Bay Area Art Space Profiles

  In light of the tragic Oakland Ghost Ship fire, it has become strikingly clear that many Bay Area artists and art-lovers alike are struggling to find safe spaces,both structurally and emotionally, to exist. Recent rent hikes, high cost of living, and a consequently changing Bay Area culture are among the forces displacing artists from a city that had been historically welcoming and supportive of them.

 The following five unique Bay Area art studios,Root Division, Ctrl Shft Collective, Irving Street Projects, Hunter’s Point Shipyard Artists, and Open Windows Cooperative all strive to provide a space for artists to collaborate, create, and exhibit. These interviews hopefully remind us that despite many challenges, the art community is an enduring, diverse, and hopeful force in the Bay Area.

Root Division: Amy Cancelmo-Root Division Art Programs Director

  “Root Division is a visual arts nonprofit organization that runs four interconnected programs: Studios, Exhibitions, Youth Education and Adult Education. In our Studios Program, we offer discounted work space to artists in exchange for their volunteer service in our other programs.   Root Division is meant to be an incubator program in which emerging artists gain valuable professional experience while giving back to the community.

  “Root Division was founded by three MFA Graduates of the San Francisco Art Institute, who saw the three main needs addressing emerging artists as: 1) affordable work space, 2) professional development opportunities, and 3) exposure networking and potential to share their work.

   “This space is important to Studio Artists because of the community, the opportunities we provide for teaching experience and gallery management. Our Exhibitions Program is also one of the only opportunities in the Bay Area for emerging curators to present their work W.e offer an open call for curatorial proposals twice a year, and encourage emerging curators to take this opportunity to develop their practice.

  “We are a strong community. We honor and remember the lives lost at Ghost Ship. We must work harder, and push for political leaders to make sure that safe and affordable alternatives are available for artists.”

Ctrl Shft Collective: Addy Rabinovitch-Member

  “CTRL+SHFT Collective is a women-identifying collective dedicated to generating an inclusive arts and events space for queer, POC, non-binary, Muslim, differently-abled, and low-income artists and communities. We strive to offer exposure, safe space, and solidarity.

  “We’ve aimed to create an artistically and intellectually rigorous art space, geared towards groups who are traditionally under-represented in the arts. We strive to showcase programming that pushes boundaries in content, concept, and form, and do everything we can to make sure these events and exhibitions are free and accessible to anyone who wants to attend.

  “Back in June of 2015, we were a group of women who were about to graduate with our MFA. We were frustrated by the lack of affordable workspace in the Bay area and a dearth of opportunities for women artists, particularly those of color and those working in less commercial art forms. So CTRL+SHFT Collective was born. We realized we were inspired by each other and by making our own opportunities while providing space for others and creating a more vibrant and inclusive art community.”

Irving Street Projects: Kelly Inouye-Curator/Leader

  “Irving Street Projects is an alternative exhibition space and studio residency program that I run out of my storefront studio in the Outer Sunset district, close to Ocean Beach. I came up with the long-term residency/exhibition format to let artists be ambitious about taking new directions in their studio work. It’s the most meaningful opportunity I can realistically provide: time, space, dialog, publicity, etc.

   “[ISP is] a literal window into the creative process. We show very accomplished work in a neighborhood setting. Everyone is welcome at our events and our projects are constantly on view through the storefront windows and free for the public to enjoy. Art–especially ambitious, accomplished, and socially conscious art–is important and inspiring. It reflects freedom of thought and individual expression in a way that nothing else can. It inspires conversation that wouldn’t happen otherwise. It’s entertaining, educational and encourages people to form their own opinions.

  “It’s really inspiring to work with other artists who are deeply invested in their work. It’s also really important to me that artists are a part of the fabric of the community. It’s incredibly difficult to pursue creative endeavors (among other things) in SF right now because the cost of living makes it so hard for anyone who doesn’t make an enormous salary. The high cost of living makes everyone so deeply invested in making as much money as possible, so it feels strange to be creative and take on the kind of studio exploration that doesn’t necessarily turn a profit. ISP cuts against that grain of that intense capitalism.”

Hunter’s Point Shipyard Artists: Nhat Le-Member

  “It was originally set up for the Navy back in the 18 hundreds and… the artist started moving in around 1940-ish. It started as a Navy shipyard and then slowly transitioned into pretty much an artist colony. It provides an awesome work space because you get a piece of old world and there is definitely a lot of history, it’s definitely outside the city…you get a sense of place that’s yours and you get to be more inspired when you’re there.

  “Right now [Hunter’s Point Shipyard is] not open to the public, it’s pretty much a place devoted to artists that rent the space. We do offer yearly studio shows that allow the public to come see what the artist of doing there.

  “You know how San Francisco is kind of changing, there’s not a lot of spaces for us to go. And for me [The Shipyard] is amazing because it’s out in the middle of nowhere and…everytime I go there I feel like, ‘this place belongs to me’ and it inspires me. I love it.”

Open Windows Cooperative: Ava Rosen-Leader

  “(Open Windows Cooperative’s) mission is to be a safe space, community space and creative space. Located in the Bayview district of San Francisco, we offer letterpress and bookbinding facilities, a gallery, and we hold sacred space for ritual and contemplation. We’re committed to open sharing of ideas, skills, and support. All our projects are founded on collaboration. We believe that art making is a healing practice that fosters mindfulness, connecting with nature, self-exploration and community building.

  “We started Open Windows when we saw a need for space. We wanted to move away from the white-wall gallery and towards the alternative artist-run space that showcases our stories: stories of women, people of color, trans and queer stories, stories grounded in the natural world, radically hopeful stories.

  “Bell Hooks wrote, ‘The practice of love is the most powerful antidote to the politics of domination.’ It is important to keep ourselves and each other in mind, practicing radical self-love and expressing our love for each other and the earth. That includes honoring our feelings, listening to each other, and performing small acts of kindness. Remember you are part of a strong support system, where you can provide support or be supported at any time.”