WS2MS: Communique from Co-organizer Fawn Potash

Bravo everybody!  My sincerest gratitude for making Wall Street to Main Street into this most amazing constellation of exhibits, workshops, seminars, performances, tours and cool stuff.  I intend to write each one of you a personal thank-you note with copies of our press clippings, but until then, I want you to know what a meaningful experience this has been for me in meeting and getting to know your work and passions.  It has been a personal and community-wide education.  Like many Occupy events, it has demonstrated many of the principles of the movement in action.  

There are many intangible results.  At the most basic level, WS2MS supports the idea that we, along with people all over the world can speak and act on our own behalf.   If we have not changed any minds, we have at least provoked conversation and offered opportunities for engagement and education at every level and sensibility.  We have worked well with all of Catskill's community stakeholders giving us a successful track record and deeper connection to our neighbors.  Plus Catskill has buzz.  Even if people didn't make it to Main Street in person, there's no way they missed the PR storm.   People know we are here now. 

The tangible results have great import for Catskill too.  This project played a major role in attracting several paying residential and storefront tenants.  The long dormant Civil War era factory building, Union Mills has found a buyer, who sees the historic value of this property and its potential as a cultural linchpin on Main Street.  There's much more, but we can go into more detail as we put together the project archive.  

Your gift to Catskill and the audiences we have engaged is unquantifiably valuable.  I hope we will be able to come up with some creative way to publicly acknowledge your contribution in a lasting way.

In the meantime, I'd like to give you a chance to make some money!  Starting Monday, we will begin uploading work for an on-line EBay auction.  According to the terms of our original agreement, the artist will receive 75 % of the sale price.  The landlord who donated space to show your work will receive 10 % and the Arts Council will get 15 %.  The auction will be live for ten days and I hope you will help us publicize to your lists!  Here's what I need before Wednesday:

• A 72 dpi jpeg representing the work you would like to sell.  Please think of some creative "package" if your work is event or installation based (examples: one hour live accordion music in your home, author's book collection, wall mural, performance tickets...). 
• Description: Title, medium, size, selling points.. (set of three hand painted banners...)
• Opening bid (could be the retail sale price)
• Your mailing address.

Also, in the coming weeks we'll be assembling an on-line archive of the project and could use some documentary images if you have not sent them already.  Please include a  photographer's credit and caption. 

And finally, we need to de-install in the next two weeks.  Our next round of Masters on Main Street is a collaboration with the New York Foundation for the Arts opening at the end of June.  Please make arrangements to pick up your work by June 14. Let me know if you need me to help in contacting your landlord or return your work by mail.

With deep thanks,

Fawn Potash
Director, Masters on Main Street
Greene County Council on the Arts
398 Main Street, PO Box 463
Catskill, NY 12414
518/943-3400
greenearts.org



Fawn Potash [Photo: Paul McLean]

Comments

[Fawn Potash]

Where'd you get that photo?