They have swept, mopped, hung thick plastic to cover the unfinished ceiling and mopped some more.
"It's cleaned up better than I thought," Sanders said.
Putting in the hard work to clean up the basement only adds to the satisfaction of when it's finished, the students say.
"It makes (it) feel like your own - when you put blood, sweat and tears into it," said Matthew Gaddis, a junior and photographer at LCHS.
Sanders said, "It seems like they're in it together."
The students want the exposure and convenience that having a gallery in Stanford will provide.
"We have to drive to Lexington to get supplies and see art," said Laura Kirkpatrick, a junior art student at LCHS.
It wasn't as easy as it may sound to secure occupancy in the Depot basement. A few months ago, Sanders approached Stanford City Council to ask permission for the space. It took some discussion with council members, historical architect Garlan Vanhook and City Attorney Carol Hill to make sure it was feasible.
Allows grant applications
Having a promised location gave the students a place to display their work, but it also allowed Sanders to apply for grants because they now have a home. Sanders was awarded three $2,000 grants.
Being the Depot is an historical structure, restrictions were made as to how the students could display their work. Nothing was to be hung on the walls. So the wood manufacturing class at LCHS made easels and display boxes for them.
Another obstacle is the lack of restroom and hot water access. When no one is upstairs in the Depot, the students have been asked not to go up there. A restroom has not been put in the basement but space has been allotted for one. Sanders said the owner of BC Pizza on Main Street is allowing them to go there when needed.
It hasn't posed a problem yet, Sanders said. After the gallery officially opens, Sanders said she is going to try to coordinate its hours when other events are going on upstairs or around town so traffic to the gallery increases, but the public won't be inconvenienced with no restroom.
The three rooms Sanders has been allowed by the city are in the west wing of the building. The contract for the space between the city and Sanders is good until December. They have transformed the space into a reception room, display room and a storage/classroom.
Nothing is certain yet, but Sanders said she thinks classes will include line and charcoal drawing, oil, pastels and water-color.
"Our goal more or less is to get the community to recognize fine arts," Sanders said.
She wants to teach the difference between fine arts and arts and crafts.
The art work on display at the gallery is for sale. All proceeds are split between the gallery and the student artist. Other than that, the gallery will operate from donations.
Tyler Wilkinson, a junior at LCHS, will be the featured artist March 11 when the gallery opens with his water color of the William Whitley House. The time has yet to be set for the dedication.
