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co-op help

updated sun 1 oct 06

 

Chuck Nunnelly on thu 28 sep 06


I have moved to a smaller community and have over the past five years been
unable to bring my wheel and kiln out of storage to use. Given my space
and economic limitations I can't have studio space on my own. Can someone
point me to web sites, information, do's and don'ts .... in trying to start
a cooperative that would pool our resources to have studio space, etc. I
know there may be others in the area with interest, but before I propose
trying to get us together, I would like a little education.

Don Goodrich on fri 29 sep 06


Hi Chuck,
There's been a fair amount of discussion of co-ops on the list
over the years. If you go to the archives and search for posts with
the word "co-op" in the subject line, there'll be about 130 of them.
Try the following link, and see if you find anything useful:
http://tinyurl.com/rzo28

There was some particularly good discussion of co-ops in 2003:
http://tinyurl.com/nb79t Pat Colyar's post of December 22 '03
is definitely worth reading.

Hope this helps.

Don Goodrich

Patrick Cross on fri 29 sep 06


I had alot of my belongings/tools in one of those mini-storage deals and was
unable to get at most of it..but I've since found the same sort of storage
but on a larger scale...and they owner is pretty open-minded about how the
spaces are utilized...some of my "neighbors" are local bands...amateur
motorcycle/foreign car mechanic...race car builder...custom cabinet
shop...very interesting little micro-community.

I rent a 20X30' unit with power included for $165/month. The space has a
16' ceiling height so once I finish the storage loft it will be like renting
two 20X30' spaces. Are you sure there isn't something like that where you
are? What do you mean by " smaller community"? ...Think you might find an
old barn you could rent...or is the downtown area in decline and you might
be able to rent or buy a vacant old store front? My sister did that in
York, Alabama...sorry no pics but I think she paid something like $20K for a
HUGE space that she has made into her basket studio. This isn't going to
show you what I'm talking about but here's a link to the artist community
she's involved with.

http://colemanarts.org/2005/index.php

You might learn quite a bit by contacting them...as far as starting an
artist cooperative...they really seem to know what they're doing over there.

Oh, and here's a fantastic place I was involved with briefly in Athens,
Georgia...would be still if I hadn't moved.

http://www.gooddirt.net/

http://www.gooddirt.net/2006_gallery.html

Hope this generates some ideas...where are you located anyway?

Patrick Cross (cone10soda)


On 9/28/06, Chuck Nunnelly wrote:
>
> I have moved to a smaller community and have over the past five years been
> unable to bring my wheel and kiln out of storage to use. Given my space
> and economic limitations I can't have studio space on my own. Can someone
> point me to web sites, information, do's and don'ts .... in trying to
> start
> a cooperative that would pool our resources to have studio space, etc. I
> know there may be others in the area with interest, but before I propose
> trying to get us together, I would like a little education.
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
>

Tara Mooney on fri 29 sep 06


Chuck,
What area do you live in?
I have been interested in this as well since I moved to Sarasota.
When I lived up north we had a whole building with both
co-op and private studios that they would open to the public once
a month. I would love to have something like that in my new area.
Tara
On Sep 28, 2006, at 9:39 PM, Chuck Nunnelly wrote:

> I have moved to a smaller community and have over the past five years
> been
> unable to bring my wheel and kiln out of storage to use. Given my
> space
> and economic limitations I can't have studio space on my own. Can
> someone
> point me to web sites, information, do's and don'ts .... in trying to
> start
> a cooperative that would pool our resources to have studio space, etc.
> I
> know there may be others in the area with interest, but before I
> propose
> trying to get us together, I would like a little education.
>
> _______________________________________________________________________
> _______
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.

Chuck Nunnelly on sat 30 sep 06


Thanks for the replies. I had forgotten the archives (old subjects never
die!), even found my old post from 99 and 98. I am going to approach this
in a slow manner as there are lots of possibilities in my town, warehouses,
vacant storefronts, commercial property, maybe some farmer with an extra
tool shed, still exploring. The town is Blackstone, VA about 60 miles from
Richmond, VA, my former local. I had thought of the co-op thing as a way
to save $ and also start some kind of artist focal point for the community,
not limited to just pottery. So I'm going to research and ponder the co-op
thing, it would most likely require my efforts to start and maintain. I
have to decide what's most important or what will motivate me more, helping
start an artist co-op or just getting back to my wheel. Meanwhile, there is
handbuilding, raku, woodfiring, setting the wheel up outside, the list goes
on. I just want to get my hands dirty again. Got several pails of 5-20's,
bags of clay, glaze ingredients, and now the time. I'll keep you informed
and lurking the list. Good to see some familiar names, mel, tony, et al.