When Ariniko O'Meara hung her photography exhibit on the walls of a gallery in REO Town, she didn't foresee she would be managing the space two months later.
But some things simply fall into place.
"Art Alley closed down a month before I was to exhibit," says the Lansing photographer. "I rented the space for a month, and saw no reason why we couldn't reopen."
Shortly after her
October show, O'Meara refocused her energies toward relaunching the south side gallery. She changed the name from Art Alley to
AA Creative Corridor, and then turned her attention toward expanding the use of the 1,100 square foot space at 1133 S. Washington Ave.
"We're renting the space as a venue," says O'Meara. "You can also rent space on the walls. It's a lot like what Art Alley was doing."
O'Meara envisions renting AA Creative Corridor for yoga classes, theater classes or other creative groups needing a venue for special events or activities. Rentals can be single use or in groupings, with prices scaled accordingly.
"We're flexible," says O'Meara. "We're hearing from community members who just need studio space. It's been a perfect fit."
O'Meara reports that six creatives are currently renting the space for exhibits, projects or activities. Community members can also rent the gallery for meetings, parties and classes. She is also reaching out to artistic groups and individuals interested in renting wall or floor space for exhibits or projects. She says she doesn't plan to do much physical renovation with the exception of possibly finishing the floors.
"People really like the look of the space," she says of the gallery that was converted from an outdoor alley to an indoor space. "There's old-fashioned advertising on the walls and rough floors. It's part of the draw."
Source: Ariniko O'Meara, Manager, AA Creative Corridor
Writer: Ann Kammerer, Development News Editor
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