Kickstarter

Hi Kickstarters!

It's been a long winter but I've been a busy little beaver going over the mountains of paperwork required to get the permits to begin the renovation work at 10 Horse.  Most of the sub-contractors are now in place and I'm in the process of moving all of the material and debris out from the upper level of the building.

Within a few weeks I hope to have the permits in hand and once the ground unfreezes (it's still winter in upstate New York!) the excavation work can begin for the new septic and water systems.  Clearly these don't sound like the most interesting components of an art space but obviously they are vital.

I don't have any pictures to share with you just yet since most of the current work has been on paper or verbal but once things start cooking I'll be sure to send you some shots.  Thanks again for all your support and kind words.  I'm ready for Spring and hope you are, too!

Robert

Hey Kickstarters!

I just wanted to let you know how well things are going with 10 Horse Art Space! As I'm sure you can imagine, renovating a building of this size and turning it into space for artists is a HUGE task.  Although I wish I could tell you that the building was abuzz with the sound of construction activity, but that is not yet the case.  For anyone who has built a home from scratch, or done major structural renovations, you know that there is a great deal of preliminary work which needs to take place first.

And what does that preliminary work involve? Plans, lots and lots of plans.  One of the great things about 10 Horse Art Space is that it's located in such a beautiful and inspiring, natural setting.  And this usually means it is in an area that is very particular about maintaing that beautiful and inspiring, natural setting.  Which means lots of planning.  Planning on paper.

I'm happy to report that the architectural drawings are finally complete.  But planning also involves other requirements, such as a full land survey and indicator survey to show where the new components of the Art Space will be located like water, septic and electric.

The planning stage is often one of the most lengthy parts of converting a building since all parties want to make sure that the final result is not only what everyone hoped for, but is completely up to code, too.

We're off to a terrific start and I'll be sure to include pictures in my next update when construction finally begins.  Thanks again for supporting my project!

Robert

Whew!  We did it!  As of this week all rewards have been shipped out!  If you haven't received yours yet don't worry.  International kickstarters rewards will probably arrive later than U.S. kickstarter rewards.  And a few of you still haven't filled out the survey asking you which selection you'd like at your support level.  If you need to get a new survey just drop me a note.  Plans continue to be made (and drawn up) at Ten Horse and I'll continue to keep you updated.  Thanks again for your support!  Robert

Dear friends and family,

Thank you for your continued support and kind words!  I've been busier than ever working on Ten Horse Art Space and wanted you to see the progress.  I've had a local friend (I prefer to use local help/talent whenever possible) take up the entire wooden floor of the space and store it while the ground is prepared for the the concrete pour.  

It looks even more rustic with the wooden floor gone!  But don't worry, it will be back once the concrete floor is poured.

We've also been working like busy bees trying to get your final rewards out.

  I've already transferred the image and cut the block of linoleum for the print of Ten Horse Art Space for the $100 and above supporters.

When the printing process begins I'll be sure to send pictures!

We're also moving along with the hand assembly of the limited edition pop-up of Ten Horse Art Space for the $250 and above supporters.  Simon and Shelby, who work in my studio, named this horse Buttercup.

So many horses!

All the pop-up pieces counted and ready for assembly.

A mini-assembly line on Robert's desk!

A completed Ten Horse Art Space pop-up building.

All the buildings fully assembled and ready for placement.

Finally attaching to the grassy base page!  Ten horses will make it complete.

Thanks so much for all your patience as we continue towards finishing up all the rewards! 

Robert

Ten Horse Art Space continues to move forward briskly (and I do mean briskly, it was 20 degrees in upstate New York yesterday) thanks to all of your support.

The entire space has been almost completely cleared out (tons of lumber and wood were inside) and I met with the contractor who will be removing the old floor (but keeping it to be recycled as flooring on the upper level).  I also met with the electrician, went over the entire project with him and hopefully will get a great price quote for that work.

I shot the clip below of Ten Horse almost fully cleaned out.  Whew!  The second part of the video was shot by a drone (that was my birthday gift) for my boyfriend James (who is also a pilot).  You can see me (very tiny walking) in the distance checking the newly repaired fence.  In the far, far distance is Mohonk Mountain one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the Hudson Valley and said to be the best rock climbing on the Eastern Seaboard.  James' drone is called a Parrot AR Drone, but that sounds too complicated so we're just calling it the U.F.O. cam!  

We're also busy getting all of your rewards together.  We've made our lists and are checking them twice (wait...that season's over already)!  Obviously it will take a little time to produce the linoleum cut prints and make the pop-ups but we've got the books and I'm signing as fast as I can.

Thanks again for your continued support and I'll keep you updated!  Robert