Instead, the POEM Committee seeks to establish a federal Pacific Northwest Art Museum in the historic building occupied by the post office and thus preserve the WPA-era murals by Carl Morris.
http://lanecc.edu/library/don/morris.htm
http://www.eugeneweekly.com/2010/04/15/coverstory.html
14 comments:
Jerry,
Thanks for your efforts. The post office is an important part of our heritage.
Enjoy the weekend!
Jon R. Ruiz, City Manager, Eugene
Brilliant. He could have a Roosevelt moment. But I think he'd have to find (or have located for him) similar projects in some red/Rust Belt states, where comparable works/buildings from the WPA/CCC era are in danger of urban renewal i.e. upscale development. It would be nice to be one of the poster children for such a thing, but I doubt Obama could afford to do anything like that until his 2nd term.
Does your committee include anyone from UO's Historic Preservation, or Planning, Public Policy & Management? If a few faculty could be persuaded to join in the planning, they could write proposals (through UO) to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Park Service, LINC and other agencies. With any success there, they could get UO Development involved, and the development officer for AAA could mention POEM to various donors as a fundable/exciting project.
If no UO faculty sign on, grants could be written through another nonprofit, like Lane Arts Council or some part of the City, with the advice/assistance of Jennifer Allen at Oregon Humanities for NEH proposals. But there would need to be evidence that design professionals were involved, in addition to artists & nonspecialist citizens.
Here are some of the funding possibilities among federal agencies and art foundations:
8/12/10: NEA Access to Artistic Excellence in Design (Stewardship/Historic Preservation grants) http://nea.gov/grants/apply/GAP11/DesignAAE.html
8/18/10: NEH Interpreting Historic Places Planning Grants http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/IAHP_Planning.html
8/18/10: NEH Interpreting Historic Places Implementation Grants http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/IAHP_Implementation.html
3/22/11: National Park Service, Save America’s Treasures http://www.saveamericastreasures.org/funding.htm
4/23/11: LINC/Ford Foundation Planning/Development Grants for Sustainable Artist Spaces http://www.lincnet.net/artist-space/ford-foundation-planning-and-pre-development-grants
4/23/11: LINC/MetLife Innovative Space Awards for arts organizations http://www.lincnet.net/artist-space/innovative-space-awards
******************
On another, purely painterly note: your love of Italy and working/exhibiting there gives you something in common with my cousin, the painter and frescoist Ben Long IV. After college and Vietnam, Ben apprenticed to Pietro Annigoni in Firenze. He wanted to focus on oil painting, but Annigoni was in a fresco phase, so Ben learned fresco in the early 70s. By now there is a “Fresco Trail” in western North Carolina (he lives in Asheville and runs a fine arts school there) in various churches, civic centers, banks, police stations, etc. I thought of him in relation to the PO murals—except what he does is totally old school, hot lime, young painters grinding colors and mixing in the egg white, 2+ painters assisting or working on other areas of the fresco etc. Here’s link to his work: http://www.benlongfineart.com/index.php And since we were grandsons of the same painter/poet who pretty much influenced Ben to be a painter and me to be a poet, here’s a nod to our visionary painter grandfather McKendree Robbins Long: http://www.tfaoi.com/aa/3aa/3aa161.htm.
Let me know if there’s any way I can help—
Robert Long
Jerry it was the bank president (US Bank) who has since retired but someone has replace him. I suggest you contact the regional director who is in the Eugene US bank building. He could be the leader and get a bonus for this great idea.
On May 6, 2010, at 8:36 AM, Jerry Ross wrote:
> Ciao Otto,
Thanks Jerry-
What can we do to move this idea up the food chain?
My schedule has evened out,I am working for the census nowadays but I
can make my own hours, so if there are any meetings let me know.
Of course I spoke in front of the City Council last month and they are
all aware of your efforts, the Mayor seemed to think that it would all
work out.
Eugene Storefront Art Project is meeting with a few folks in the
Planning Dept and we are floating the idea of a block party in the 5th
and Willamette District. Sort of a celebration of what we call 'The
Railroad District".
This could tie into a drive with the neighboring businesses to
preserve that part of town
This is all preliminary but I will keep you posted. ESAP has been a
handful lately.
If you can stop by and say HI Friday night, we will be in front of our
latest installation at Taco Time Bdway/Will .
Marc
Hello,
I just read the article about the Post Office, saw you three were quoted, and thought you ought to know about the funding opportunity from LINC (Leveraging Investments in Creativity)-- grants up to $100,000 for a sustainable, mixed-use artist space development project. Follow this link to the RFP:
http://www.lincnet.net/artist-space/ford-foundation-planning-and-pre-development-grants
The April 23 deadline is too close to develop a meaningful proposal at this point. However, the Ford Foundation is committed to support this initiative for the next decade (i.e., it’s not too soon to plan for a 4/23/2011 proposal). MetLife is also funding LINC Innovative Space Awards; here is a link to what was funded in 2009—the mixed-use renovation of a historic school in Ajo, Arizona:
http://www.lincnet.net/artist-space/2009-metlife-innovative-spaces
As you can see below, I sent this notice out to the heads of various arts-related UO departments, as well as to the three Principal Investigators on the “Sustainable Cities” Big Idea, Nico Larco, Robert Young, and Marc Schlossberg. You may find some willing partners/planners/supporters in the list below.
