Message in a Bottle

In case you're wondering where all of the activity has gone as of late fear not. Construction has continued at a fevered clip these past weeks despite the lack of blog activity. 

While hammers are swinging and scissor lifts are scissoring we've been printing, signing, and preparing our end of year letter campaign which goes out to almost 1,000 individuals. If you should receive one of these letters look upon it kindly knowing that Verge was built on this support. While appeals may sometimes seem tiring the support we've received from things like Kickstarter, appeal letters, and the tremendous generosity of private individuals has enabled an art center to develop through force of will.

This time next year Sacramento will have a multi-disciplinary contemporary art center and studio residency program due to that support. 

It was Margaret Mead who said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." In Sacramento these days that is most definitely the case. 

LET THERE BE LIGHT but no heat....

Let there be light and no heat! This past week the last quasi-working heater was pulled outta Verge and tossed in the dump.

In addition to removing the quasi-working heaters the condemnable heaters are now gone too including the one with the substantial gas leak (don't worry we never turned it on (well actually we did try to turn it on once, but then never again (let's never speak of this).

 The lift is not a toy Andy!

As the heaters disappear track is going up throughout the new exhibition spaces! This area in particular has relied on one sad fluorescent these past few years to keep things nice and dim. Real light in the gallery is going to blow our minds!

A little something else got confirmed this week and it's BIG NEWS!!!! Stay tuned!

Did someone say ambience?

We here at Verge have now become the sorta folks who get really excited about drywall, especially when that drywall is FREE, FREE, FREE!!! Superstar board member Asher Styrsky secured a massive in-kind donation for us this week nabbing enough drywall to complete the east loft of studios and then some. Bad ass Asher. BAD... ASS....

In other news the slab is now poured for purple bathroom 2.0. Resisting the urge to carve our initials in that slab was great but we persevered. 

Interval Press will be moving on up to a new studio as construction continues due to the fact that their space will become the location for our new disabled access lift. Their new space has not one, not two, but three 20 foot high walls. Build those prints to heaven dudes!

Behold what will soon become our front exhibition space. We are currently in the works to rent this area to a community partner. Super exciting! Stay tuned for who....

Finally, this area is set to be a closet upon reopening. In the meantime the subs have been using it as a dining room. The combo of super dead mum, chrome dining tables, and old crap fold chairs is too funny not share. Did someone say ambience?

While we have your attention don't forget about our Indie Go Go campaign which wraps up this week! We're just over 1k away from our goal of $10,000. Because we are closed through construction these funds are crucial to our success. In the meantime Verge is hosting all sorts of special programming for members until we reopen and membership will last from construction through our first full year of operation so come aboard! 

In the meantime....

My Dinner With Heather aka Dreams Really Do Come True

This week, in honor of the "My Dinner With Heather" donor reward, we thought we'd take a moment from our normal construction coverage to suggest a few dream dates for Heather. After all that cold metal folding chair looks awfully vacant...

Stayed tuned to the Verge Facebook page where we'll be posting up a different dream date every day until the "My Dinner With Heather" donor reward is redeemed. Our incredibly budget photoshop skills will STOP AT NOTHING!!!! 

Beginning with the Queen Diva of performance art, Marina Abramovic. If in fact "My Dinner With Heather" is a performance piece, then the artists will both be present.

Coming in at a solid 2nd place we have Marina's own Picasso Baby, Jay Z in the flesh!

Don't worry Marina, we haven't forgotten your other main dude, JJ Franco. Hands off Heather's grapes there James. 

Then some Lil Bub to cleanse the palate of all those art stars. 

And of course Grumpy Cat, although we suspect the conversation will be a little lopsided with this one....

And maybe Damon Wayans cuz why not?

Oh yea, and that creepy Burger King dude.

Ahem..... 

FINALLY!

Here's the deal....

Framing the main gallery

IT'S REALLY HAPPENING!

View from the center mezzanine looking toward the main gallery

As many already know, Verge moved into its second location in April of 2010. Based on our knowledge of the first location, and a rudimentary background in fundraising 101, we worked out a deal with our landlord to secure a rent deal that would have had the place built out and back in business in six months..... ha.

Main gallery wall seen from the center mezzanine

What we initially thought would be one really long hard year turned into three and now here we are, owning the building, having the money to finish it, and moving in ways both faster and slower than any of us probably anticipated. We've also gained myriad skills that in some cases we weren't even looking to glean, including an adept knowledge of the city building permit process, how to run a community rummage sale (never again), and the ins and outs of the dreaded Quickbooks.

Center mezzanine studios

There are many days when this still feels unreal, although this past Monday it felt more real than ever on account of the entire project now being framed. Throughout Verge the skeleton of what's to come is visible. Studios, galleries, bathrooms, etc are standing at attention waiting for drywall.

Hallway from the center mezzanine to the east loft

While this will no doubt continue to feel like a dream its permanence is sinking in as is the awareness that the hard work and vision of a small group of dedicated individuals is leading to the creation of Sacramento's newest cultural amenity.  This is brick and mortar baby and a very big deal.

If you're antsy to see all this beautiful progress become a member! Our first members only tour is Tuesday Oct 22nd and you'll get a chance to see future Verge in action! If you're not already a member you can do so here.

In the meantime stay tuned!

RIP Purple Bathroom

https://vine.co/v/hg6z1LLhMOw
In this week's installment of Verge construction news, Rich Baumhofer thinks it's fun to, "sometimes just tear s%&* out [sic]." Or maybe, it's not that much fun....

Today the so-called purple bathroom bit the dust.

Sayonara leaky sink and broken urinal, there's gonna be a new guy in town and that guy has a working toilet!

In the meantime check out this trippy wall texture as it awaits the abatement crew.

In next week's news that old skanky kitchen is GOIN' DOWN! Stay tuned....

It begins!

This week after 3+ years in this location construction launched into full swing!!!!

We are now halfway done with our seismic work giving the building full occupancy for exhibition and instructional use!

The east loft studios now have LIGHT!!!

And as we move into next week the old bathrooms are about to be demoed and replaced with shiny new ADA fixtures!

But don't worry, our favorite piece of bathroom art ain't going NO WHERE!!!!

Stay tuned y'all!