$1M expansion of Raw Art Works in progress

LYNN – Workers removed the front wall of 43 Central St. downtown this week as part of Raw Art Works expansion project.”This is so exciting,” said RAW co-founder Mary Flannery of the new space, which the organization will call “Gather.” “That’s 2,600 square feet that we get to jump into.”Flannery and Kit Jenkins opened RAW 25 years ago at 37 Central St. The nonprofit organization offers art classes, film studies, spoken word and a creative, safe outlet for kids to explore, free of charge.”This space will really live up to its name,” Flannery said. “?Gather’ will be more fluid.”When kids come into 37 Central, they are there for class or to work on a project, but “Gather” will be more free-flowing, Flannery said.Tuesday the cavernous space had been gutted to bare brick wall and steel beams. Flannery pointed to the exposed steel beamed ceiling and lamented the fact they would be covered.”Could you imagine heating to that?” she said. “But we’ll have 12 foot ceilings.”The front portion of the space will feature a studio and a small retail space, which will be open on weekends. Just beyond the studio will be a small kitchen, and, in a last-minute deal, Flannery and Jenkins also decided to rent the basement, where a print shop will be established.”We have a donor who is giving us a letter press,” she said.She said they also hope to have Paint Can nights, when patrons can sip wine “and learn to paint RAW style.”Moving deeper into the building, Flannery pointed to a spot on the north wall where it appears someone took a sledgehammer to the exposed brick.”That’s where the connecting door will go,” she said. “We should be busting through that wall in a couple weeks.”The belly of the building, however, will be defined largely by the name of the space, Flannery said.There will be space to work on schoolwork as well as room to screen films, Flannery said, while nimbly darting through the space. At the back, space is carved out for a small conference room where kids could work on spoken word, and tucked in the corner is a still smaller room where kids can simply be alone, if need be.”Because sometimes they just need to be,” she said.Firehouse-style doors will separate the studio space from the screening space and another set of doors will give privacy to the conference room.”We’re trying to keep that industrial feel,” Flannery said. “It’s going to be cool.”The nearly $1 million project is being funded through a Massachusetts Cultural Council facilities grant as well as fundraising.