FibreC BOARDS ARRIVE

As planned, the new glass fibre concrete boards arrived this Monday at Storefront and no time was lost to begin the installation. The first board was cautiously placed and nailed. As it was before, zinc nails were used to attach the board. These now-silver-nails will eventually rust out and look just like it did before.




Architect and Board member Belmont Freeman couldn't wait to check out the new boards!






The Fascia and Soffit are also almost finished. As it is now being coated with plaster, it will soon be brilliant white and ready for the light railing system to be hung up again.


But it's not only the facade that's being restored, the restroom also gets a makeover.

LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING

There's a little bit of everything going on today.. The masonite board is being cut and hung over the insulation on the exterior panels. The cornice is almost finished. The interior of the gallery is right about there.. all the plaster is on and dry with some painting left to be done.


However, there seems to be some more mysterious leaks happening downstairs. The wonderful plug that was made earlier this week only worked for one hole.. now more are opening in smaller places. Let's hope August discontinues its rainy season soon..

WATERLESS FOUNTAINS

REstrooms are next. With this, the RElocation of our sink, fridge and everything else we used to hide in there. We are now WATERLESS!

Couldn't help but wish we had one of Mr. Mutt's (a.k.a. M. Duchamp) fountains.




Then again, we managed and came up with this:

Wishful thinking!

COOL TOOLS

He also carries a paper dispenser hanging from his belt and whisks the plaster with a massive egg beater.

FLASH FLOOD

This morning, the thunderstorms in the city brought along an unpleasant surprise for us down in the basement.. Water finds its way into some amazing places, like the air ducts behind the walls. Thankfully, the amazing guys at Ibex Construction patched the leak with some insulation material, and all is dry here now!

Slow blogging day at Storefront you may ask? Never. Basement floods are equally as important as historic gallery restoration projects..

ALL CLOSED UP

The plywood on the interior and the insulation inside the panels are pretty much finished being installed. The unique arcade effect was nice while it lasted, and a interesting treat to all who got the chance to walk through the walls. Next up: surfacing and finishing the interior panels, and anxiously waiting the arrival of the fiberC boards!

IN-BETWEEN INSIDE AND OUTSIDE

Monday night we offered a sneak peek of the restoration during the opening of our barricade installation "Learning from Hangzhou" by Mathieu Borysevicz. This opening offered the unique opportunity to mingle in-between inside and outside while taking in the new barricade installation and exploring the half dressed facade structure.

LEARNING FROM HANGZHOU

This Monday morning there's a different installation happening at Storefront, the installation of Mathieu Borysevicz's project "Learning from Hangzhou" wrapping the construction barricade. Yes, we're even having exhibitions while we're closed..

Tonight is the opening, Monday, August 4. 6-8pm. There's also a sneak peak at the restoration project behind the construction wall! Hope to see you there.


LEARNING FROM HANGZHOU
a photographic analysis by Mathieu Borysevicz.



From 2003-2007 thousands of digital photographs, based on patterns or visual re-occurrences throughout the city, were recorded and archived into categories of architectural, socio-economic and urban cultural phenomena. These photographs cover territory from outdoor advertising (in its many different and all enveloping configurations) to the constructed environment (the transitional zones of demolition/construction sites, architecture, and architectural apparatus') to urban culture's visual codes (street markings, ad imagery, internet bars, the wedding industry, etc.).

This project was made possible through generous support from IBEX Construction and Tim and Ellen Van Housen.

Visit our website for more information on the project.

INSULATION INSTALLATION

The walls are coming together already, and rapidly at that. The section is hanging on the wall for any last minute questions about which comes first, the insulation, plywood, or concrete panels.

TIME CAPSULE

At the closing party we invited guests to sign the interior wall in exchange for a donation, and we got some interesting graffiti from it.


As of today, all the new drywall is up and covering the old walls.


So, in another 15+ years, when the new generation of Storefront directors and curators are Re-storing Storefront, there will be a great surprise as they tear down the walls. Hopefully they'll appreciate the characatures, obscenities towards architects, and random shameless self-promoting.