Arts Honoree
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Each month the City of Riverside and Riverside Arts Council
present the Arts & Innovation Honoree of the Month Award. Originally created to recognize the contribution that the arts make to the quality of life in the Riverside community, the award has evolved to include members of the innovation sector. This is an honor that recognizes both excellence and commitment to the community. |
Aurea Vista
In adopting the tagline “The City of Arts and Innovation,” Riverside has inspired and brought together two vital sectors in this community. It also served to inspire Michelle Freeman in imagining and creating Aurea Vista: A Shopping Mecca. It’s where history, the arts and retail come together in a unique and adventurous business model that is attracting attention throughout the region and beyond. The Aurea Vista Hotel was purchased in 2003 by the Freeman Company, which has a long-standing reputation of restoring historic buildings. For over a decade, the Aurea Vista has housed two of the most vibrant galleries in downtown: Riverside Community Arts Association and Division 9. It has also been home to Riverside Ballet Arts, which has been in the same location for over 50 years. However, the most visible section of the building…the corner of University and Lemon…had sat empty after Shoe Central closed. Michelle began pursuing an ambitious vision that had never quite been seen before. Part of that vision, though, was what the Freemans have been doing for years…the space got a complete facelift, including a full restoration of the original hardwood floors, which had been covered with carpet. Tenants include Spirit Trail Studio, Dark Possessions, Beyond the Olive, All That Glitters and Botanical Perspective. There is also an amazing designer hot sauce vendor. Featured artists include Charles Bibbs, Maurice Howard and Jim Behrman. Shoppers can also view a hand painted mural that was done in partnership with the Riverside Art Museum. In the future, Michelle hopes for the space to become a learning center for the community, where people can come together and take fiber art, cooking, visual art, fashion and botanical art classes. Michelle has also been working with Cosme Cordova of Division 9 to coordinate performance art in the parking lot across the street for Artswalk on the first Thursday of each month. Performances range from live painting to jazz bands and dance groups. The owners of Vanity Haus and How She Wore It are working with the Riverside Downtown Partnership on bringing a series of fashion-related events to the city. Already, less than one year after opening last September 6th, the Aurea Vista is serving as a catalyst for collaboration and growth, proving that this unique vision is a very large economic driver. These efforts bring more people, not only to the merchants in the Aurea Vista, but to the merchants and restaurants throughout Riverside.
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2005 |
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