Art for Art’s Sake set to move into headquarters May 6
The Art for Art’s Sake Building on North Liberty Street will house the Unleashed Art Center, Red Dog Gallery, and a jewelry story when it opens on Saturday, May 6.
Photo by Tevin Stinson
BY TEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
Art for Art’s Sake finally has a move-in date for its new home on Liberty Street.
For more than a decade, AFAS has served art enthusiasts and casual art collectors in the area without a central location, but on Saturday, May 6, all that will change, when they hold the ribbon-cutting ceremony for its headquarters downtown.
Currently the volunteer based nonprofit formed to build, educate, and, celebrate community art, hosts various initiatives at different locations throughout the city. For example, The Unleashed Art Center on W.6th Street offers art classes and community outreach and The Red Dog Gallery on Trade Street showcases local artists.
“It feels great to finally have a place to call our own,” said Harry Knabb, AFAS chairman and chief executive.
According to Knabb, the first floor of the new building, located at the intersection of North Liberty and Seventh streets, will be the new home of the Red Dog Gallery and a jewelry store. The second floor will house the Unleashed Art Center, and 10 affordable artist studios. The top floor will feature an AFAS board room that can be rented out to host events. The third floor will also be home to Stitch Designs, the architect company that designed the new building.
The headquarters, built with a material called poly-carbonate that gives off a translucent light and high-lighted with hot red accents to match ARTivity on the Green, a park next door built by AFAS in 2015, is unlike any other building in the state. Knabb said he is confident that the building will continue to add to the downtown area that has seen a major transformation over the years. He said the building will serve as a connector between the changes of the downtown area and the growing Innovation Quarter.
“It feels good to know that we’re adding to the growth
and redevelopment of downtown and the city of Winston-Salem,” said Knabb. “For the first time in a long time, families are walking on Liberty Street at night. That alone shows us that downtown has come a long way. I can’t wait to open and add to that atmosphere.”
