Main Street building scheduled for demolition becomes canvas for artists

When Chattanooga mural artist Shaun LaRose got together with other area graffiti artists and painters to discuss the idea of covering a doomed Southside building with original art, he said he wanted it to look so good when torn down "that it would be painful to destroy."

After receiving official permission a few months ago from representatives with the River City Company, which currently owns the property, the Discoteca Demolition Project was born.

No less than eight different artists (and counting) continue to transform the exterior walls, roof, and grounds into a perpetually, albeit temporary, evolving outdoor exhibition.

Jeff Cannon, a consultant with River City on Main Street projects, said it was an easy decision to grant permission to the artists since no one was getting paid and the building is scheduled to be demolished this summer.

"Looking now at the quality of what this has become, if the building wasn't being torn down, I would still fight for a project like this. It adds so much to Main Street, a layer we don't have," Cannon said.

Kevin Bate, who painted a giant mural of actor and Chattanooga native Samuel Jackson, said he thinks the temporary aspect of this impromptu project makes it even more exciting to be a part of.

"I like the idea that it is semi-permanent. It will be up for awhile to enjoy and then be gone. There is no body to answer to, we can do what we want, change it, and change it again," he said.

"I think its a plus that it is being destroyed," said artist Rondell Crier, whose colorful abstract style covers nearly three quarters of the building's west wall.

Being able to openly experiment with his style on a free and temporary space is part of the appeal for Crier. The New Orleans artist, who moved to Chattanooga after Hurricane Katrina, is also working with and mentoring a young mural artist, Jarred Green, who has contributed at least two original works to the project.

Crier said he and the others will hopefully keep painting as long as there is time before the demolition date, which has not been scheduled.

"I want the whole building to be completely painted. I want to paint the ground and try things you just can't try when you are on commission with a fixed vision or budget. This is wide open."

The entire effort has also caught the attention of Chattanooga's director of public art, Peggy Townsend. She said she is impressed at the overall quality of the art showing up on the building, and the participating artists have raised the bar on potential future collaborations.

Public Art Chattanooga's jurisdiction is limited to city owned property, but Townsend said she is open to offering private property owners input or guidance, if asked.

"We officially get involved with anything that is city owned property. I think this project is great and would welcome some public-private partnerships and conversation about continuing this quality of work," she said.

The building was most recently the home of popular dive bar Discoteca, another temporary idea that had a short term lease before the scheduled sale and demolition. The bar opened in January 2010 and closed, as planned, this past winter. The building and surrounding property at the corner of Main Street and Wilhoit Street is currently under contract and will be developed once the new owners take possession later this summer.

 

An earlier version of this article spelled Kevin Bate's last name as Kevin Bates. This has been corrected.