Turning Lemons into Lemonade

The new gallery hit its first snag this week.  Even though we got permission to use the name GARNER24 three weeks ago.  The person who OK'd it did not realize he needed approval above him.  Since we are in Garner Arts they felt the name was too close.  After about 10 minutes of mumbling and cursing I contacted my partners in the gallery (Julie and Mike)  they were great.  they said "OK we'll come up with something else".  While they thought about that I made a list of money spent involving the name like the sign for the door and the website etc.  We worked out a fair deal with our landlord so that we did not lose anything but a little time.  Julie came up with the idea of using the greek word Meraki.

It was PERFECT and really fit the approach the three of us bring to our photography and painting!  So we were able to work as a group come up with a solution and turn a lemon into lemonade!  We are working on logo designs now for Gallery Meraki and I already secured the website address.  All is good!

Keep Makin' Art!

Carl

More Progress at GARNER24 Gallery

More progress made on the new studio / gallery today!  I got the office painted and cleaned up.  Next step in there is the chalkboard paint we bought for over the desk.  In the gallery itself I spent a couple of hours doing touch up work.  The space is really coming together.  Now I am getting quotes for portable partition walls to make more hanging space and a hanging system so we don't have to put holes in our nice new wall.

I can't wait until we are ready to open and have our launch party.  We will do that in September when folks are back from summer vacations.  That gives us a chance to take our time and get everything right before we open the gallery.

Keep Makin' Art!
Carl

GARNER24 Gallery

I mentioned in an earlier post that I took an 800 sq ft studio / gallery space with two of my favorite photographer's Michael Malandra and Julie Scholz.  Here are some photos of the space as it progresses from tired and old to a vibrant gallery space.  We (along with our amazing spouses Wendy, Susan and Durant) made great strides in the first full two days of work we have been able to put into the place.  So far we have internet / AC /  Carpets have been cleaned / we did some demo work and painted the interior.  The gallery (We are calling it GARNER24 (Garner Arts Center building 24) is in the old Garner Dye works where fabrics were made since the mid 1850's.  Later this week I will share some photos around the old factory complex.  It has really fueled my artistic inspiration.  Next up for the gallery.  We will paint the office gray and white with a big space of blackboard paint for ideas and notes.  We will paint the windowsills gloss black and start to figure out what to do with the exterior space in the hallway.  Should be another busy week.

Keep Makin' Art

Here is the space as we first saw it.  A little tired and old perhaps, but tons of potential

We opted to paint the walls a nice clean gray that will really show off our photography.

Here is the start of day 2 of work.  Notice the stairs are gone.  That opened up about 80 sq feet we can use for a 'chill zone' with a couch etc.  Also the kitchen cabinets went from oak to the same white we painted the long brick wall to help make them less noticeable.

Mid day things are shaping up.  Mike is moving so fast he showed up in the picture three times!

End of day 2.  Three tired but happy artists (Julie, Mike and Carl) have a nice  fresh gallery.  It is almost ready to hang a show.  That will happen later this summer.