You can get a print AND help me build my studio.

As many of you know I have had studios all over the city of Boston.  This also means that I have moved around a lot over the course of my career here.

I had a studio I loved in Hyde Park for many years, a condo I bought into.  The developer was, well let’s just say he was motivated by something other than trying to create artist housing.  People had varying or non-existent commitments to contemporary art practice, so there was no dialogue about art, a hallmark of a thriving artist community. The 10+ year lawsuit took its toll on friendships, my art work and my health and once I was able to get the building’s roof fixed (it used to rain in my studio) I decided to sell the place and move.

I have a great realtor (thanks Larry) who was patient, smart, and knew what I needed was a place for a studio.  He helpded me find a house in Dedham that belonged to a retired stonemason. It wasn’t in the best shape (neither am I) but the structure was good and more importantly, it had an above grade basement with a carport that I could turn into a studio.

project

The goal here is to turn the existing basement and carport into a working artist’s studio with appropriate lighting, access, storage, and ventillation. To do this:

1. Upgrade electrical system to code and replace electrical panel to allow for the use of a variety of power tools.
2. Remove and replace inefficient (and gigantic) oil-heat furnace and water heater with wall mounted gas models that with smaller footprints and better venting to increase working space.
3. Remove walls, reinforce joists, remove existing chimney, and regonfigure space to create work areas and storage.
4. Close off, insulate, and build out existing carport to increase working space.

The wonderful Patti Seitz of Seitz Architects has drawn up plans for how this could work.  I’m deeply grateful to her for her excellent work and patience. (Click to enlarge)

The orange outline is what I am currently using for my studio.  The blue is the space that will be available after the project is complete. (Click to enlarge)

funding

I am funding this studio rebuild through my work.  The current politcal and financial moments in this country make accessing credit markets and capital extremely difficult for artists-even those of us with tenured professorships.  The lenders I have approached have advised that waiting for credit markets to relax may result in more favorable lending terms.  Unfortunately, I need a place to work now.

I created a new print project based on the image below.  There are risographic prints, silkscreens, etchings and dye sublimation prints available. These can be viewed here.

There are 12 x 12 inch water colors that are available at a reduced price. These can be viewed here.

I am still represented by Samsøñ.  If you are interested in paintings or sculptures, you can connect with them here.  They know that I am trying to build a studio and would love to work with you if you are interested in purchasing works.

Lastly, I know that my work is not everyone’s cup of tea and I understand that.  So if want to help me raise the funds for my studio and don’t want any of my work, you can connect with me on Venmo and send funds directly.

Feel free to share this link with anyone you think would be interested.  Thanks so much.

100 watercolors waiting to be mailed out as soon as you ask for one.

29 June 2015

UPDATE!

Well, the 100 watercolors I made for this project are gone.  I don’t have any more to send out at this point in time.  But I will say that I will do this again at the end of the summer.  I will give the folks who missed out first crack at the new batch.

A heartfelt thank you to all of you who grabbed one.  I am humbled.  And psyched.

Steve

Early on in my career, before I even had anything close to what one could call a career, I used to send art works to people through the mail.  I sent books of drawings, individual art works, paintings, postcards, all sort of things.  The main reason I did it was because I thought it was pretty incredible that I could write some code on an envelope and my work would get directly into someone’s hands.  All I had to do was write PERSONAL on the package and no one would open it but the addressee.  It made me feel like a success at a time when I really felt I had nothing going on.

I wanted to do another mail art project but social media has changed the notions of connections that once were in place.  If I got a collector or curator’s address and I sent them personal mail, it was almost guaranteed that the package would get to them.   With social media replacing email (and frankly, people don’t even read their email much anymore) I tried to figure out a way to get the work out with the chance of accessing someone I didn’t know or would never meet.

Also, I had a show of watercolors at the Hudson Opera House earlier this season.  A lot of people told me that they wished they could have seen the show.  Some also lamented at the cost of the work and that they would love one, but they couldn’t afford it.

So here’s how it works:  Send me $50 and your address and I will send you a watercolor.  Super easy. Send me an email with the subject line MAIL ME A WATERCOLOR (or post a reply on whatever social media platform you see this message) and I’ll send you a Paypal invoice.  Once you send it back, I’ll mail you a 5×7 inch watercolor painting.  There’s a limited amount of them and it will have to be first come first served.  You can even tell me the one you want and if it’s available, I’ll send it to you.

Please feel free to share this post.  I want to mail these out all over the place.