since I left

Soon I will be making my first visit back to the art center since I cleaned up my space and turned in my keys. In recent months there have been many challenges there and when the temporary director resigned suddenly (just before my decision to relocate was finalized) things became a lot more challenging. Since then the gallery shop has been closed, most of the good and talented staff has been let go, and there is no leadership left. The resident artists are still on the second floor, and I have some hope that the program will survive as it has been an income producer from the very beginning, but the once vibrant organization that I first volunteered for, then worked for, became a resident artist and board member for.... is no more.

This place, which I originally found in the basement of a plaza downtown, relocated to a light industrial area when town center was being built, and I began to volunteer at that time in a weird location that we made work as an art center and gallery. I built my new life around this place. When the new town center was completed and opened we moved into the shiny new space, and it seemed the sky was the limit. Even up until a few months ago I had every hope that the art center would find a way to re-group and survive, but those hopes have dimmed and faded. Change will be coming, in what form is still unclear, and I will do what I can to support the resident artists program... peopled with some exceptional and talented creative souls.... in hopes that it can continue on.