An open letter; 

 

To the Planning Board Members.

To the Village Board Members.

To the Residents of Medina.

 

We have started a public art initiative. That initiative, Form Foundation, is modeled after the likes of the Montreal mural festival and Albright Knox initiative (two cities of rich architectural history coupled with extreme modernism which has garnered internationally acclaimed success).

Our goal is to bring cultural modernism to Medina. We are starting with public murals. These murals have only two guidelines (because we all know there is far too much bureaucratic over-reach already); they must be modern in form and they cannot be offensive. We are not here to dictate the art of individuals dedicating their lives to their craft. We, with the building owners, are a medium and space of free expression and we staunchly believe that the juxtaposition of modernism will deeply enrich our historic asset base (this is not an original ideal). We do not need a series of Medina themed murals either. We may all care about Medina’s history and should. But the point is to create new history. To be present. To be an exemplary study of the new pastoral, bucolic Americana. To shed light upon our history while being present and having prescience for our future. To further garner outside social and economic interest in our beautiful village.

We have owned our building within the Historic District since 2013. We renovated this property under direct regulation of the National Parks Service historic preservation tax credit program. We followed their rules in order to fiscally justify the expense of the project. We preserved or accurately rebuilt all historic elements deemed worthy of preserving by both our architects and the National Parks Service. We incorporated absolute modernism where space was allowed to intentionally juxtapose the historic elements and further enhance their qualities via such contrast. You are all welcome to stop by anytime for a tour and a beer or coffee.

We have never received written (or digital) official guidelines as to what we can or cannot do with our building. We have an element of brutalist architecture behind the building in the form of a concrete planter box. While we submitted and obtained our Certificate of Appropriateness for the front Main Street facade, the rear garden structure was never submitted to the planning board, nor was it ever cited. It obviously is not historic and our National Parks Service representative explicitly informed us they themselves do not have oversight concerns related to the rear of our property due to it’s modifications and lack of historic nature. We were allowed to do whatever we wanted (hence the planter box and the modern formed windows). 

I reference this as point in case; our national level regulators (whom are certified historians and architects) did not consider the rear space of our property historic. Couple that with our life. We both have full-time jobs. We have 4 kids under the age of 6. We own a bar downtown. We have recently started a locally-based NPO. We are in the midst of a massive house renovation within the Village. To expect us to find a Historic District map (which does not exist on the Village website) to determine where we can and cannot do things is utterly unrealistic. We are of action not legislative burdens.

Thus, code is and has in recent history been arbitrarily enforced based on the myopic and often vindictive whims of legislative members.

So, with our experience, the utter lack of clear guidelines, and in light of the historically inconsistent enforcement we pursued our first mural; the Canalligator by Tim Meyers. We stared at blighted cinder block walls the past 4 years thinking of this public art initiative. COVID came. Hope has been few and far between. We obtained enthusiastic permission from the Hoffmeisters and Fentons whom own the walls. Please thank them both when you see them for supporting modern public art. For supporting the efforts we have begun to bring Medina into the 21st century. To clean up areas we can while we can. They are both long standing independent small business owners and we sincerely appreciate their support. In a post-COVID world outdoor public art seems like a no-brainer. Not to mention; has anyone taken a selfie or TikTok-d in front of the “historic” canal basin murals? A style which certain legislative members seem hell bent on forcing upon this community, leaving us yet again further from modern life and cultural movements. It simply is in a style completely out of touch with the present and future and no one from Buffalo or Rochester will ever drive out to look at them.

Various village board members, planning board members, and the code enforcer were all aware of the Canalligator mural happening for the month it took to complete; however, the notice was not issued until completion. All referenced government related officials and members have our cell phone numbers (and obviously know where to find us). Instead of cordially and respectfully informing us we are missing 3 pieces of bureaucratic paperwork they chose to issue a notice threatening fines and / or imprisonment during an unprecedented socio-economic disruption.

For what? For cleaning up cinder block walls on the back of buildings that the National Parks Service deems historically insignificant? For enthusiastically helping to start to bring Medina into the 21st century? What about the S.A. Cook building? It was considered the most modern building between Buffalo and Rochester when it was built. What about; Roots in the Past. Eyes on the Future?

In light of the notice issued we have now been forced to spend (read waste) time reading through the overly bureaucratic code. There are innumerable code violations within the Historic District and throughout the village, many of which have been there for years... why have a vast majority of these violations never been issued a citation?  

We either want consistent enforcement or complete freedom. The planning board and code enforcement officials should not be allowed to cherry pick, out of their privilege and whim, when and when not to enforce their arbitrary rules and out-of-touch legislation.

Please take a child to the Canalligator mural and watch their face. Never will they wish such walls were bare cinder block. They will look in inspired awe at it. They will smile. And their hearts will feel the hope art fosters. We are not doing this for us. We are doing it for them.

We have watched the outpouring of public support for this art initiative. We realized from speaking with hundreds of village residents that like us, they do not want to feel as though they live in a museum surrounded by do not touch signs. We want to feel fiercely present. To be filled with hope. To know the town is not in fact a relic of the past but rather a vibrant example of the here and of the now.

We do not need legislation around art and culture. We do not expect every piece to be beloved. We expect only to clean up cinder block walls and bring modern life to our community. To elicit intrigue and conversation. To give our youth inspiration. To fake it until we make it.

Please support modern public art. Please support our collective future. Please think of not our own limitations but of the lack of them found in our children and the unrestricted hope of the future. Lead with passion. Not with the fear of change. Lead with love. Lead.

Sincerely with all our passion and love for the past but evermore for the present and the future… for life in general… and for Medina.

 

Teresa & Tim

Founders

Form Foundation

 

 

 

Footnote to the village related officials:

Please leave Ms. Waldriff alone about her cute, very small, hand painted sign in the rear of her building. She is the longest standing, tax-paying business owner within downtown. It’s a fun little sign aligned with her brand and is not detracting from our historic assets. We are supposed to be free.

 

The amazing art happening right near us:

https://www.albrightknox.org/community/ak-public-art/metamorphosis-5

https://www.albrightknox.org/community/ak-public-art