I’ve had many changes over the last couple of months… I moved my apartment and my studio space which was completely modified to fit all of the prints and equipment necessary to be a modern fine art photographer. I hired my oldest friend from college, architect Bradley Shanks, to design a shelving and storage system to fit all the stuff I have accumulated over the past couple of years.
In addition, I’m happy to announce that my new studio is big enough to accommodate a small gallery and will also house my new publications company, all under the name of Vela Noche, which means “watching over the night.” Vela Noche Press will be publishing small editions of artist books and limited edition portfolios. I have wanted to start publishing for a long, long time and I feel like now might be the best time to start. I will be posting a new web site (www.velanoche.com) that will have information on the new gallery and publishing projects. It should launch in the next few months. I really never expected to be running a gallery, but, now that I have the space for a small one, I will try to add something different to the Portland art scene. For example, one show I have been dreaming about is architect’s sketches. My degree is in architecture and I still have many ties to that world. Architectural sketches are an art form in themselves and deserve a forum to be appreciated. I have a few shows in mind already, but am having trouble thinking of what the opening show should be, so if you have any suggestions, fire away. I’m throwing myself into all of this, it’s uncharted territory, but exciting.
I thought, for those of you who might be interested, that it would be a good idea to show you how this space is evolving and what my other plans are for the coming year.
For the last six months, I have been trying to think of how I could find a space that would hold my studio, a space to start publishing books as well as a small gallery–a tall order. I went searching and finally found something I thought could work at 3939 NE Martin Luther King in Portland. It is a nice open space with hardwood floors and good light. It’s flaws were a muted green paint color, bad lighting and a slightly awkward layout. I hired Bradley to reorganize the space and come up with a storage and shelving system that would enable me to do my own photographic projects, start publishing other people’s work AND accommodate a small gallery.
Here are some pictures of the space while being renovated:
© Lauren Henkin
© Lauren Henkin
© Lauren Henkin
© Lauren Henkin
Bradley took into account all of my framed pieces, boxes with prints, boxes with unused paper, general office supplies, book cloth, a mini-fridge, and other various tools and equipment and came up with a layout that is just perfect for me. We are now completing the process, but here are some of the design images created using SketchUp:
`So… there are many things to look forward to in the coming year. I will be spending the first two months completing my Displaced artist book. I will also be applying for a three month artist in residency program in Scotland. If I get it, I will be getting on a plane for the first time in ten years. I’m trying not to think about that.
I will keep you posted on these and any other upcoming events. I will hopefully be having some kind of opening for the gallery either in early February or March, depending on what kind of show I can put together. Thank you all for your help and support, I feel like this will be a very productive year…
Best to you all,
Lauren