The event was the dedication and unveiling of "The Griffin," a community art van co-sponsored by the City of Fall River and the Greater Fall River Art Association. Dana Barnes, past president and current treasurer of the Art Association, welcomed attendees and explained that the van's purpose is to bring art directly to the community, serving all ages and various gatherings. She specifically thanked Mayor Paul Coogan for his support and the use of ARPA funds, Andrew Rupo for his instrumental role in acquiring the van, Jimmy Lopes of Heritage Park for providing the dedication space, Kyle Fado of Troy City Graphics for the van's design, and Melo's Garage for maintenance. The van, a 1997 model, is fully equipped as a mobile art studio. City Council Andrew Reposo presented a citation from the Fall River City Council to the Greater Fall River Art Association, recognizing the dedication launch of "The Griffin" on September 27th at Heritage State Park. This resolution had been adopted on September 23rd. Mayor Paul Coogan also presented a citation, commending the Art Association for the grand opening of their mobile art studio and expressing hopes for its continued success. Mayor Coogan noted that this initiative aligns with the city's broader strategy of providing mobile services, including a mobile library and a mobile registration/health van for schools, and anticipated "The Griffin" participating in future "summers in the park" events.
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Um, my name is Dana Barnes. I am the past president of the Greater Fall River Art Association. I am its current treasurer. Um, I would like to welcome you to the dedication of the um, the Griffin, which is the community art van that is co-sponsored by the city of Fall River and the Greater Fall River Art Association. The goal of this van is to bring art to people who really want to
0:27be creative. Instead of coming to us, we are coming to you. And we will bring this to children, to adults, to parties, to gatherings, wherever people are gathered who really want to have a creative um aspect to this. Um, this van has been lovingly cared for, lovingly attended to, um, by a lot of people within the city. Um, I I really want to be able to thank a bunch of people, and
0:56I I I'm not really good at this, so I'll probably forget somebody. Uh, first and foremost, I'd like to thank the mayor of Fall River, Mayor Paul Coogan, for all of his support um in making this happen. um without his support and the and the support of the ARPA funds uh from Bristol County and Fall River, this van would not have been possible. It's been a dream of the association for a long
1:19time and to to see this actually come to fruition. Absolutely fabulous. Um I also want to thank once one very special person. Um, I had a silly conversation with him one time at another meeting we were at and I said, you know, I'd like to bring art to people, but I need a van. And he said, well, let's get a van.
1:40And I said, how are we going to get a van? And without Andrew Rupo being first and foremost and front and center helping me get through this, I think that this would never have come to fruition. So, I am grateful grateful to both of you so so much. It just is is is is it's makes my heart happy to work together. This is a collaborative effort all day every day. Um I want to thank um
2:08Heritage Park in particular, Jimmy Lopes, who has been a supporter of the arts in this city for a very long time.
2:14And for him to be able to say yes when I wanted to do this and make this space available so that we could dedicate this van, I am grateful beyond all measure for that. He has just been um a tremendous supporter of of ours. Um there are lots of people you'll see on this band there's a there's a young man who runs Troy City Graphics. His name is Kyle Fado. He is the reason this graphic
2:41looks like it does. He took a piece of artwork that one of our resident artists did and created all the graphics and without without batting an eyelash said, "Oh yeah, we can do this." we did this.
2:55Um, I'd also like to thank uh Melo's Garage. Without them, the van would not have really um, you know, he he's the one who takes good care of this girl.
3:04This is a 19 um 97 um van. Uh, it has been tricked out inside. We will come to you. Literally, this is a mobile art studio. We have every single thing inside this van. All we l literally need to do is come and set up. No one has to has to do anything. We come, we do it all, we take it down, we clean up, and and we're gone. And that's what we
3:27wanted to do. Um, so on behalf of the of the Greater Fall River Art Association, Ron Gagnet, who is its current president, and myself, we appreciate the city of Fall River for being able to do this. Andrew Ruposo, Mayor Coogan, thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
3:48Good morning. Uh, my name is City Council Andrew Reposo. Pleasure to be here this morning with all of you with the unveiling of the Griffin from the Greater Art Association here in Fall River. Um to coach, to Dana, a wonderful day here. Um again, like you said, it was just an idea in the sky and with collaboration and and team effort, it came to be. A special thanks to Mayor
4:09Coogan as well to Cara Hum who is our opera director as well who assisted in the process of making this idea come to reality. So this morning I do on behalf of the forever city council want to present a citation to the greater forever art association which states it official resolution be a resolve the city council hereby extends its commendation to the greater forever art association in recognition of its
4:32dedication launch of the mobile art studio the Griffin September 27th here at Heritage State Park be a further resolve the city for river city council extend best wishes for its continued success and this resolution be entered into the records of the city council adopted this past Tuesday September nomber 23rd by myself and signed by our president and city clerk. So congratulations to all of you. A job
4:53well done. Congratulations.
4:55Thank you. Thank you. Without you, it would not have happened.
4:59Absolutely. Thank you. And at this time, I'd like to introduce the mayor of Fall River, Mayor Paul Kogan.
5:07Thank you, Andrew. And obviously, Andrew was the catalyst for this when he approached us and said, "This is a good idea." Um, obvious he worked with all of his counselors and made sure we got this done for the art association. It's very important. It's kind of like a program we got going in forever now. We got a mobile library. We uh just did a mobile registration van and health center for
5:28the schools. So, we're getting on the road and we're coming out where the people are to make everything a little bit easier. I fully expect to see this at the summers in the park next year setting up for u for their art exhibits along with the other exhibits. But today we're here to kick this off. It's very, very important. And I also have a citation. But people have to understand
5:49that all these things come together with the hard work of groups. The city council, the art association, ARper, the city of Fall River, and of course, Heritage State Park being kind enough to let us come down here today on a beautiful, beautiful day. We're so glad they picked this day for us because uh if it was pouring rain, we'd be out here huddled under the van. So, um, with that
6:10being said, for the greater Forever Art Association in honor and recognition of the grand opening of their mobile art studio, the entire citizenry of Fall River extends its best wishes and expresses the hope for continued good fortune and success in all of your endeavors.
6:25Thank you so much, Mr. Mayor.
6:27Appreciate you very much. Thank you.
6:30We'll get this going.
6:31Yes. I'm so excited. I I can't even tell you that I'm looking forward to seeing um lots of people come and be part of this. Um all ages are welcome. All anybody that that would like for us to come. There's lots of information and and we look forward to serving the city of Fall River, the citizenry of Fall River, the extended communities. Um we we are just looking forward to bringing
6:56art to whoever wants to have art.
6:57That's special. That is very special.
6:59That's what we're doing. Thank you very much. Awesome.