Kingston Art Gallery shines with remodel
Published 10:12 am Saturday, April 26, 2008
KINGSTON — The Kingston Art Gallery has proudly been displaying its new digs, welcoming residents and art enthusiasts to its new and improved building at 25960 Central Ave. The space now boasts improvements that, among other things, keep out the cold and do more to enhance the art housed at the gallery than the previous incarnation of the structure.
The new developments are just the beginning, as gallery members again prepare for more construction work after ushering in 2008. The first remodel was a warm up for the new 600 square feet of space planned as an expansion and a rooftop garden that will showcase sculptures by local artists. The additions could be useful for the gallery and its members to teach art classes and will create additional gathering space for events and shows.
“We will start once again after the first of the year, we’ll start the 600-square-foot addition and the rooftop garden,” said Kingston Art Gallery vice chairwoman Karyn Cott. “We are looking for sculptors who are willing to work on sculptures for it. Yes, we will have one, but we haven’t really decided on a theme yet. It will probably be one of tranquility.”
Gallery members and artists are in the preliminary discussion phase of what the garden will look like when completed, but they have decided on some sort of infinity pad. An infinity pad is a circular design imprinted into the garden’s floor that takes the walker on a spiral path. It’s created to be contemplative and relaxing, Cott said, and will add a level of peace and restfulness to the garden for its users. The garden will be mainly for gallery members to utilize for a place to think and gather.
The most recent improvements, which closed the Kingston Art Gallery from mid-September to Oct. 19, included installing new carpeting and replacing the garage doors in one wall to help retain heat and make the building more environmentally friendly. The doors had previously allowed cold drafts of air into the gallery, causing discomfort and higher electricity prices. Cott said they are still waiting for custom-made door handles for the entrance and second floor carpeting, but the rest of the building looks fantastic.
“No, not really, it really went quite well,” she said when asked if there were any problems along the way. “The entire gallery is now carpeted… Oh, it’s so nice, it really is. All of our old customers can’t believe the difference. It’s so conducive to showing the art now.”
The building, a part of Cleo’s Landing at the corner of West Kingston Road and State Route 104, is just one of the improvements being made. Owner Susan Rodgers is also working on the parking area and the connection between the building and the cottage on the corner, which is also a part of the complex.
