Oak Street Tank and Steel had its place 6

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--> --> Oak Street Tank and Steel had its place I recently saw a very moving show in one of the new SOU galleries done by an artist by the name of Joe Dulley. It was a photographic show whose subject was the Oak Street Tank and Steel building. The artist exploited the textures of the building that had resulted from the patina of the time to create a show that was not only beautiful but was provocative of the history and essence of what Oak Street Tank and Steel once was. Though I always support adaptive reuse of old buildings, the remodel of Oak Street Tank and Steel must be seen as an example of what not to do. The raw character of the building has been completely sacrificed for a contemporary designer's conception of nostalgia for a time that may have never existed. I for one am saddened by the loss of Oak Street Tank and Steel from the railroad district. Small scale industry is critical to the life of urban places. It is unfortunate that the City didn't make more effort to keep this business at its location. Last, I'd like to thank Joe Dulley for his efforts to preserve something of what this place once was, perhaps the City should consider purchasing some of his pieces. Eric Navickas Ashland Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing