Milagro Design, LLC is offering space in a building they own at 222 F St as an “Art Incubator” for the Salida art community. It is a place that can allow local artists to pursue their creative ambitions in an energized community of like minded spirits (don’t laugh, there are ghosts in the Sandusky Building).
They want to provide an affordable, beautiful space for artists to work and display their work and they are open to any ideas that advance this concept.
This will be less than a break-even venture for them at first, but the building owners benefit by not having to do extensive renovations to the upstairs, and believe that they can support the art community in Salida by making available low cost space in a collective environment. They are willing to test this idea by committing the space through Art Walk this summer and hopefully beyond. “It’s an experiment, but an idea we believe in wholeheartedly, so we’re willing to take the chance. The huge hallway with it’s room sized skylight creates a natural and beautiful gallery space that is available to the artists as a “free” area to display work, have shows, teach classes, show films, anything they, as a community, can agree upon. It is an energized space for ideas to hatch,” says Lee Hunnicutt, a partner in Milagro.
The idea is to make the space cheap and easy. Utilities are included, there is no long term commitment, no deposits, and $250 per studio room per month should allow an artist to work without undue financial pressure. Artists may share a space or rent more than one. If it’s not working for someone, there is no lease to worry about and an easy exit, but Milagro hopes to lose artists because they have become so successful that they move on to bigger things. There is no limit to what type of art may be practiced, but because these are close quarters, above Verdigris, a stunning retail space that also sells art. Since it is located in an old building, there will be noise and open flame restrictions.
The gallery hall has already proved it can be a big draw as evidenced by the highly successful art show that took place there over the Inaugural week as hundreds of people viewed the works of Jimmy “Rocketman” Descant and Susan Mayfield.
Milagro design, LLC is a local real estate investment group owned by Jane and Doug Pinto, Kat Jackson, Dave and Kathy Armstrong, and Lee Hunnicutt. The space will be managed by Susan Mayfield.
Anyone who is interested should attend the first meeting at the Sandusky Building, 222 F St,above Verdigris,this Thursday, Jan 29 at 6 PM. There are ten spaces available and will go on a first to commit gets first choice of space, basis.
What an opportunity for local artists! I am hopeful that I will be able to take advantage of such an opportunity in the near future, being an artistic sort myself.
Although my current situation does not make it feasible for me to participate at this time, I hope that this space will still be available whent the time is right.
I’ve heard Salida referred to as the “next Santa Fe”, in terms of artistic talent but I think we’re already there. The economy may be challenging (understatement) at this time for true artists to survive but we are “creative” by nature, and we will survive!