East Garrison Ground Breaking a Quantum Leap for Arts Habitat
(Comments by Martha Manson, President of Arts Habitat, Inc.,
as invited speaker on the occasion of East Garrison ground
breaking, April 9, 2007, at the former Fort Ord:)
Welcome to this new neighborhood, full of promise, where the
arts will be integrated into everyday life. Since 1991 it has
been our goal to create a place for creating art – to
create an ARTS HABITAT.
Now, sixteen years later, the artists’ vision has become
reality, and Arts Habitat is an essential component of the
development program of East Garrison.
The early concept was put forward by a committee of Artists
Equity Association members, composed of four artists: Mary
Buskirk, Gloria C. Mattos Hughes, Richard Mayer and David Wagner.
David led the initial efforts, then passed the torch to Richard
who became executive director. All four of Arts Habitat’s
founders are here today, and we thank them for their foresight
and their fortitude.
We are now responsible for East Garrison arts programming,
and our partner, Artspace Projects, the country’s leading
developer of spaces for the arts, is responsible for developing
sixty-five affordable units of live/work housing, and renovating
twenty historic buildings for day studios and other arts uses.
We will work together to nurture a thriving community of artists
and arts enthusiasts.
This ground breaking signifies our transition from concept
to implementation, ca time to acknowledge the tremendous assistance
we’ve received from literally hundreds of friends and
stakeholders – from individuals to foundations.
Special thanks are offered to Artists Equity for bringing
us into this world, and to the Arts Council for Monterey County
for their support and advocacy through the years.
Congressman Sam Farr wrote in 1995 to Richard Mayer: “Our
tri-county area is rich with talent in all realms of the arts.
By the same token, our area has long experienced a crisis among
the artists community for affordable studio spaces for our
artists, as well as other services necessary for the support
of the arts. It is critical, even as we become an increasingly
technical society, that we preserve the beauty and vitality
of the arts. The Arts Habitat proposal allows for that preservation
in a remarkably imaginative way.” Thanks, Sam, then and
now.
The late and beloved member of the Board of Supervisors, Sam
Karas, embraced and protected Arts Habitat from the earliest
days, even becoming the first president of the Arts Habitat
board after he retired from being a Supervisor. Thanks to Sam’s
memory and thanks to his wife, Edie, for so generously sharing
Sam with us.
Board of Supervisors members Dave Potter, Edith Johnsen, Jerry
Smith and Lou Calcagno, along with their colleagues, deserve
our thanks as well. They have established a public policy mandate
for Arts Habitat that will ensure the future of our arts community.
FORA Executive Officer Michael Houlemard’s wise counsel
helped us avoid the rocks as we navigated the early years.
Thanks, Michael.
Last, but certainly not least, we thank East Garrison Partners,
John Anderson, Will Silva, Ian Gillis, Keith McCoy, and our
friends at William Lyon Homes, for inviting us to join forces
with them. Our thanks also go to project architect Barry Long
whose innovative and forward looking design shows him to be
an exceptional creative artist in his own right.
Congressman Farr’s 1995 letter concludes by noting that
Fort Ord, redesigned for civilian use, is a model for the entire
country, stating: “I am proud of my participation in
this model reuse. Likewise, with The Arts Habitat, the community
can present to this country another wise and courageous use
of federal lands brought into new ownership in such a way as
to serve the needs of the neighboring community.”
Arts Habitat thanks all who have had a hand in creating this
wonderful outcome. We invite you to help us fulfill our mission – Creating
a Place for Creating Art. |
