I see I'm not the only one who wondered how you did all this and kept your sanity. It looks like a great venue. I like all this art you're talking about. Just signed up for Three Things Weekly. I'm going to be posting about my art coming up this weekend. I think you'll be surprised!
Your post reminded me how much I used to love making things with my hands... I used to paint a bunch but, you know, life. There’s something so grounding about working with tactile things (as opposed to ideas). So, thank you for this much needed reminder!
Oh, yes! When I was a young teen, I did cross stitch for a while and loved it. I purchased a kit not long ago and have been working on it some here and there. I still love the counting and creating with thread on tiny squares. Unfortunately, my eyesight isn't what it used to be!
Oct 19, 2022·edited Oct 19, 2022Liked by Holly Rabalais
Your building is beautiful! Can you share how you two manage to bend time & space to wring 2-3 extra hours out of each day. It'd make for an awesome post. :)
Regarding art: I took Commercial Art in school mainly because my best friend was in it. He is/was extremely talented, and I...well, I was in the class too. Our teacher was huge on messaging though. To him, all art was "good" art if it provoked feeling in the viewer. Didn't make me a better artist, but it did reframe the way I thought about it. He also listened to John Prine nonstop, but that's a story for another day.
Ha! I wake up at 5, don't watch television at all (well, except Netflixing something while I'm on the treadmill), work from home (that saves me TONS of time), and don't believe in too much relaxation. :)
Ah...John Prine, rest his soul. That would definitely help evoke feeling while creating art--sort of a double value? Perhaps we'll see John featured soon over at On Repeat?
Oct 19, 2022·edited Oct 19, 2022Liked by Holly Rabalais
Maybe! Lots of angles there. My buddy was playing him before we left for the bar, where I’d wind up meeting my wife, for example.
I’d actually like to find the teacher and talk to him; he was the first adult I knew (besides my dad) that was super fan of a specific artist. He was also a heckuva good teacher. His superpower was getting disaffected suburban kids to believe in themselves. Kinda like Dead Poets Society with less ivy on the walls.
Thanks for the mention, Holly! When I started my newsletter two months ago, I took the leap to mix my creative practices (photography and collage art) with writing. I had no idea it would make a difference. Thank you. You inspire me to keep going. What a great gathering space you have there at The Planters Historic Building! Yes, to community building. You are a blessing to others. I wish you all the best for all the upcoming plans you have for the space. Be well and take care!
Thank you for sharing. I’m interested in knowing how you went about purchasing the event space and what it takes to locate one that can be used by artists. Our local arts scene, particularly performing arts, is struggling due to rent increases and I am beginning to research what solutions can be offered since our local government here only cares about a particular industry here which powers the economy. Everything else, including anything for residents and not focused on tourism, is unimportant to them.
Well, first you find a really poor, rural town....
Ha! When we moved to this town (Woodville, Mississippi, situated between Baton Rouge, LA and touristy Natchez, MS) purchasing an old building was never on our minds. But Divinely-orchestrated meetings and conversations and opportunities converged (others might call it luck or serendipity), and here we are. Our town has some zoning laws and a historic preservation committee that fusses when broken windows on old buildings are replaced with more modern ones, but we just don't have very many "rules" about what you can and can't do here.
I set up the business, took out a loan (ever worked with a small-town bank? it makes things super easy!), and bought the building. The space had already had some renovations by the previous owner, but we installed mini-splits, painted tired walls, opened up the mezzanine (which had been "walled up") added string lights, and built out some additional storage. Last summer we renovated the one sad little bathroom into two spacious men's and women's rooms, and by the end of 2021 we finally had gotten into a groove.
For the first couple of years we definitely were in the hole (and a lot of my day-job salary afforded us that), but this year we are on track to be nearly breaking even. And that's without any marketing--simply word-of-mouth advertising. It's never been about making money, but I do want it to become self-sustaining so I can continue to work on my vision for non-profit uses.
Love this!!! Love that you own that historic building and are building new life into it (I am an old house NUT), that you live in constant anxiety and uncertainty (I do not wish this on you though!!) and keep moving forward....and that art! Oh my stars! Yes!
We are fellow NUTS! Our home is a 1930s bungalow, and sometimes I want to sell it all and buy something modern with good insulation and sealed windows. But that wouldn't suit me and I know it!
Oh my gosh, I wish I lived near you. That picture does me in! What a beautiful building, and the Christmas decorations are amazing. Your plans sound great! I'll look forward to hearing more about them. 💟
I see I'm not the only one who wondered how you did all this and kept your sanity. It looks like a great venue. I like all this art you're talking about. Just signed up for Three Things Weekly. I'm going to be posting about my art coming up this weekend. I think you'll be surprised!
I’m looking forward to reading that, Matt!
Thanks for subscribing!
