By Michael V. Hannigan
I love when things work out.
I was working this morning on a story about a brewing controversy concerning a mural on the front of the 211 Gallery, an art gallery on North Palestine Street in Athens featuring dozens of county residents.
Things changed, however when the main people involved, artist Christi Barrett and building owners Steve Grant and James Fielden, sat down Thursday and came up with a compromise that made everyone happy.
I cannot applaud these folks — both sides — enough. Seriously, can we get Washington D.C. to take some notes?
The details go like this: Christi wanted to draw more attention to the gallery in order to help local artists, so she covered the front and side of the building with a beautiful mural and even worked on the neighboring building. She did ask first and the mural did seem to be drawing in more patrons.
Steve and James, however, received complaints about the part of the mural on the front of the building. Although it is by far the smallest part of Christi’s work, it is also the part on the brick front. There were complaints that the mural hurt the historic look and beauty of the natural bricks.
Steve and James were between a brick and a hard place. While they are big supporters of the arts, they also have a responsibility to all the tenants of the building. Plus, it took a lot of work and effort to restore the bricks to their current state and plenty of people think the bricks are a works of art themselves.
It wasn’t an easy decision, but the mural on the front had to go.
When word got out Wednesday, people started rallying around Christi.
It was at that point things could have gotten ugly. Folks were choosing up sides and getting ready to draw lines in the sand. Too often, that’s the way things happen these days.
Instead, Christi, Steve and James worked out a compromise:
– The mural on the front of the building will be removed.
– A new sign will be added to the front to help continue drawing attention to the gallery.
– New lighting will be added to illuminate and spotlight Christi’s work on the side of the building.
On her Facebook page, Christi wrote: “I have nothing but complete appreciation for Steve Grant, James Fielden, and Steve Grant Real Estate, as a landlord, but most of all as a supporter of the arts, the 211 Gallery, and all the artist within.”
So a situation that could have easily become a negative instead became an example of how community works … of communication and compromise.
Thank you Christi, Steve and James for painting an example for us all.