Art Loisaida Foundation brought together a group of concerned professionals who developed a proposal to improve the art gallery space at the Tompkins Square Library. Hugues Fournier, a landscape architect, designed plantings for the entrance ways, a sculpture court and a green roof addition, while local architect Catalina Salazar did drawings for the gallery itself. Sculptor Kathy Creutzburg produced drawings for new planters, and contractors Bob Reid and David Leslie of Reid Build did estimates for construction. Jerry Pagane, an artist who has a sign company, initiated this project by lettering a new sign for the gallery. This project has been presented to the NYPL as well as to various local elected officials such as Councilwoman Rosie Mendez, Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh, and Boro President Scott Stringer. We continued to advocate for this space as it was one of the few free venues open to artists in the East Village. Due to staff changes, the suggested changes were never implemented. The gallery has been redesignated as a community space hosting various programs such as knitting, Bingo, and children’s story hour.
