The Krasl Art Center in St. Joseph is working on plans for the use of artist Richard Hunt’s Benton Harbor studio now that Hunt has donated the 20,000 square foot building to the center. Krasl held a celebration of the donation Wednesday. Hunt, a renowned sculptor based in Chicago, has run the Benton Harbor satellite studio since 1995. He says he hopes it can be used to enhance the arts community in southwest Michigan.
“It was my intention to leave what it now the Richard Hunt Studio Center to the Krasl Art Center to expand and develop its work as an extension of the Krasl into Benton Harbor with a place that allows for a lot of activity,” Hunt said.
Krasl Director Tami Fauver tells us this essentially doubles the Krasl’s footprint.
“We have been in St. Joseph and we serve both St. Joseph and also Benton Harbor, and so now we’re going to have a Benton Harbor location, which is really exciting for us to be able to serve that community directly,” Fauver said. “It means growth, it means change, and it means some really strong community work needs to happen.”
Fauver said the Krasl wants to honor Hunt with the building at 258 Territorial, now known as the Richard Hunt Studio Center. Additionally, she says Krasl wants to make the facility a living, breathing space for the arts. Master planning and community engagement now begin. There will be no immediate changes at the property as Hunt spends the next two years consolidating his operations back to Chicago.
