By Becky Brisley and Carolyn Corcoran
The dome-like structure that seemed to be in the process of completion outside Aside of Heart was taken down Wednesday at the request of the cafe.
The structure was then adopted on short notice by the Firehouse Gallery, located on First Street north of Roosevelt Street, blocks from its original location at Fifth Street and Garfield Street.
Brian Korsedal, CEO and founder of Arcology Now, the company that was in charge of building the structure, said the company paid for the entire project, a total cost of about $250.
A group of volunteers rolled the structure down Roosevelt Street to the Firehouse on Wednesday, Korsedal said.
James Peshlakai, booking coordinator for the Firehouse and volunteer with Arcology Now, said even onlookers at Jobot Coffee and Dining offered to help the team move the dome down the street.
“It’s a unique piece of structure and we welcome something new,” Peshlakai said. “People are definitely excited to see it at the Firehouse.”
Jonathan Wiese, a volunteer with Arcology Now, said he believed the Firehouse has more of a diverse crowd, one that gets involved in projects and takes pride in their artwork.
“Firehouse has kind of been a staple in the arts community since it was Hate House back in the 1970s,” Wiese said. “They’re one of the longest people standing around so it just seems like a good fit. We want something that’s kind of as long-standing as they are.”
Aside of Heart could not be reached for comment. Korsedal said Aside of Heart has yet to provide him with a reason for the request to move the structure.
Korsedal said he believes the structure might have confused people, leading the cafe to take the necessary precautions to prevent further perplexity.
“People just don’t know what we’re doing,” he said. “We freak people out because we’re just too weird and tech-y. Sometimes people don’t give us a chance. General people walk past it and they don’t understand what a technological achievement it is.”
Aaron Hopkins-Johnson, owner of Lawn Gnome Publishing, located next door to Aside of Heart, said he thinks landlord disputes could have caused the cafe to halt the building.
“Aside of Heart and Lawn Gnome Publishing have the same landlord,” Johnson said. “I assume that my landlord would not be OK with a permanent structure being built without a city of Phoenix engineer approving the work beforehand.”
The structure will reside on the Firehouse’s property, ready to again be transformed into a unique and eco-friendly construction. Korsedal said he is not upset at Aside of Heart for asking him to remove the structure, only that he wishes the cafe would provide an explanation.
“Businesses have to do what businesses have to do,” Korsedal said. “(Aside of Heart) is hurting and has bills to pay. If we’re not a positive contributor to space, then we’re not a positive contributor to space. They’ve got a business to run.”
As for the new framework of the structure, Korsedal said he wants to leave it up to the community to decide what goes around it. An adobe bottle wall was going to surround the dome-like structure and was already in the process of being plastered to the exterior.
The colored glass bottles would have brought natural light into the structure. Although this wall had to be destroyed in order for the structure to be moved, the skeleton of it remained intact.
“It’s my gift to Phoenix,” Korsedal said. “I would kind of love to see the people do what they want with it.”
Editor’s note: Becky Brisley is employed by Lawn Gnome Publishing.
Contact the reporters at rebecca.brisley@asu.edu and carolyn.corcoran@asu.edu
