Wenda Pyman could add the title Fearless Negotiator to her business card, alongside Landscape, Scenic and Travel Photography Artist and President of the Moraga Art Gallery (MAG). The Moraga photographer has arranged a good, although temporary, solution for the artists' collective, MAG, that was recently told it needed to find a new home.
Readers may remember that MAG lost the free use of some space leased by Comcast in the Rheem Center, where it has been displaying the work of local artists for 10 years. (See www.lamorindaweekly.com/
archive/issue0512/Moraga-Art-Gallery-Loses-its-Space.html).
MAG artists looked everywhere for solutions compatible with their limited resources. Pyman decided to contact the headquarters of the property owner, Kimco Realty. "I had been in touch with New York executives when we started displaying members' artwork in empty store fronts in 2009," says Pyman, "so I thought I should call them again and see what they could do for us this time."
The solution is a new space, at 518 Center Street next to T.J. Maxx, for a moderate rent, but with a caveat. "We signed a 12-month conditional lease," explains Pyman, "and if this space gets a permanent lessee, we will be asked to vacate immediately." So Pyman and her fellow artists are still looking for a permanent solution.
At this time and until the end of the year, MAG is still in the Comcast space at 570 Center Street, showing Masks and Meditations: Art Quilts by Susan Helle, as well as holiday work by all of its members. The Gallery will close after Christmas and will reopen in the new space after the few weeks that will be necessary to ready the location.
Seen See's?
Also in the Rheem Center, November 18 until December 24, the Kiwanis Club of Moraga Valley will again sell See's Candies during the holiday season. The temporary store was very successful last year. Proceeds from this fundraising activity go to the Club's community service projects.
Readers may remember that MAG lost the free use of some space leased by Comcast in the Rheem Center, where it has been displaying the work of local artists for 10 years. (See www.lamorindaweekly.com/
archive/issue0512/Moraga-Art-Gallery-Loses-its-Space.html).
MAG artists looked everywhere for solutions compatible with their limited resources. Pyman decided to contact the headquarters of the property owner, Kimco Realty. "I had been in touch with New York executives when we started displaying members' artwork in empty store fronts in 2009," says Pyman, "so I thought I should call them again and see what they could do for us this time."
The solution is a new space, at 518 Center Street next to T.J. Maxx, for a moderate rent, but with a caveat. "We signed a 12-month conditional lease," explains Pyman, "and if this space gets a permanent lessee, we will be asked to vacate immediately." So Pyman and her fellow artists are still looking for a permanent solution.
At this time and until the end of the year, MAG is still in the Comcast space at 570 Center Street, showing Masks and Meditations: Art Quilts by Susan Helle, as well as holiday work by all of its members. The Gallery will close after Christmas and will reopen in the new space after the few weeks that will be necessary to ready the location.
Seen See's?
Also in the Rheem Center, November 18 until December 24, the Kiwanis Club of Moraga Valley will again sell See's Candies during the holiday season. The temporary store was very successful last year. Proceeds from this fundraising activity go to the Club's community service projects.
Reach the reporter at:
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA