DB: Affordable Artistic Space
Last Thursday a friend invited me to check out the Seattle Art Walk, which is something I’ve been interested in for many years but never had the chance to attend. After seeking parking for nearly a half hour in the surrounding surroundings we packed a few organic carrots and strolled down Yesler Way to a building that I have actually unknowingly visited before. The Tashiro Kaplan Artists Lofts have been open since 2004, house 50 resident artists (some with families) and have street level galleries and a arty coffee shop all the way around three sides of the curvy triangle building.
My friend and I visited 6 galleries the size and scope of The Helm and larger, and at least 10 working artist studios, weaving our way through the maze of a structure and burning up the better part of the night. I have never before been so inundated with as much good quality work and interesting people in one evening. I’m not kidding, it was unbelievable and the fact that Tacoma hasn’t caught on is pretty sad. The feeling of culture and (gasp) commerce potential around that building was as tangible as the security measures around the pool at the Glass Museum. Putting that many creative minds free from the threat of foreclosure or debt, in one place and handing them the tools to succeed, is the most sustainable way I can think of to grow a neighborhood that will last and attract people from every walk of life.
Every time I hear about affordable artist housing in Tacoma it comes in the form of owning a cheaply made condo. By chance I ran into my friend Selfik (now choreographing modern dance that will be touring Japan in a few months) who lives in the TK Art Lofts in Seattle. He told me after he qualified for the space (by proving he was not a trust fund kid) he pays well under a dollar/sq.ft. per month, that I’m pretty sure he shares with more than one roommate. For a Seattle downtown apartment, that’s probably a tenth of market value. I also spoke to a man who was only renting studio space (no living amenities) closer to ground level and with large street facing windows who told me he pays $1.25 per square foot.
The building is owned by a non profit called Artspace Projects Inc. who is working in tandem with 4culture, the King County Arts Commission. A gentleman I spoke to said that this is the fourth city this project has been successful. The first such building and the non profit headquarters are in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The mission statement on The Artspace website is clear and simple, “Artspace’s Mission is to create, foster, and preserve affordable space for artists and arts organizations.”
I don’t know what it will take for Tacoma to realize that this is the thing. Without this concept we are going to loose all the poor kids (Helm, SOTA, Icebox, etc…) who have done their part making the revitalization of this city happen in a real way. Our art commission needs to be on the phone with these people and figuring out how to get them involved in our business. Otherwise the galleries close and the apartment rent goes up and the bright young creatives leave and you will have a boring boring boring little downtown that will never live up to its potential as the vibrant awesome walkable place we know Tacoma can be (and has been for moments thanks to their help).
No rad young artist I know between the ages of 18-35 is going to purchase a gross six figure condo. We have bad or no credit and want our freedom to move on to bigger crazier frontiers. The idea of getting into a home loan (however reasonably priced … read: cheap) is the last thing on an up and coming creative mind. The reason the TK Art Lofts are successful is because it gives an artist a place to work, live and show work. It’s a nonprofit that collects enough rent to pay the mortgage and keep the lights on, not a suave developer looking for a way to play the hero to the arts at cocktail parties and make a penny in the process.
Wake up Tacoma, before the kids who have made this place awesome cant afford to stay here anymore and leave you for cities that understand their power and place in a real diverse and sustainable community.
Filed under: DB
47 comments
D dolly varden June 13, 2009
The TK building is great — Tacoma needs something like that. The gallery spaces there are only a little bit cheaper than the Helm’s space was — but they do get a lot more foot traffic.
M Mofo from the Hood June 13, 2009
Mr. Blue, welcome to the strange world called Tacoma.
Yeah, why isn’t there cheap rent for independent artists? Likewise, why isn’t there cheap rent for independent small business?
! INDEPENDENT THINKERS ARE DANGEROUS !
It’s not like there’s a shortage of vacant buildings downtown or on Hilltop. Every week I’m out walking in different areas of Tacoma, walking for miles from one side of town to the other. I’m a travelling salesman, meeting the public wherever they can be found. But the fact of the matter is that there are a lot of vacant buildings, and I don’t believe that it’s always because of a lack of demand–it’s because this is the strange world called Tacoma.
Hey anyway, I saw a pretty cool metal skeleton hanging in the window of The School of the Arts down on 21st & Pacific.
That skeleton should be the mascot for Tacoma–“Seymour of Tacoma.”
