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The History of
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Last January I received a call from Mark Timberlake. He told me that he had a project that he was working on and he would like to see if I would be interested in it. I went to his office in the Guitar Building and he showed me some plans for the renovation of some warehouses on Orr Street that would house studio spaces for artists. It took a day or so for the magnitude of it to sink in but I came to my senses quickly when I realized just what an opportunity it was for me, for artists in Columbia, and for Columbia itself. I was whole heartedly enthusiastic from then on, and still am to this day. Every moment that I have put in on this great plan has been a pleasure. I think Orr Street Studios may be the shift in critical mass that the art scene in Columbia has been waiting for. I know thatís a big claim to make, and hereís why I think itís true. Orr Street Studios will provide three things that are essential for the success of any artist. First, and most importantly, artists need a place to work! Orr Street Studios will have sixteen studio spaces, some will house more than one artist. The studios will be well lit and have sinks in every room, and be accessible to the residents any time of day or night. Secondly, artists need public exposure. This means they must have the opportunity for people to see their work and purchase it. Artists thrive not only on sales but on the satisfaction of knowing that people can see and appreciate what it is they do. | Orr Street will have regular open gallery times when all the artists will be present and the doors are wide open to welcome the public. Also, artists can have a studio to invite clients to for private viewing of their work, or do portrait work, or negotiate commissions, or give private lessons. Additionally, this web site represents the facility and the resident artists to the world wide web, increasing the possibility of sales as our reputation and notoriety grows. Of course, visitors are welcome during regular hours to just come and see art in its natural habitat. Lastly, artists by nature must be part hermits. What they do means they have to get off by themselves and immerse themselves in the act of creating. On the other hand, they need to be around other artists to help keep the fire of creativity burning. Orr Street provides a place where you can go shut your door to the world and then emerge for relaxation in a non competitive environment and have a cup of coffee and talk about the weird and wonderful world of artmaking. A small community of like minded people that may be radically different, and disagree, and be cranky at times, but share one basic sameness. They are artists. Yes, but why do I think Orr Street can alter the art scene in Columbia if it is just catering to a couple of dozen or so artists? Because it provides for the people of Columbia in much the same way that it does for their artists. It gives them a place where they can go and see artists at work and see art being made. It gives them a place where they can buy art and talk with the artists that are making it. And, it gives them a place to go and share in the ambience that art just seems to surround itself with wherever it may be. Add all of that to the classes, workshops, lectures and gallery talks that eventually will be a part of Orr Street Studios and you have a home for art, and artists, and art lovers, and sure, just curious onlookers, and people that want to stroll around and be entertained. That's part of it too, the more energy the better as far as I'm concerned. Art. Heart. Hearth. Come see how it works. |
