The Grandstand begins to feel less and less empty every week. The more I visit it the more interesting it becomes. I begin to feel its history. I long to learn its future. The more of a relationship I build with the building itself, the more inspiration I seem to get from it.

Initially the Grandstand felt like a dark, lonely place to me. I felt little connection to it. However the more I find out about it, the more I delve into its history, the more interested I become. For instance its horse racing pedigree. The fact that the main road used to be closed for horse racing astounds me still. The amount of cars that pass through that road every day and seem to pay no attention to the building itself. I feel a sense of irritation at their ignorance to its history, its architecture, its warmth. Little do they know the potential and history the Grandstand. The thought that that road was once considered entertaining, and now is polluted with people doing their daily errands makes me wonder how it could be returned to its former glory.

This makes me inspired to create a piece that completely rejuvenates the Grandstand. An idea that changes popular beliefs about the building as cold, dark and desolate. Instead making it seem more of a warm building, celebrating its past in a way that entertains, much like the horse racing of old. A piece that reminds the public of what the Grandstand used to be, how it is a vital part of Lincoln’s history. Rather than it just being the building they drive by on the way to work.

I also can’t help but think about the Grandstands future. Such a brilliant building with great rooms, a beautiful fireplace, and working facilities. The amount of space that seems wasted and empty. I would like to do something that fills these spaces entirely, to represent how I feel the Grandstand should be filled by something.

I can’t help believe that the Grandstand should be something more than it is, the fact it is in this almost middle ground frustrates me. A building with so much potential and history, I believe, should be used. This is why I want to create something that brings back some level of excitement to the Grandstand.