last loads and exhibition sites

The last haul using the Weiss family Ranger

The end of June brought our cart collection to 52 and the bulk of retrieval is finished although we could easily spend another month collecting carts from the entire 12 or so miles of the Saline creek.  Hopefully we can continue the work in the fall but,we must begin the next phase of our project as the exhibition is planned for the end of August; our cart collection is large and too is the work ahead.  

We have been scouting for exhibition spaces and have found a few that would work nicely.  The first is at Vine and and University (The Cunningham Site) and is a space connected to the old Blockbuster; the original Cunningham Ave. literally dead ends at the door of the space.  The other space is on the split of Main street and Springfield; the current location of the defunct Allman Auto Repair the former location of the Flat Iron Building which was destroyed by fire in the 1940's.  Both sites have connections to Urbana's water arteries.  The first location has an outdoor space that is positioned directly above the Boneyard and allows for SW and NE views of the channel and is very likely a lot created by the channelization of the creek.  The second location (Allman's) was created by relocating the Boneyard 500 ft North to its current course thus creating viable piece of real estate on which to build the Flat Iron Building.  Perhaps the Allman site, or the "Wedge", has the more interesting subtext as it represents the human necessity and drive to manipulate the environment for practical as well as aesthetic reasons.  

The Cunningham space is to the right of the electricity meters

Sadly no longer an option

To our great disappointment, the Cunningham site (above) will not be possible as while i was making this entry I heard from the Realtor who will not accept our offer of $800.00 for a single months rent in August.  It is difficult to convince business people to accept the fact that our endeavor is not commercial and thus the price per square foot should not be based on the assumption that space equals profit.  Sadly our $800.00 is not worth the hassle.  So be it, the space remains empty.

The next potential site

Burch Kaiser won't budge, the future is the Landing Pad, Starwalt is our man