Today the streets were so empty that when I was on South 11th and Commerce at 2pm and looked north and south, there was about ten people combined at the two main bus stops. But that’s cool. I don’t want people blockin’ my view, ‘cause I wanna see more of Tacoma.
T Thorax O'Tool June 13, 2009
Define “cheap”.
Daniel, you’re a small business owner. You understand this.
Of I drain my savings renting an empty building on St Helens, and the “break even“cost falls to, say 50 cents/sq foot, that’s just break even. I’d need to go at least 75 cents to make up my poor savings account as well as being able to survive vacancies. So is $75 for a 10 × 10 reasonable? Is $100 for 10×10 reasonable? It’s not like folks got much $$$ these days.
And then that raises the question: what is the demand? If you have 10 cents a foot and not enough people sign up, you’re still not going to make it.
What’s the demand in Tacoma? I ask because I do have a place in mind and I’ve toyed with this idea for a while now.
D Dave_L. June 13, 2009
Nice Post. I have a dear old friend who is an original resident of the TK, and it is a great building with a wonderful community of multi-talented people. Some TK units have wonderful views. Nice coffee shop next door. I have commented before (posts on Elks and the stables) that I wish Artspace would take on some Tacoma project.
L Laura Hanan June 13, 2009
Daniel, an artist’s community is made up of more than “rad young artists between the ages of 18-35” who “have bad or no credit and want freedom to move on to bigger crazier frontiers.”
You state of artists:“No one is going to purchase a gross six figure condo. We have bad or no credit and want our freedom to move on to bigger crazier frontiers. The idea of getting into a home loan (however reasonably priced … read: cheap) is the last thing on an up and coming creative mind. The reason the TK Art Lofts are successful is because it gives an artist a place to work, live and show work.”
I find it rather arrogant that a person as young as you thinks you know why the TK Art Lofts are successful or what is on the mind of any artist.
I have been to the TK Lofts more than two years ago, know artists that have rented studio space there, and I have shown my own work there in one of the galleries.
The TK Art Lofts are successful not only because “it gives an artist a place to work, live and show work,” which is a wonderful concept and well done at TK, but because there is good work being shown and, more importantly, there is a strong local population that supports and purchases art in Seattle.
To state that “poor kids” revitalized downtown Tacoma is a self aggrandizing statement. Many people from all walks of life and income levels have helped bring Tacoma back but the economy and lack of people coming downtown has stalled the progress again.
Though it is painful to say and hard to hear, in my opinion there is no Tacoma Art scene.
At best, the city has a sprinkling of emerging artists, artists who seem to prefer partying to painting.
Blaming the rich, high rents, developers, and condos, or portending you can read the minds of who does or does not want to buy a home has little to do with creating or supporting art.
And if you want a “crazier frontier”, you probably are in the wrong town. Tacoma is primarily a blue-collar, military (Fort Lewis) town that, when it comes to the arts, is conservative and plays favorites.
Again, Just my opinion…
C Corey June 13, 2009
Try not to be so myopic. Your observations about Tacoma and Seattle have been written before, and better articulated.
Even if we had something like the TK Lofts, it wouldn’t necessarily make Tacoma a better place. The real problem is that no one’s challenging local artists (with a few notable exceptions).
C crenshaw sepulveda June 13, 2009
The day of the cool cheap loft has sailed a long time ago here in Tacoma and so many other places. There is no going back to that sort of thing unless you go to Michigan or some other really depressed place.
The reason, though, that the artist of the past could have a cool cheap loft was precisely because they had some talent. In this case the talent of finding a good space, visualizing it as a studio, and negotiating a good price for it. There was also the hard work aspect of making the raw space into something that works.
Today most of the old art lofts are fancy condos, to be sure. The reason they are so desirable is because of the talent and creativity of the artists that have come before and created such attractive spaces that appeal to the hard core yuppies.
Today they crank these things out so people can live the “arts lifestyle”. Free French beret with every purchase. The truly creative person today will create what the yuppies want tomorrow. Nothing really changes. Art finds a place, finding a market is something else. Anything that can exist as a working artists district today will be next in line for gentrification. This is just the way it is. Artists always have to deal with the way it is, art school 101.
D daniel blue June 14, 2009
Laura,
Usually, I make it a rule not to respond to comments made of my post. You should feel congratulated for drawing me out of my corner, for I begin now to respond to your carefully composed concerns that were raised by my vapid and youthful blogging.
You said, “I find it rather arrogant that a person as young as you thinks you know why the TK Art Lofts are successful or what is on the mind of any artist.”