Your post reminded me how much I used to love making things with my hands... I used to paint a bunch but, you know, life. There’s something so grounding about working with tactile things (as opposed to ideas). So, thank you for this much needed reminder!
Oh, yes! When I was a young teen, I did cross stitch for a while and loved it. I purchased a kit not long ago and have been working on it some here and there. I still love the counting and creating with thread on tiny squares. Unfortunately, my eyesight isn't what it used to be!
Your building is beautiful! Can you share how you two manage to bend time & space to wring 2-3 extra hours out of each day. It'd make for an awesome post. :)
Regarding art: I took Commercial Art in school mainly because my best friend was in it. He is/was extremely talented, and I...well, I was in the class too. Our teacher was huge on messaging though. To him, all art was "good" art if it provoked feeling in the viewer. Didn't make me a better artist, but it did reframe the way I thought about it. He also listened to John Prine nonstop, but that's a story for another day.
Ha! I wake up at 5, don't watch television at all (well, except Netflixing something while I'm on the treadmill), work from home (that saves me TONS of time), and don't believe in too much relaxation. :)
Ah...John Prine, rest his soul. That would definitely help evoke feeling while creating art--sort of a double value? Perhaps we'll see John featured soon over at On Repeat?
Maybe! Lots of angles there. My buddy was playing him before we left for the bar, where I’d wind up meeting my wife, for example.
I’d actually like to find the teacher and talk to him; he was the first adult I knew (besides my dad) that was super fan of a specific artist. He was also a heckuva good teacher. His superpower was getting disaffected suburban kids to believe in themselves. Kinda like Dead Poets Society with less ivy on the walls.
I wish we had one of those teachers here!
That would make an awesome post! I'll be looking out for that Holly!
@Kevin - I'd also like to read the John Prine in art class story!
Thanks for the mention, Holly! When I started my newsletter two months ago, I took the leap to mix my creative practices (photography and collage art) with writing. I had no idea it would make a difference. Thank you. You inspire me to keep going. What a great gathering space you have there at The Planters Historic Building! Yes, to community building. You are a blessing to others. I wish you all the best for all the upcoming plans you have for the space. Be well and take care!
Thanks, Stella, and yes--do keep going! It's wonderful stuff!
Love this, Holly - what an amazing project!
Thank you for sharing. I’m interested in knowing how you went about purchasing the event space and what it takes to locate one that can be used by artists. Our local arts scene, particularly performing arts, is struggling due to rent increases and I am beginning to research what solutions can be offered since our local government here only cares about a particular industry here which powers the economy. Everything else, including anything for residents and not focused on tourism, is unimportant to them.
Well, first you find a really poor, rural town....
Ha! When we moved to this town (Woodville, Mississippi, situated between Baton Rouge, LA and touristy Natchez, MS) purchasing an old building was never on our minds. But Divinely-orchestrated meetings and conversations and opportunities converged (others might call it luck or serendipity), and here we are. Our town has some zoning laws and a historic preservation committee that fusses when broken windows on old buildings are replaced with more modern ones, but we just don't have very many "rules" about what you can and can't do here.
I set up the business, took out a loan (ever worked with a small-town bank? it makes things super easy!), and bought the building. The space had already had some renovations by the previous owner, but we installed mini-splits, painted tired walls, opened up the mezzanine (which had been "walled up") added string lights, and built out some additional storage. Last summer we renovated the one sad little bathroom into two spacious men's and women's rooms, and by the end of 2021 we finally had gotten into a groove.
For the first couple of years we definitely were in the hole (and a lot of my day-job salary afforded us that), but this year we are on track to be nearly breaking even. And that's without any marketing--simply word-of-mouth advertising. It's never been about making money, but I do want it to become self-sustaining so I can continue to work on my vision for non-profit uses.
Feel free to reach out to me at hollyrabalais@gmail.com if you have more questions.
No kidding. It seems like just last month when we were up in Kentucky celebrating Christmas with my parents. Where does the time go, indeed!
That looks like such a great venue, somehow spacious and cozy occupying the same space.
I will definitely be checking out some of the pages you highlighted here and thank you for including me and my (very) sketchy offerings :)
Hahaha! Very punny, Mark!
I was thrilled when your post came through and rounded out my line of thought. Such joy in art!
Love this!!! Love that you own that historic building and are building new life into it (I am an old house NUT), that you live in constant anxiety and uncertainty (I do not wish this on you though!!) and keep moving forward....and that art! Oh my stars! Yes!
We are fellow NUTS! Our home is a 1930s bungalow, and sometimes I want to sell it all and buy something modern with good insulation and sealed windows. But that wouldn't suit me and I know it!
Great to hear your commitment to the art evenings! I'm looking forward to hearing more about your journey!!
Oh my gosh, I wish I lived near you. That picture does me in! What a beautiful building, and the Christmas decorations are amazing. Your plans sound great! I'll look forward to hearing more about them. 💟