Arts Warehouse is temporarily closed as part of a longer, more intensive renovation effort that has been underway at the facility. The closure was prompted specifically by the repair, buffing, and sealing of the cement floors throughout the building — work that required the space to be vacated. The broader renovation scope includes a new roof, new AC units, new exterior stucco and paint, and new countertops and cabinetry.
While the doors have been closed to the public, the Arts Warehouse team has been anything but idle. Program Director Grace Gdaniec described the closure as a productive period of long-term planning. “It has been a great time for long term planning especially for exhibitions,” she said. “That has been my main focus, a lot of research and time to contact potential artists and artists that are confirmed.” The team also used the time to finalize the workshop schedule through the end of the year, evaluate social media and outreach efforts, and check in on resident artists to make sure the community could still find them in person or online throughout the closure.
The closure also offered a moment of reflection. “We also had a chance to look back over the last 8+ years on so many successes and interesting exhibitions that we shared through social media ‘throwbacks,'” Gdaniec said. “There’s a lot to be proud of and grateful for within our small team and community.”
Workshops are set to resume on May 9, with Arts Warehouse open in limited areas of the building while remaining work items are completed. The official public reopening is Thursday, May 21, from 5 to 8 p.m., with regular hours resuming on May 22. “We invite everyone to visit the refreshed space, view two new art exhibitions, and visit the artists back in their studios,” Gdaniec said. “Some artists have moved around as well, so you may see artists in a new, larger studio within the building.”
The reopening will be marked by two new exhibitions. The front and east galleries will host Beautifully Broken, a group exhibition featuring 10 artists curated by artist and curator Katya Neptune through her organization ArtHeart. The exhibition opens in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month and explores themes including grief, ageism, anxiety, addiction and recovery, and dissociative identity disorder through intimate and thought-provoking works. The Back Room Gallery will feature the first solo presentation at Arts Warehouse by resident artist Lisa McNamara titled Unfamiliar Languages. More information on both exhibitions is available at artswarehouse.org/upcoming_exhibitions.
Looking ahead, Gdaniec expressed enthusiasm about welcoming the community back. “I believe Arts Warehouse has built such amazing momentum and a community of fans and participants, and we’re looking forward to getting back in the environment,” she said. “It’s a special place and works best when activated. We look forward to being the accessible space once again.”
In the meantime, the Arts Warehouse team encourages the community to follow along on social media and visit artswarehouse.org for updates. The official reopening is Thursday, May 21 — and if the past eight-plus years are any indication, it will be well worth the wait.