How old am I, Laura? And at what age will I know the way the world works and what artists think. Do they not tell me? How do I not know myself?
You said, “To state that “poor kids” revitalized downtown Tacoma is a self aggrandizing statement.”
I did not state that. If anything my argument was that their HELPING was largely ignored. I never claimed that young artists between the ages of 18-35 had single-handedly revitalized downtown.
However, you then stated, “The TK Art Lofts are successful not only because “it gives an artist a place to work, live and show work,” which is a wonderful concept and well done at TK, but because there is good work being shown and, more importantly, there is a strong local population that supports and purchases art in Seattle.” ——which I agree with, and wish we could grow here ….somehow….
I guess my hope is that this “strong Local population” that supports the arts will grow if they find artists being successful and creating great work….and that these artists (whatever their age: you got me there) may just need the chance and the space to create that great work.
but you may be right….perhaps this “crazy frontier” just isn’t for artists. and we should leave it to the military and the party kids and get the hell out…I mean, whats the point of trying…
Everyone, Laura says give up.
Lets throw in the towel and let the collar be blue…could have saved ourselves ten good years of our lives fighting for the arts in this town…coudla been somewhere where the real art is allowed to happen.
A Andre June 14, 2009
I support the arts and think there are many good things happening in town. As well, I am sure conditions could be improved to support artists.
However, I question the characterization you make about “all the poor kids (Helm, SOTA, Icebox, etc…)” and their struggles. SOTA kids are not poor. The same can be said for some of the parties in the other endeavors you mention. This does no make their contributions illegitimate, but their challenges are different than you suggest.
Maybe a business planning consortium could be forged to assist the young talent in town develop realistic business plans. There was once talk of an artist incubator, maybe that can be revived or we can look at what Baltimore did in the 1980s under Donald Schaefer to make live/work options more appealing and cost effective.
Whatever the case, keep in mind that the “poor” you refer to are not what you say. They are mostly young folks who come from comfortable backgrounds trying to make their way in this world as artists and entrepeneurs – and having success in that arena is a challenge wherever you live. I wish them well.
T tressie June 14, 2009
well, affordability does matter. It matters a lot. We live in a town, a country .that really doesn’t value art nor really understand it, or what its function is in our life…I used to make a lot more stuff, a lot more art, a lot more bigger plans…when stuff was cheaper.what money buys is time.time away from work…to do other stuff with your finite life.If you wanna make crazy wild art…go right ahead…no one is stopping you here in Tacoma…they just won’t support it (likely) or buy much of it. OK fine. But in the last 10 years large affordable space has all but disappeared in these parts, and so that does pre-empt a lot of things from happening…Money does matter. Art needs a patron, whether thru a landlord that has a committment to nurturing the small…or just has another lucrative source of money…OR..thru the rich who can afford to justly reward an artist for the Mind-Blow that is art…Or…the community must spend money to do that, collectively. Mmmm, think Linda and Tacoma ArtSpace…
But I would like to remind for the umptymillionth time that when the choice had to be made about what to put on the Dome…Tacoma chose Blue Diamonds….and not Warhol…If Warhol had a big flower on our Dome, we’d have folks from all the universe coming to see it…and blah, blah, blah….like the museums-in-Tacoma movement…have made Tacoma a great place to come to see great art…Now of course, Tacoma is turning into a place to see a great golf course, but I’m digressing…or not
L Laura Hanan June 15, 2009
Daniel:
Thanks for responding to my comment. You are correct that I don’t know your age, however I am relatively certain that I’m old enough to be your mother.
I guess my biggest point, which I may not have emphasized, is that you can create good art anywhere, but there needs to be a place to show the work and many people need to come out in numbers to see the work, dialogue about the work, and PURCHASE the work – or in this economy trade for it, which I have found to be most successful when each person, prior to the transaction, places a monetary value on what is being traded.
Creating good art, finding a place to show art in Tacoma, and the little if any real support for art here – as in PURCHASING the work – limits the opportunity for a real art community to develop and thrive here.
I have found if you want to be taken seriously as an artist, at a certain point in your career you show your work – as an emerging artist excellent opportunities exist in Tacoma to show work in coffee shops, restaurants, businesses etc.; as an experienced artist you show in a gallery. If you are good enough, you can get a solo show.
