End of an era
5/11/06
1. Last Wednesday I received an eviction notice from the "director" of my studio. No reason was given, and according to our contract none was needed. Yeah yeah, not smart signing something like that, but nothing like this has ever come up. Oh yeah, and I've been there for FIFTEEN FUCKING YEARS!!!!!
2. As I mentioned before, my studio is a large group of "artists" who collectively rent space out of an enormous factory building. Over the years the studio grew beyond what was feasible. They over extended. They got an education department, two galleries, a board of directors (who are good people individually, many of them are friends of mine, but rather ineffectual as a board), and their non-for-profit status. The studio started out with a main studio space holding around 25-30 artists. As the years went by a ceramic studio was added along with outlying studios on the same floor, all associated with the main studio. The buildings management wanted space back. Supposedly. The studio, as an organization, is, quite possibly, hopelessly dysfunctional.
3. The "director" (whom I have known now for about fifteen years) had/has a habit of exaggeration. So some/most information given by her MUST be taken with a grain, nay pillar, of salt. This isn't just my opinion. Her penchant for half-truths is well known throughout the area, and is probably the biggest reason for the general unrest around this place, which is why I'm not all that upset that I'm leaving. It's just a HUGE PAIN IN MY ASS RIGHT NOW!!!
4. An artist's meeting was scheduled for last night to get to the bottom of all of the rumors. Although many of the rumors still exist because the board member that was present didn't have any information, or just wasn't that forthcoming. Instilling faith is one thing that the board of directors and staff of this organization have never done well.
5. Anyway for the last week I've been speaking to essentially everyone I know, telling them of my plight. Seeing if anyone knows anyone that has studio/industrial space available. Everyone has been enormously sympathetic to my situation. For what it's worth, I have never heard so many good things said about me. For once, being a relatively good guy might be pay off!
6. I've been searching for a suitable studio space, and I have found some possibilities. One was very large, 1800-2000 square feet for only $450 a month. Unbelievable, I know. It's so big that I would probably split it with two other artists. Its only flaw is that it is in the middle of nowhere. I'm looked at another space yesterday afternoon that seems promising.
7. Along with all of this other drama going on I just took a part time job at a gourmet food and wine store near my house........goooood times.....hopefully. I also got a call from my friend's sister who is moving into a gigantic home, and wants some mural/faux work done. Buffalo, for all of its flaws, has some amazing homes. This one is a 1911/1912 E.B. Green designed stone mansion. Carved oak and mahogany paneling everywhere, insane amounts of latticed plasterwork on the ceilings, leaded glass, hidden wine racks and shelves.......on and on! And on top of that, I just got an illustration gig from a friend of mine.
8. When it rains it fucking pours!
1. Last Wednesday I received an eviction notice from the "director" of my studio. No reason was given, and according to our contract none was needed. Yeah yeah, not smart signing something like that, but nothing like this has ever come up. Oh yeah, and I've been there for FIFTEEN FUCKING YEARS!!!!!
2. As I mentioned before, my studio is a large group of "artists" who collectively rent space out of an enormous factory building. Over the years the studio grew beyond what was feasible. They over extended. They got an education department, two galleries, a board of directors (who are good people individually, many of them are friends of mine, but rather ineffectual as a board), and their non-for-profit status. The studio started out with a main studio space holding around 25-30 artists. As the years went by a ceramic studio was added along with outlying studios on the same floor, all associated with the main studio. The buildings management wanted space back. Supposedly. The studio, as an organization, is, quite possibly, hopelessly dysfunctional.
3. The "director" (whom I have known now for about fifteen years) had/has a habit of exaggeration. So some/most information given by her MUST be taken with a grain, nay pillar, of salt. This isn't just my opinion. Her penchant for half-truths is well known throughout the area, and is probably the biggest reason for the general unrest around this place, which is why I'm not all that upset that I'm leaving. It's just a HUGE PAIN IN MY ASS RIGHT NOW!!!
4. An artist's meeting was scheduled for last night to get to the bottom of all of the rumors. Although many of the rumors still exist because the board member that was present didn't have any information, or just wasn't that forthcoming. Instilling faith is one thing that the board of directors and staff of this organization have never done well.
5. Anyway for the last week I've been speaking to essentially everyone I know, telling them of my plight. Seeing if anyone knows anyone that has studio/industrial space available. Everyone has been enormously sympathetic to my situation. For what it's worth, I have never heard so many good things said about me. For once, being a relatively good guy might be pay off!
6. I've been searching for a suitable studio space, and I have found some possibilities. One was very large, 1800-2000 square feet for only $450 a month. Unbelievable, I know. It's so big that I would probably split it with two other artists. Its only flaw is that it is in the middle of nowhere. I'm looked at another space yesterday afternoon that seems promising.
7. Along with all of this other drama going on I just took a part time job at a gourmet food and wine store near my house........goooood times.....hopefully. I also got a call from my friend's sister who is moving into a gigantic home, and wants some mural/faux work done. Buffalo, for all of its flaws, has some amazing homes. This one is a 1911/1912 E.B. Green designed stone mansion. Carved oak and mahogany paneling everywhere, insane amounts of latticed plasterwork on the ceilings, leaded glass, hidden wine racks and shelves.......on and on! And on top of that, I just got an illustration gig from a friend of mine.
8. When it rains it fucking pours!
posted by A.J. at Thursday, May 04, 2006
1 Comments:
Wow. You've been a busy boy.
Sorry about the eviction thing, but you know what they say about one door closing....
Did other artists receive notices, too? It wasn't just you, was it?
And the gourmet job......I'm salivating just thinking about the array of delights you will have in your refrigerator. Not to mention your wine glasses.
Take some pictures of what you do in those big ass houses. I'd like to see it. My friend in Chicago just paid someone to paint a galaxy on the wall of her son's room and it rocks. Not your level of artistry, mind you, but a neat thing to do.
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