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| Petersburg Regional Art Center - my studio |
Ten years ago, my husband and I moved my paintings and all the things that go with displaying them from Shockoe Bottom Art Center in Richmond to the Petersburg site in the old Butterworth's Furniture Store building. SBAC, like the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, was based on the concept of working artist studios. Ironically, the artists had helped bring the Shockoe Bottom area back to life, but that didn't matter. The old tobacco warehouse was being transformed into condos and they moved the artists out.
We spent many hours painting and decorating to create an attractive studio space in the old furniture store. In July 2003 the Center had a grand opening. Since then, each month PRAC has celebrated Friday for the Arts in Petersburg with a juried show featuring nice cash prizes that attracted artists from many localities. Unfortunately, Rusty Davis and his mother, Deanna Thomas, the founders of SBAC and then PRAC, have both suffered debilitating health issues and are no longer involved with the Center.
According to the e-mail I received, the renovations to PRAC will include 45 apartments and approximately 75 artist studios. The work is expected to take about 10 months, and they hope to reopen in June 2014.
Over the 10 years, I have expanded my area in the building to include two studio spaces there. Many of my oversize 4' x 6' paintings are hanging in the hallways. Now I'm wondering where to take these pieces of art--a decision I'll need to make soon.
Change is certain. We don't always like it.
6 comments:
Ten months? That's a lot of time to be out of commission.
Yes, it is, Alex!
What an upheaval! What are you going to do for the next ten months? Sounds like it will be awesome when it's done.
Hi Monty .. that does sound a great nuisance - as you say change is inevitable .. just sometimes one wishes it wasn't that particular change.
I sincerely hope you can find somewhere else with no doubt some of the other artist ...
I hope you get it back in 10 months' time .. with thoughts - Hilary
Hi, Monty,
Sorry to hear about your upheaval. Change is only good when it's OUR decision and we are ready for it. But for change to be THRUST upon us with little warning can certainly be disconcerting.
I hope it all works out for you.
Frustrating, Chuck. Hope it works out to be a good plan for the Center.
Was caught by surprise, Hilary, but upgrades are needed there. I fear the time schedule may not be possible.
Michael, change can be good in this case.
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