each month, galleries keep their doors open until around 11 p.m., so visitors can explore and chat. Check out Mixed Media, an art-supply store and incubator for many of the area’s bright ideas. Nearby, on King Street West, the recently renovated Art Gallery of Hamilton, is also worth a visit.

The art of co-operation on James Street North – The Hamilton Spectator, Nov 24, 2007

“It’s a social thing, people see people they know, everyone learns you can have fun in your city,” says Kuruc, owner of the Mixed Media art supply shop. James North is a natural for the art crawl, says Kuruc, because Hamilton “is really a north-south city, not the east-west city we’ve forced it to become. The art crawl feels natural. “James Street connects the two main elements of Hamilton, the waterfront and the escarpment. It has the feel of a neighbourhood.”

Novel tours create buzz in Steeltown – Toronto Star, Jun 21, 2007
“Next stop is James St. North, “the most absolutely wonderful place,” according to Catherine Flatt. And she’s not wrong. A grimy, rust-belt downtown avenue, James St. North is undergoing a rejuvenation, shopfront by shopfront. Sure, there are still shuttered stores and boarded-up businesses, but there’s also a creeping blush of arts-related businesses. One is Mixed Media, a funky arts supply store that would be at home in Toronto’s Queen St. W. area. Co-owner Dave Kuruc is typical of this new breath of enthusiasm about Hamilton’s potential on the art scene. “This store was vacant before we moved in 18 months ago, and since then we’ve seen the domino effect with new galleries and shops opening.” And Kuruc is doing more for the artists than selling them paints and brushes: His store is currently displaying works by local teenagers. Nearby, the Loose Cannon is hosting its third annual high school art show. Clearly young talent is being nurtured on James St. N. ”

Grit and Determination – Up! Magazine (WestJet’s inflight magazine), Jun 1, 2007

“Hopefully The Gap and Starbucks won’t show up,” says Dave Kuruc, who runs the Mixed Media arts store and publishes a ‘zine about Hamilton’s urban landscape. “If we gentrify, the artists’ll have to go.” So Dave and his neighbours are devising ways to avoid that fate. “We host a huge art crawl the second Friday of every month. Hundreds of people traipse between art openings, screenings, improv theatre and live music. Wine flows until the wee hours.”