Kay Howard & Phil Chaban on fri 28 feb 03
Hi--It has been a big week--Phil and I have been interested for a while =
in a proposed project in Jackson, MI called the Armory Arts Project. =
This is a project to revitalize and renovate a deserted industrial =
complex into an arts complex including up to 35 residential and work =
spaces for artists. The complex will also include space for a number =
of non-profits with one of the largest a ceramics based center with =
plans for excellent studio and teaching space. The project is a joint =
effort between local movers and shakers and an organization they have =
hired to be the developer called ArtSpace Projects, Inc. Some of you =
may recall that Phil and I toyed with the idea of joining an intentional =
community, but found that it would be either too expensive or too =
primative or too something. However the idea of living with and working =
in proximity with other artists (can we spell energy and synergy?!) and =
not having to leave the community which we like, was appealing. Here's =
the exciting part--we got a call from the local director that our local =
NPR affiliate Michigan Radio in Ann Arbor (WUOM) had gotten wind of the =
project and wanted to do an interview with someone who wanted to live =
there--would we do the interview? As loyal MiR members for many =
years--and what I listen to in the studio--we were thrilled. Our =
interview with Tamar Charney will be on Monday Mar 3 during Morning =
Edition (7:50 or 8:50am) and again at 4:50 ("All Things Considered", I =
think). I hope we don't sound like idiots!
If anyone would like more information on the project (move in scheduled =
for early to mid 2005) I can e-mail you stuff off-list or will chat on =
phone. This will be low income housing (but it's amazing what a pittance =
comes out of that schedule C), rents will be modest and I expect we =
will qualify. Examples of other Artspace projects are at =
www.artspaceprojects.org . Some miraculous transformations..
Also--if anyone out there already lives in an Artspace project, we would =
love to know how you feel about what the company has done. You know, =
like did they live up to the hype? Did rents stay affordable? etc--
The required disclaimer: no business, family or other connection with =
this company--just excited about what the project can do for Jackson, =
the community and artists.=20
In the middle of all this, we refinanced our mortgage (locked in a rate =
in anticipation of who knows what is about to occur as dictated by our =
fearsome leader), and finished the by-laws for our new guild =
www.jacksonpotteryandclayguild.com . So we are finally almost to the =
point where we can invite new members. Again anybody out there =
interested in more info, e-mail or call. =20
Whew! time to go back to work--didn't get much clay done this week. =20
Kay and Phil in cold but sunny Grass Lake, MI
capclay@modempool.com
517-522-4771
Tony Ferguson on fri 28 feb 03
Kay and Phil,
I live in one of the ArtSpace Arts building. We are called Washington
Galleries in Duluth, MN. Rents have been going up, but comparatively, there
isn't a better place to live for what you get. For our 3 bedroom, the rent
is $668 for 1710 square feet--incredible amount of space--some of the 3
bedrooms are 2500 square feet. Depending on how your building is
refurbished, your sizes may vary. The idea is for artists to have a
live/work space and that is why they are so huge. Our building used to be a
school and so within our building we also have a swimming pool, a community
clay studio, a wood shop, a performance space, a gift gallery, other
community spaces and a very large gallery space where monthly shows ocurr.
We have enjoyed living here. Cooperative policy and politics can be alittle
wearing at times and of course you will have your controllers, passives.
You will have some serious dedicated artists and you will hobbists. If
there is anything I can recommended is the better people you accept into the
coop the better the dynamic. We unforuntately have people in the building
who are just enjoying the "condo" and are not making work. This affects the
dynamic and level participation and "synergy" as you described. You will
either self manage or have to find a managing company. You will want to set
it up asap to where your members can eventually own their own spaces. You
are cooperative members, not renters, so there are different rules and
regulations you will fall under depending on federal and state guide lines
and tax laws.
Keep in mind if you make too much money, you can't apply for membership.
Once you get in, then their are only minimum income guidelines.
I would recommend to anyone to explore moving into one of the Artspaces
across the country. If you are looking to check out a new state and artists
community, it is a good way to spend 2+ years developing your work and
learning from others.
Thank you.
