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Lucarelli recounted a recent Wednesday evening when he left his converted one-car garage studio shack for a short walk to the bay, returning 10 minutes later to find his world had been upended.<\/p>\n
\u201cI walked around the corner and said, \u2018That\u2019s my house (on fire),\u2019 he noted adding, \u201cI come running up and grabbed a hose and put it through the window. It\u2019s amazing to me. Five minutes. Puff. That\u2019s it. I\u2019m a caveman basically. I got wiped out, lost everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lucarelli is certain of only one thing at this point. \u201cI don\u2019t want to leave,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Temporarily staying with friend Shane Geisert until he gets back on his feet, Lucarelli said an investigation is continuing into the blaze that destroyed his shack, noting arson has been ruled out as a possible cause.<\/p>\n
Jimmy Acosta, a longtime friend of Lucarelli\u2019s who organized his GoFundMe campaign, said Lucarelli is an \u201coriginal,\u201d a true artist whose work is appreciated and who deserves a second chance.<\/p>\n
\u201cTourists and locals would often praise him for what he does and take selfies in front of his (art) display in what [Vinny] called art alley on Pismo Court,\u201d said Acosta. \u201cHis shack is a complete disaster, which left him with absolutely nothing but his neighbors and community to help. Luckily, he was unharmed in this disaster. His shack was one of the last original art alley Mission Beach surf shacks left. His art brought smiles to everyone passing by.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of Lucarelli\u2019s artistic technique, Acosta commented: \u201cHe never took anything from anybody. It had to be stuff he found on the bay or the beach or in the alleys, that he uses to make metal sculptures, one of which, 12- to 15-feet tall, he made for the Fourth of July of a guy with an American flag that was all made of random parts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lucarelli is grateful for the compassion people have shown him in his hour of need. \u201cI appreciate all the support from so many people with prayers,\u201d he said adding, \u201cBut it isn\u2019t even (just) about the people coming by. People noticing your artwork \u2013 that\u2019s the world to me. It\u2019s about being a part of the art scene and people caring. Thanks for all the years of supporting my artwork.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00bfQUIERO AYUDAR?<\/p>\n