There has been another reason for his renewed activity. Marlene, proprietor extraordinaire of "East End Studio", who inhabits Shop 2 needs more space. She is holding a weekend upcycling workshop on the 23rd and 24th of this month. With 18 participants attending this workshop, Shop 2 was never going to be big enough. This will be her first workshop in hopefully, a long line of workshops. I believe Marlene is that talented an artist.
Hence, Shop 3 has been attacked with enthusiasm. Spider webs have gone. Surfaces have been dusted and vacuumed. Cracks have been filled and walls have been smoothed. Plaster has been added and sanded. Just about all surfaces have been painted with primer. Archways have been closed. Today, the pressed tin ceiling came alive, changing from a faded, sallow white to a blast of exotic red. I stood in awe this afternoon at Michael's achievements thus far.
The archways and door will be a deep, diplomatic blue. The walls will be next - to be painted Milk White - a wonderful, creamy, warm, buttery colour that glows in sunlight. Lastly will be the concrete floor, to change from a hideous blue that is also flaking off - choice! - to a ripe apricot tinged sandstone.
Then, on to Shop 4, the East End Gallery. We have an ABN and we have a business name. We have such dreams. An tremendous amount of work stands between us and those dreams. The floor has to be lifted and reinforced with steel beams. Then the floorboards are relaid. The enormous, and I mean enormous cracks filled. A fireplace repaired and rebuilt. The cornices repositioned. The ceiling and walls sealed and repainted. The floor sanded and stained.
We hope to open the East End Gallery on December 1. Who knows whether we'll achieve this ambition. Judging from the smile that hasn't left Michael's face since we were granted our gallery's name, I think anything is possible!
Shop 3 - a work in progress!
No comments:
Post a Comment