In January 2021, I happened upon a CNN story about a Seattle artist, Stacy Milrany http://milrany.com, who put a free little art gallery in front of her house to help spread joy in her neighborhood during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a wonderful way to foster connection for residents who choose to partake of the art or to donate some art.
I love projects that involve ‘the street’ so I sent the story to an artist/builder friend who immediately volunteered to build one that weekend!!! I had to put a governor on his gas pedal so I could do some research, consider the logistics, and make some plans. His creative energies surged into early construction.
Meanwhile, I began to build some awareness and anticipation for the coming free little art gallery on social media. I also needed to update my website to include a blog section just for the Free LittleAart Gallery, winston salem (FLAG_winston salem). It will be here and/or on my Instagram page @SusanAndreArt that I’ll regularly post photos of the artwork that passes through the gallery. It is my hope that people contribute all kinds of things: sketches, poems, paintings, experimentations, photos, drawings, doodles, small quilts (?), and who knows what else??!
The FLAG is now painted and has been out in my backyard so I can see what happens when it rains. There seems to be a bit of water that gathered under the door so I think we’ll remove the front ‘porch’ before installing it in the front yard, probably next week. It’s been an exciting whirlwind of preparation, and I mocked up some gallery arrangements:
2-26-2021 Update: Made a few minor adjustments to the gallery box yesterday like removing the ‘porch’ and changing the location of the knob. I need to sand a bit more off the bottom of the door and stain the sanded areas. Scheduled installation next Wednesday, March 3rd so probably grand opening the next day??
Susan André 