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Show Community Art Center Planned for Eley Garage By Becky Cantwell Accomplished artists of many persuasions shall find a working space ,in old Park City soon as Eley Garage is stripped to original steel bowstring arches, becoming a two-level center for the arts. William R. Kimball is purchasing the property and Alan Crooks has mighty programming plans. They and architect Max Smith won preliminary city support during the Council's executive session Thursday for plans to create a multifaceted public area where artists, students and appreciators may congregate. Doors will open between Labor Day and early October if no hitches intervene. The hastily but thoroughly executed plan involves the transformation of the Park and Heber Avenue intersection where one of Park City's most strategically located eyesores Jias stood bare for years. Before, cars came for '; what was needed and drove off contented. Now the consumers will get "gassed up" on creativity as the garage succumbs to a "repotting" process, providing a gallery, theatre, film, painting, potting, weaving, print-making print-making and meeting areas to house artists of national renown in Park City. Crooks explains, "Downstairs is the creative center, upstairs is the product center." The project's director currently serves as the Utah .State Division of the Fine Arts program chairman. He has professional connections with the National Endowment for the Arts and with lots of artists creating in many media. "We're providing the facility and exposure ,,.to a community that has potential," he explains. "There's no reason why Park City can't become an arts .colony." Kimball is an Ogden native, one of four owners of the California ski resort Alpine Meadows, and reportedly a superior .fundraiser. Community involvement in the center is a primary goal. Outreach ' programs in the schools, a variety of arts classes for those who want to learn, travelling gallery shows from major museums or by major artists, and a variety of cinematic and theatrical experiences are planned in the non-profit venture. A staff of three with additional community volunteers is forecast. But first, the structure must be purchased (all appears clear), and around $125,000 improvements performed this summer on the 15,000 square feet. Crooks et al will also have to prove to the Planning Commission that they can provide adequate, off-street parking. The center could be included in the Main Street Improvement District and thus gain use of ' 'Swede Alley' ' parking space. The lube pit (east) area will assume at least 15 possible configurations with a hard wood floor surface, rear-projection film facilities, and various theatre possibilities. 400-500 spectators can be seated. Poetry and readings and even bluegrass concerts will occur. An 18-foot interior grid ceiling will allow many lightings. A multipurpose gallery will precede entrance to this space, and museum shows (rented for a period), one-artist exhibits and the like are proposed. Next to a central corridor on the Park Avenue side, a small gallery, museum shop and multi-purpose meeting room are planned. Down the central stairs to the right will b6 a corridor opening to bright and equipped classrooms where people may draw, paint, print, weave, develop and print film, make jewelry, etc. In the far corner, studio and (Continued on Page Four) ; i : f 1 i i ': ' J X. w ALAN CROOKS j Crooks describes proposal (Continued from Page One) classroom space is reserved for major artists who may be in residence. This area will otherwise provide day-care facilities for working volunteers. A large kiln will be built by David Fernandez, an "artists in the schools" ceramicistconsultant for the National Endowment. This plus pottery wheels will be mobile to a lower level outdoor plaza where variegated ground textures and canvas shade covers will provide sunny inspiration in the two lots adjacent to the former service station. In-house printing, even some poetry books may be created on a Miehle hand-set press. Storage space and a room with exhaust fan for metal sculpting will occupy the southeast corner. Storage space and an artist's lounge are other inclusions. The big old building will thus house a complete range of artistic facilities. Crooks recently attended an international meeting of arts centers directors. He admits he's one of very few Utahns with the expertise to mold the center. He stated, "It's a conglomerate idea. We're trying to be a center that's more than a rental facility for companies. We want a working creative center, bringing in nationally known artists in many media." Although he will work professionally at the center and hopes it will be financially sound, he says, "We are in essence providing a city function. Art and artistic environment, creating aesthetic awareness is 'just as necessary as garbage collection', as the mayor of Seattle said. It's good business for a town. Companies are eager to locate in areas with cultural outlets. Art centers change communities for the better. I think the participation and audience are here." He cited "kid involvement" and general educational function as major goals. Crooks met Kimball only six weeks ago when the visiting executive was wondering what to do in Park City since he doesn't ski. Crescent Ridge condominium kowner, Marilyn Modling introduced '. .them and a partnership was established. Kimball hopes to develop a renowned municipal amenity and Crooks wishes :to schedule the many first-rate artist grown weary of the big city jungles. He agreed that national trends indicate the attractiveness of areas like Park City to artists. Kimball considered building a new arts facility, but decided on re-development. Some of the people Crooks has in mind are the Williams Toy Theatre Marionette Show, an improvisa-tional improvisa-tional theatre out of L.A.'s Mark Taper Forum, the Organic Theatre . .Company from Chicago, Visual artist and National Endowment Consultant David Rixby, the McLean Family Band, p oet Sam Harnmill, dance groups, film series, and young Utah artists who will have a chance to get working and performing. Crooks said classes will be geared toward local people including beginners who just want to know how it feels. Fees for such experiences will be kept "as low as we can possibly get them. The business of art is not to make money," Crooks asserted. He continued, "We hope the city will support us. We're making a decided effort to involve the community. And this will serve not just Park City but will be a regional facility." He promised to bring exhibits to Park City which "no one in Salt Lake is getting." Crooks, who knows and respects the personnel at the National Endowment for the Arts believes he can keep the ample space creatively bursting with artists not yet seen between Chicago and San Francisco. On the outside, Eley Garage will be stripped to its basic art deco structure and then finished in an inobtrusive Victorian coat with lots of glass. Light colors so it will "visually sink into the hill" are intended, and a glass enclosure .to within six feet of the property will be built. Kiosks will inform:, audiences of upcoming happenings. Crooks explained that most such centers have a three-pronged financial base, one-third earned income, one-third state and federal grants, and one-third endowments for donors. Since the center is not intended as a commercial enterprise, it will not depend on audience participation alone .for solvency. |