Hi friends, and happy Friday!
In case you hadn't caught my posts on social media, I wanted to give you all a quick update that, at the end of January, I met with Jeff Buell, Principal Architect and decision-maker at Redburn Development, the new owners of the Central Warehouse. My #ButterflyTheWarehouse proposal was very well received (including the part about my awesome petitioners), and Jeff loved the whole concept. In fact, he's wanted to include a mural from a local artist on the warehouse since he first decided to try and acquire it, which was many years ago now.
That said, there are some big legal hurdles that he and his team have to work through for the next several months -- along with everything else they're doing. In a nutshell, his plan includes deeming the warehouse an historic building, which comes with certain limitations, such as major changes to the exterior. But behind every rule is a human being, and if we can figure out a workaround or a win-win for the powers that be, then we may have an actual, bona fide, green light on this thing. Which is kind of surreal, to be honest. How much space will be allowed and how much art, we'll see... but I can't say it enough: Thank You, Thank You, THANK YOU for your early support, and I hope to update you all again this year with some even better news :)
In other news, I'm looking for a muralist to complete another mural, which will be happening this year at the SHAC Center in Averill Park. We're currently working on securing grant funding to pay them, so if anyone in your network may be able to help, let me know! And feel free to pass around this link for muralists to submit: https://tinyurl.com/375npk72
I'm also teaching several art classes in the coming months, including at Albany High School this past week, and they're going great. The students really enjoy creating their Frankenflies. If you know of a great venue where kids of all ages could come to learn my method with easy coloring sheets, drop me a line :)
Be well,
Ryan