Tony Ferguson
On Lake Superior, where the sky meets the Lake
Stoneware, Porcelain, Raku and more
by Coleman, Ferguson, Winchester...
www.aquariusartgallery.com
218-727-6339
315 N. Lake Ave
Apt 312
Duluth, MN 55806
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kay Howard & Phil Chaban"
To:
Sent: Friday, February 28, 2003 11:21 AM
Subject: Big week--NPR interview, new guild--somewhat OT and long
Hi--It has been a big week--Phil and I have been interested for a while in a
proposed project in Jackson, MI called the Armory Arts Project. This is a
project to revitalize and renovate a deserted industrial complex into an
arts complex including up to 35 residential and work spaces for artists.
The complex will also include space for a number of non-profits with one of
the largest a ceramics based center with plans for excellent studio and
teaching space. The project is a joint effort between local movers and
shakers and an organization they have hired to be the developer called
ArtSpace Projects, Inc. Some of you may recall that Phil and I toyed with
the idea of joining an intentional community, but found that it would be
either too expensive or too primative or too something. However the idea of
living with and working in proximity with other artists (can we spell
energy and synergy?!) and not having to leave the community which we like,
was appealing. Here's the exciting part--we got a call from the local
director that our local NPR affiliate Michigan Radio in Ann Arbor (WUOM) had
gotten wind of the project and wanted to do an interview with someone who
wanted to live there--would we do the interview? As loyal MiR members for
many years--and what I listen to in the studio--we were thrilled. Our
interview with Tamar Charney will be on Monday Mar 3 during Morning Edition
(7:50 or 8:50am) and again at 4:50 ("All Things Considered", I think). I
hope we don't sound like idiots!
If anyone would like more information on the project (move in scheduled for
early to mid 2005) I can e-mail you stuff off-list or will chat on phone.
This will be low income housing (but it's amazing what a pittance comes out
of that schedule C), rents will be modest and I expect we will qualify.
Examples of other Artspace projects are at www.artspaceprojects.org . Some
miraculous transformations..
Also--if anyone out there already lives in an Artspace project, we would
love to know how you feel about what the company has done. You know, like
did they live up to the hype? Did rents stay affordable? etc--
The required disclaimer: no business, family or other connection with this
company--just excited about what the project can do for Jackson, the
community and artists.
In the middle of all this, we refinanced our mortgage (locked in a rate in
anticipation of who knows what is about to occur as dictated by our fearsome
leader), and finished the by-laws for our new guild
www.jacksonpotteryandclayguild.com . So we are finally almost to the point
where we can invite new members. Again anybody out there interested in more
info, e-mail or call.
Whew! time to go back to work--didn't get much clay done this week.
Kay and Phil in cold but sunny Grass Lake, MI
capclay@modempool.com
517-522-4771
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Snail Scott on sat 1 mar 03
At 04:17 PM 2/28/03 -0600, you wrote:
>I live in one of the ArtSpace Arts building.
>I would recommend to anyone to explore moving into one of the Artspaces
>across the country.
The ArtSpace folks from Minnesota also helped develop
an artists' live/work building here in Reno - I believe
it was their first project outside the northern Midwest.
Some of my friends live there and love it. It's been a
terrific thing for the city, too, since downtown Reno
has a glut of defunct useless casino/hotels blighting
the landscape. The Riverside Hotel which was chosen for
the rehab is an older one, one of the 'divorce hotels'
which offered a fixed 6-month (later 6 week) rate so you
could get residency for divorce purposes, way back when.
It's a gorgeous old brick building by a prominent local
architect of the day, with fabulous views of the Sierras,
the Truckee River, and the downtown neon, all together.
Unfortunately, thay have a policy: NO KILNS! Also no
table saws, and a few other things. I suspect it's due
to an attempt to control rehab costs by not running 220
current to the units. I am also told that they didn't
want to deal with the ventilation issues. I don't know
whether these restriction are common to other ArtSpace
projects, but I'm sure they'll tell you if you ask!
Also, most of these lofts don't have outdoor spaces.
Ask yourself if you need one - I know I do!
-Snail
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