1984: One year in At-the-Loft

Arodasi Dance director: Kristi Dorothinia Hanna
Originally uploaded by trudeau.

My name is Dorothy Kristin Hanna. I rented a studio for a year in 1984.

It was a good experience being there, in a corner studio. I remember that I never felt completely relaxed there, because I kept getting notes on my door about the smell of turpentine. I was in my early 20's and my paints were messy and I did not know how to paint without getting paint all over me.

The walls had no paint on them.

Sweet Nevelyn Brown asked me if i would cover my paints with saran wrap before I left each time and to please take my wet paintings home to dry. My husband told me he would leave me if I ever brought a wet painting home. So the solution was to seek another studio.

The Loft was the first group, that welcomed me completely into the art world. From there I went to the Artist Transit.

I loved the loft and I am happy that I had the experience of the wonderful kind ladies. I especially loved the stairs that led up to the studios; it was like being an artist in an old building in New York City.