Professional galleries in Tacoma rarely survive because few people buy the art. The gallery ends up publicly eating itself alive from operating costs. Galleries are businesses that pay rent, utilities, commissions etc., not just a place to house eye candy where people can party, scarf cookies, and drink free wine.
Having been on both sides of the art fence – as a gallery owner and artist – I think a gallery wants to see a “body” of an artist’s work – either a series of pieces done at the same time or within a small enough time frame that exhibits a unifying thread running through each piece. This identifies and separates that artist’s voice or style from the rest of the pack.
This is not true for an artist that primarily does commissions – in that case their strength would be in showing a portfolio with a variety of different styles of work they are capable of creating. This obviously is also not true for a group show or an artist’s retrospective exhibit.
My gallery used to represent ten artists and I had great monthly shows. Most of the time about ten people showed up to Artwalk and a handful of people visited during business hours.
Artists can have great work but can be high maintenance, temperamental, and usually have limited if no business sense. I know because I am an artist. But I do have a reasonably good business sense and these issues with the other artists exhausted me, especially when I was only barely breaking even, and especially when they did things like showed up the night before their opening with unframed work – this after I had told them two months earlier “Whatever you do, don’t show up the night before your reception with unframed art.”
My gallery is now upstairs in my work/live space, I show only my work, and my hours are by appointment only.
Artists’ consortiums, loft/live/work spaces, and gallery co-ops are all excellent concepts and ideas but cost money and require focused and committed energy. I have been involved in all to some degree and the logistics required aren’t a bad thing, but the older I get, the more protective I am of my time – so I can do my art.
I have found many artists don’t have the maturity to meet their commitments, yet they whine about expensive spaces, that Tacoma is being gentrified etc.
Tacoma has plenty of cheap, empty spaces and the more expensive ones are there because someone invested money in Tacoma (like my family) and actually influenced others like the five surrounding restaurants to move in after we renovated our building and I did a little police work :-).
Renovation and gentrification are not necessarily bad things – these processes bring humans downtown to spend money, and hopefully someday more of the humans will buy more artwork.
Spaces like TK are not for profit and are subsidized. There used to be many more private, wealthy art patrons like J. Paul Getty and Peggy Guggenheim, who paid the operating and living expenses for artists and galleries. Guggenheim launched the careers of famous artists such as Jackson Pollock.
What is sad is I own a large empty commercial street level space (2,000+ sq ft) downstairs (weasel tenants broke their lease) that would make a great art co-op or place for artists to rent small areas to display – there is also a large back room with a wood floor and mirrors that would make a perfect workshop/teaching space (with a utility sink), dance studio, or performance art area. I also have 3,000 square feet in the basement where my fiancé’s and my studios and frame shop are.
But I have a large mortgage I can barely cover and don’t have the money to subsidize this idea though I am often lumped into one of the evil rich condo developers because six years ago my family built two -TWO – fancy condos. This was before all the crazy mega condo developers, who would come and benchmark what we were doing, had the condo-building orgy a few years ago.
Unfortunately most Americans don’t value original artwork and Washington state is pretty unsophisticated in the big picture (no pun intended). It’s great if you love Dale Chihuly, the gagging-on-cotton-candy style of Thomas Kinkade or log-carved tp holders with images of bears or fish.
I have seen people buy a $5 print in a $400 frame. This depresses me. I frequently hear people decry original artwork is unaffordable – to that I say bullshit. I have had good original framed artwork (not mine) for under $50. It was small but it was great work. I had two great shows for that artist with both large and small pieces that everyone that saw the work loved – but no one bought anything. That artist left Washington and is actually making a living as an artist in California.
By the way, I am getting married in September, doing three large commissioned pieces, refinancing my building, and managing/cleaning it. I’m too busy right now to clean my apartment. I would like to trade someone cleaning my apartment for what they would charge per hour (within reason), which usually takes 6 or 7 hours once a week for awhile for a piece of my work.
I consider myself a professional artist. My work is included in national and international private collections including that of: the Pierce County Peninsula Branch Library, the State Farm Insurance Company (lobby) in the Columbia Bank Building, the software development company Topia Technology, and John Madden, the colorful commentator of the National Football League. I have shown my work in galleries in New York, Seattle, and North Carolina.
D dni June 15, 2009
This is a subject that will continue and continue to be brought up until Tacoma becomes what we all want her to be. However long that might take. I for now have begun to swallow the reality that I may not live long enough to see it.
The reality I am beginning to face is what Laura brought up above. Tacoma is blue collar.
