Au Revoir to Industrielle; the Storefront...
Virginia Wolf wrote, "across the broad continent of a woman's life falls the shadow of a sword. On one side of that sword, she said, there lies convention and tradition and order, where "all is correct." But on the other side of that sword, if you're crazy enough to cross it and choose a life that does not follow convention, all is confusion. Nothing follows a regular course." Her argumant being, a path less walked will be sure to provide excitement, but at what cost?"
Having spent the last two years immersed in the downtown Oakland art scene, you could say it's clear, which side of the sword I stand. The doors to my first gallery Industrielle, opened in the Summer of 2006. Having done my homework, and situated in a location touted as one of the country's leading development revivals, I settled in and waited for them to come. And they did. I was off to a great start! I sold some paintings in my first few months, including one of my own. Early on I received praise from the press and bloggers, both locally and nationally. I was proud of myself for setting up shop in a area brimming with promise but still plagued with the homeless, the drug-users and pushers, even in light of the troubling question my business class instructor posed to me, "do you want to be a pioneer or do you want to be successful?" What I wanted was to create a space to make and show edgy, unpredictable art, to show something that mattered, to have a platform to speak to the issues that concern me and those I know. Being on the 1st Friday art circuit certainly helped to further this vision, we had outstanding turn-outs and remarkably strong sales for a gallery just starting out.
I thought, wow, it won't be long now and then... the housing market fell, and then... the stock market showed signs of crashing, and then... our country's leading economists were warning against the possibility of a second coming of the depression. And then... my landlady decided to nearly double my rent! Fear runs rampant in scary times. Needless to say, all of this weighed heavily on my mind and created quite a conundrum for me to navigate through.
But I had a sneaking suspicion it would be OK... when one door closes, another one opens... and I immediately found a new space just a couple of blocks from where I was on Grand Avenue and right across from world-renowned art center Creative Growth. It couldn't have been more perfect! But if there is one thing I've learned from owning my own business, it is to trust your instincts. So I did! And my body and mind have never been so grateful. I decided to close the door on Grand Avenue, Industrielle will continue to exist, just in a adifferent way. I am excited to evolve our brand to now include more features on our website, more merchandise and more art, continue this blog Shop Girl Oakland, as well, we have art shows and holiday events lined up for December. But what I'm most excited about is getting back to making art!
These are hard times and I am compelled to document it, play witness to it, and dissect the social and financial injustices this country is so deeply absorbed in at the moment. This is fertile ground! And so, I have made the decision to temporarily give up the storefront, ride out the bad economy, focus on my art and re-open Industrielle as a stronger version in stronger times, perhaps relocating to Los Angeles. I definitely see travel in my future.
I've taken an art studio at http://hivestudios.org in Jack London Square and can't wait to get started. Re-emerging as artist first, shop girl second, I'll have a couple of pieces up at Mama Buzz in November, with other exhibitions to follow.
I have truly loved this experience on Grand Avenue and I am so happy my journey began in my beloved home town. With all the lessons I've learned, they have made me a better person, a better artist. I can't wait to resurface, a veteran shop girl when I open Industrielle Deux. Thank you to all of you for your inspiration, support and well-wishes. It has been quite a journey and I am grateful and pleased with what I have accomplished here in Oakland. I am happy to be a pioneer. Stay tuned...
Virginia Wolf wrote, "across the broad continent of a woman's life falls the shadow of a sword. On one side of that sword, she said, there lies convention and tradition and order, where "all is correct." But on the other side of that sword, if you're crazy enough to cross it and choose a life that does not follow convention, all is confusion. Nothing follows a regular course." Her argumant being, a path less walked will be sure to provide excitement, but at what cost?"
Having spent the last two years immersed in the downtown Oakland art scene, you could say it's clear, which side of the sword I stand. The doors to my first gallery Industrielle, opened in the Summer of 2006. Having done my homework, and situated in a location touted as one of the country's leading development revivals, I settled in and waited for them to come. And they did. I was off to a great start! I sold some paintings in my first few months, including one of my own. Early on I received praise from the press and bloggers, both locally and nationally. I was proud of myself for setting up shop in a area brimming with promise but still plagued with the homeless, the drug-users and pushers, even in light of the troubling question my business class instructor posed to me, "do you want to be a pioneer or do you want to be successful?" What I wanted was to create a space to make and show edgy, unpredictable art, to show something that mattered, to have a platform to speak to the issues that concern me and those I know. Being on the 1st Friday art circuit certainly helped to further this vision, we had outstanding turn-outs and remarkably strong sales for a gallery just starting out.
I thought, wow, it won't be long now and then... the housing market fell, and then... the stock market showed signs of crashing, and then... our country's leading economists were warning against the possibility of a second coming of the depression. And then... my landlady decided to nearly double my rent! Fear runs rampant in scary times. Needless to say, all of this weighed heavily on my mind and created quite a conundrum for me to navigate through.
But I had a sneaking suspicion it would be OK... when one door closes, another one opens... and I immediately found a new space just a couple of blocks from where I was on Grand Avenue and right across from world-renowned art center Creative Growth. It couldn't have been more perfect! But if there is one thing I've learned from owning my own business, it is to trust your instincts. So I did! And my body and mind have never been so grateful. I decided to close the door on Grand Avenue, Industrielle will continue to exist, just in a adifferent way. I am excited to evolve our brand to now include more features on our website, more merchandise and more art, continue this blog Shop Girl Oakland, as well, we have art shows and holiday events lined up for December. But what I'm most excited about is getting back to making art!
These are hard times and I am compelled to document it, play witness to it, and dissect the social and financial injustices this country is so deeply absorbed in at the moment. This is fertile ground! And so, I have made the decision to temporarily give up the storefront, ride out the bad economy, focus on my art and re-open Industrielle as a stronger version in stronger times, perhaps relocating to Los Angeles. I definitely see travel in my future.
I've taken an art studio at http://hivestudios.org in Jack London Square and can't wait to get started. Re-emerging as artist first, shop girl second, I'll have a couple of pieces up at Mama Buzz in November, with other exhibitions to follow.
I have truly loved this experience on Grand Avenue and I am so happy my journey began in my beloved home town. With all the lessons I've learned, they have made me a better person, a better artist. I can't wait to resurface, a veteran shop girl when I open Industrielle Deux. Thank you to all of you for your inspiration, support and well-wishes. It has been quite a journey and I am grateful and pleased with what I have accomplished here in Oakland. I am happy to be a pioneer. Stay tuned...
No comments:
Post a Comment