MAAG to remain in Mt. Airy

Posted 3/1/16

Arlene Olshan, co-founder of the Mt. Airy Art Garage. by Sue Ann Rybak Members of the Mt. Airy Art Garage and residents cheered after Linda Slodki, president and co-founder of Mt. Airy Art Garage …

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MAAG to remain in Mt. Airy

Posted
Arlene Olshan, co-founder of MAAG. Arlene Olshan, co-founder of the Mt. Airy Art Garage.

by Sue Ann Rybak

Members of the Mt. Airy Art Garage and residents cheered after Linda Slodki, president and co-founder of Mt. Airy Art Garage (MAAG), 11 West Mt. Airy Ave., announced on Wednesday, Feb. 25, that the nonprofit arts hub would remain based in Mt. Airy.

“We are very excited to announce that the Mt. Airy Art Garage will not only continue, but grow,” she said. “We are entering into a partnership with Mt. Airy USA. They are helping to create a space for us on Germantown Avenue.”

Although she could not give specifics at this time, Slodki said they would be putting out a joint press release in April.

“Mt. Airy Art Garage will eventually be moving to a location on the 6600 block of Germantown Avenue,” she said. “We are very excited about the next phase in this development.”

Last August, Slodki announced at a meeting that their landlord, Greg Bushu, who owns several properties in Mt. Airy, including FitLife gym, gave them a nonrenewable lease, and they would be forced to vacate the property.

The organization estimates that by the time the lease is over in August, MAAG will have invested, including rent, in more than a quarter of a million dollars in the formerly dilapidated building.

“Our last community meeting was pretty depressing,” Slodki said.

She said after they got over “the shock” of realizing they would no longer be able to utilize the space the community helped create, they were determined to continue.

“We were deeply moved and humbled by the outpouring of support and aid we received from the community,” Slodki said.

“I am really excited about the opportunities that are on the horizon for us,” she said. “We believe that this is going to be a real opportunity for us to grow and become more visible.”

Slodki said unfortunately, in the interim, MAAG does not have space available for artists to rent. She added, however, that MAAG plans to continue holding art exhibitions and classes.

“We are hoping to have office space in Mt. Airy USA while the new community space is being built out,” she said.

MAAG estimated that renovations will take approximately 18 months.

Mary Ann Domanska, a member of MAAG's board, said the organization is currently seeking public sites to exhibit artists' work, hold performances and store furniture and other items.

Arlene Olshan, who also co-founded the organization, said MAAG will continue to work with the community to create socially conscious and sustainable works in Northwest Philadelphia. She said they are currently in the process of applying for grants for upcoming projects.

“We are hoping to work with more schools to create more public art,” she said.“We are really grateful that Mt. Airy USA sees us as an asset to the community.”

Brad Copeland, executive director of Mt. Airy USA, said his organization is really excited to be working with Mt. Airy Art Garage.

“We really value their work and the importance of the arts and the artists' community in Mt. Airy,” he said in a telephone interview after the meeting. “I think there are all kinds of wonderful possibilities, and we are really looking forward to working with them to try and bring some of those to life.”

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