Day Before Opening

Weeks ago we announced that our first day open would be Friday, April 9, as a "soft launch".  Well, as it turns out,  it's going to be very soft.  We're still figuring out where which art should go and getting ready to hang it.  We're also packing art for shipment to NEXT Chicago, which happens at the end of April and early May.  Just one more complication while we try to open the gallery.

This morning we had the window decals installed.  Great guy did the installation.  If you need signs, call Alex at Alex's Sign Company.  Here's a night image of his sign from inside (hence the reverse text) with the Cartier shop in the background.


Everything in the gallery is pretty much ready to go.  We have the reception desk put together. The back office and the closet.  We still need a storage rack for art, but that won't get in the way of launching.  The biggest obstacle now is the floor.  Under the previous carpet from the bridal salon, we found a mix of old softwood floor, plywood, and mortar.  Plus carpet glue to hold down carpet padding.  All around ugly.  Ug.


And uglier if you paint it brown like we did.  We were hoping for an industrial look, but it just looks ugly.  Now we're pricing thinset leveling concrete.  Not even sure what it's called, but hopefully we can get it installed during our off days on Sunday and Monday.  More on that later.


Today, I spent more time moving supplies from the temporary gallery space, and planning with our web master/designer for improvements.  Went to the paint store to buy touch-up paint (Kelly Moore Swiss Coffee, which sounds brown but is very white).  Also bought P.J.'s Pink KM367-3 for an accent wall and spent the evening painting said wall.  You'll see a David Buckingham dollar sign metal sculpture on the back wall. 


Here are some pictures of the gallery.  You'll see another David Buckingham on the floor in the center, and a Daniel Ochoa on the right.  


Supposedly we open tomorrow, but hopefully our first visitors will be forgiving.  As you can see above, the art is still sitting on the floor, but hopefully by Friday noon, most of it will be on the walls.


Cheers!


Updated May 4, 2010.