Skyler Rouse, Alina Palacio, Gabriella Ponce show off their Farm Mural.
of the warehouse caused many cities to heavily scrutinize
all such areas. Even though the ARTSpace did not have
the same type of safety issues as the Ghost Ship, the
city was still reluctant to allow it to continue. Through
the sheer will of Jeff and Daryl, and with considerable
investment to meet city requirements, the ARTSpace
survived.
The difficulty now, as artists will attest to, is that safe,
up-to-code art spaces become too expensive for the
very artists they were created to help. It turns out more
money can be made by renting the space for storage
than as art studios. Jeff realized that
a new business model was needed.
Following the approach used to
support small tech companies, Jeff
created a coworker model where
artists only pay for a portion of
their space and share it with other
artists. The ARTSpace, along with
the larger community buildings
at the Bridge, is now a thriving
location where artists of all types
regularly meet. Jeff says “This is
the most gratifying thing I’ve done
since teaching”. Jeff is planning
a space for performances, yoga,
wood shop, podcasting, and a
maker space to attract a variety of
artists. He wants the ARTSpace
to be about community.
Incorporating this idea is their
slogan: We are Richmond.
The Bridge ARTSpace has
sponsored art exhibits, music
events, record swaps and a variety
of cultural gatherings from
New Year’s Day bell ringings
to film screenings. The Bridge
ARTSpace recently hosted
Camille Zulpo’s annual KIDS’
ART Show, now in its fourth
year. Art students ages 8 to 12
proudly showed off their work at
the opening reception, including
Richmond Mayor Tom Butt’s
granddaughter, Cecilia.
Additionally, the ArtSpace
boasts a 30’ x 50’ film studio,
with a 40’ x 20’ chroma key
cyclorama. Known as the
FILMSpace, this full featured
studio has been acoustically
treated, making it suitable for
sound recording. More features,
such as a commercial kitchen are being added to meet
the full needs of a production. Terry VerHaar, the film
studio manager, is working to make the FILMSpace the
go-to location for filmmakers in the East Bay.
Jacob Clark, an abstract artist and longtime resident
describes the ArtSpace as: “a place to bring your stuff
and make it what you want. It’s a place you hear yes,
not reasons why not”.
Amber the Hammer film production at the FILMSpace.
Photo by Bryan Mendez