ARTSpace on Main walk-thru reveals some room for flexibility
It’s a flex space that can serve a multitude of purposes, from galas with fancy finger foods to street festivals and backyard barbecues to space for kilns and classrooms, yet it has the ability to expand and contract by the use of large glass garage-style doors with ease and as needed.
That’s how Rachel Miller, executive director for the for Southeast Arkansas, described The ARTSpace on Main while on a walk-through Monday afternoon. The space at 623 S. Main St. is part of ASC’s growing campus.
The construction and renovations of the 11,000-square-foot space is nearly complete and workers are mere hours away from wrapping up finishing touches such as putting together tables and anchorings for future art.
KEEPING THE BEST
Many of the structure’s original elements remain, such as the wood floors, ceiling beams, tin tiles and brick walls.
Also, some that were added later, such a few bits of old graffiti, remain. One is dated 1940.
One of the most distinctive original features retained is an advertising mural for O.K. Purity Maid Ice Cream. O.K. Dairy was on the second floor.
The ARTSpace on Main is a mashup of modern and late last century elements, thus giving a nod to the original structure, built in 1920, that served as a firehouse, Miller said.
The new retrofitted space is a “good example of sustainable adaptation that retains the distinct and defining features” of the downtown area, she said.
“The installation of the artwork (for auction) will be completed by Thursday” just in time for Friday’s start of the ARTWORKS!, ASC’s virtual art auction, Miller said.
Visitors will be allowed to walk through the facility and see the art in-person. The auction runs through Nov. 22.
THE COVID FACTOR
It’s been a two-year process from the hiring of AMR Architects Inc. of Little Rock in Feb
ruary 2019 to the near completion of The ARTSpace on Main.
Measures also included conversations with ASC’s partners about the facility and its potential usage.
Those lasted about two months, after which the architects in conjunction with design-LAB architects of Boston, Mich., designed possibilities in spring 2019.
The architectural design was completed by the end of 2019.
East Harding Construction of Little Rock was able to get started with the retrofit.
Miller said work was supposed to be completed by summer’s end, but the covid-19 pandemic slowed down the process, which turned out to be a plus.
“It allowed us to slow down… We were able to think hard about our strengths, how to best utilize the building and our programming. It gave us time to make sure we will do it right,” Miller said.
East Harding is scheduled to hand over the keys to ASC on Dec. 6, and Miller said, there should be a soft opening and programming by spring 2021.