I also post funding opportunities like these at the University of Oregon Digital Scholars website—have a look at its Funding page, and bookmark it if you find it useful.
Cheers,
Robert Long
Assistant Director, Faculty Development
University of Oregon
Eugene OR 97403
541/346-2293
Research and Faculty Development
Hey Jerry,
Long time no see. I just heard you are trying to put together a bid on
the Post Office building. My first thought is that it should remain a
post office, since centralization means disservice, but if the USPS is
ducking out on downtown, we should definitely put that building to
creative use.
I have taken quite an interest in downtown issues in recent years, and
worked on the Connections Center proposal in answer to the Sears site RFP
a couple years back. I would be very interested in helping with planning
for this.
At the Human Rights Summit the other day, I did take the opportunity to
lobby Mary for performing ARts/Dance and Culinary facilities in the new
Energy Center. Sounds like the decisions on what goes in are already set,
but she did mention that the interior courtyard would be suitable for
events, and that does present some potential for synergy with other
cultural offering of the neighborhood.
I am also very interested specifically in networking this project with
other initiatives, such as the City of Peace movement. Since we promote
an holistic vision of peace, the growth of arts and civic centers is
really integral to our direction.
Thanks again gffor your encouragement in my art. Though I spent a few
years stuck in the backwaters of TEch Support, I am now working in systems
development, and love it. I am updating and maintaining the client
database for Center for Family Development now, and helping them keep
track of almost 8,000 person who have accessed their mental health and
recovery services over the last ten years. I wish I had two or three more
projects on about the same scale, but providing services to CFD is really
fulfilling.
All the best,
Joseph
Hi Jerry. I would like to a part of your committee to help save the Post Office. This is a vital property and link to our cultural history and if we can save this building for Eugene and create a vital place for the arts, count me in. Thanks! - Paula
I am sure that my friends on the Eugene Storefront Art Project would be interested in this-Paula Goodbar from the New Zone, and Peter Herley also from the New Zone.
Paula is at paula.goodbar@gmail.com and peter is at little.petey@comcast.net . I will be mentioning you at tonight's city council meeting.
I discussed this with Nan Laurence and Laura Hammond from the city's Planning and Development office today, and they would like to hear more I am sure.
Let me know if you need anyone's contact info.
Thanks,
Marc
Great Idea! I have spoken to Bob Hart about this and have been in touch with the Mayor, and also will be speaking at tonight's city council about this. I have written to Congressman DeFazio about this and have not yet received a reply.I have written letters to the Weekly, and one was published over a month ago.
Lately I have been busy as chairman of the Eugene Storefront Art Project, but I would be glad to be any part of a committee or group seeking to save the Post Office.I am in touch with members of the Planning and Development commission and the Downtown Neighborhood Association and I would like to find out more.
Please write me here or call me at 541-998-3288.
Marc Gunther
Im interested, keep me in the loop! I saw Kitty Piercy's post on facebook about it, I think its a great idea! Imagine an outdoor performance platform in front. Lots of possibilities!
Thanks
Don St.Clair, LMT
hi jerry. it is a fabulous idea .let me know your ideas. what exactly would getting on board with this entail? i am interested but don't have oodles of volunteertime either. who does? thanks barbara weinstein
Hi Jerry,
Thanks for letting us know about your committee. I have cc'd Laura Hammond our department's community outreach and participation coordinator. She may have some ideas for our involvement.
Thanks :) Amanda
Dear Mr. Ross
I am in receipt of a copy of your letter to Congressman DeFazio regarding above subject.
As you are already aware, the Eugene downtown Main Post Office is in fact for sale. This office has contracted with a local broker to facilitate the sale thereof. His contact information is as follows:
Mr. Greg Herbert, CCIM, SIOR
Northland Real Estate, Inc.
541/345-2361
gregh@northlandre.com
We invite and encourage you to communicate with Greg for any questions or assistance you might need regarding the facility. He is familiar with the property, and will be happy to assist you, I'm sure. By copy of this email, I will ask Greg to contact you directly.
If for whatever reason you are unable to reach Mr. Herbert, please feel free to contact me at any time
Russ Rainey, CCIM
US Postal Service
Western Facilities Service Office
160 Inverness Drive West, # 400
Englewood, Co 80112-5005
303/220-6568
651/406-4130 (fax)
Karmen Fore forwarded your message regarding the sale of the Eugene post office. It would be helpful to have a letter from you that I can send to District Manager Kim Anderson in Portland.
Please address the letter to Congressman DeFazio and send it to the Eugene office at 405 E 8th Avenue, Suite 2030, Eugene 97401.
Feel free to call me if you have any questions.
Chris Conroy
Field Representative
Office of Congressman Peter DeFazio
612 SE Jackson, Suite 9
Roseburg OR 97470
ph: 541/440-3523
chris.conroy@mail.house.gov
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