No matter how we pray, work or wish it wasn’t so, it will remain this way for however long we all remain “small town” mentally.
Tacomans, both born and raised, and imported, are largely small town people wanting the ability to visit big city amenities. No one here wants to pay for it, nor experience the discomfort of what big city represents.
Tacoma is caught in the middle of living in the “country” and going to visit the “city”. I grew up in Puyallup and we went to Seattle to go to the City. It is still the same way 40+ years later. Tacoma is somewhere my dad went to work, and we went to shop…but you really don’t want to live…
Mind you, I bucked the system and moved to Tacoma when I was 20 and have been here 27 years and raised a family. For the last 8 years I have tried to operate a business downtown, one everyone told me I was crazy to open. I don’t see a big difference in what people think Tacoma is. That’s what has made me realize Tacoma people are just what they are. Champagne dreams on a beer budget. Drink beer in Tacoma and champagne….well just elsewhere.
T Thorax O'Tool June 15, 2009
Compared to the other major cities in the Pugetopolis region, we have some relatively reasonable house prices. Hell, on Zip realty I recently found a foreclosure on 9th & Grant for $68,000… that’s like a $400 mortgage. Get an FHA loan and include your repairs in the total loan, and you’re paying what, $650/mo? That would be hella (yes, I did say hella) cheap for 2 or 3 people to use as live/work space.
But even then, it seems like folks bitch about X, Y or Z not being here for artists, or that the city isn’t providing [insert item/event/incentive here].
Granted, I’m not letting our Fearless Leaders @ 747 Market off the hook; they need to provide what was promised. BUT we can’t rely on others to give us what we want. If we want affordable live/work space, we have to go find it ourselves. If we want more studio space, we need to go make some. If we want the budding artists to stay rather than emigrate to Seattle or Portland, then we need to walk the walk rather than just talking the talk. We as the arts community need to buy each other’s work, or trade or barter. We need to get bodies visible. Think a yuppie living in 505 Broadway will want to visit an empty gallery? What about a gallery that has a lot of visible traffic and buzz? If one goes into a gallery and sees folks buying art (even if it’s a ruse staged by conspiring artists), it gives “encouragement” to this potential buyer. Don’t let the lessons of the current economic
depressionrecession go to waste: people have a heard mentality and need their confidence (and egos) stoked to get therm to part with money… we just need buzz.We can provide our own traffic and our own buzz… it worked for the dot coms in 1999. It worked for housing from 2002 to 2007. It works for Apple’s crappy products (Steve Jobs’ speeches, anyone?). it works for politicians and companies. Why not use such advertising tactics for ourselves? It’s all about creating hype, even at smaller scales. Here is an example:
Ever seen a guitar player on a street corner with an empty case? Nope. They usually throw in a buck or two of their own cash to get the ball rolling. That starter cash is a signal to others that this guy is worth their dollar and that others have thought so as well. If others think so, then it must be true!
This is basic psychology in action. People tend to not want to start things or be the first. People tend to think that cost is directly proportional to value. i.e. “This painting costing $500 is for certain better than this other one costing $50”.
If we can cause people to think Tacoma art is “da bomb”, to think that Tacoma is THE next big thang and that our art is worth what we ask, then we will get what we want and have been asking for.
Take a lesson from Portland. We have to be pioneering and do it ourselves. No one will save us. We have to save ourselves.
A altered Chords June 15, 2009
The arts are a tough way to earn a living. I have no clue how to support myself playing piano so I opted long ago for a job and piano as a hobby. I never expected a penny for it until I began playing with well developed musicians who insist on placing a higher than available rate of payment on their time. They all invest in practice every day and maintain their “chops” so that they are ready whenever they get a call for a gig.
So my advice is to get a decent paying job/carreer and paint when you have time.
The cost of this advice is $100.00.
Make check out to Altered Chords Productions. I will pick up the check this Friday at 12:05 PM at Frost Park.
Don’t be late.
R RR Anderson June 16, 2009
another good strategy for artists is to marry a rich person. This has paid off big time for me. Being ultra attractive helps in this goal. I was able to use my rugged good looks to attract a wealthy mate which lets me coast through life doing what I like to do best: making fun of people.
let’s recap:
1. be attractive
2. marry a rich person
3. coast (doing what you love) till you die.
The cost of this advice is ONLY $99.95! ACT NOW and you’ll receive a BONUS COMMENT FREE OF CHARGE at the blog of your choice.
Make check out to RR’s Superior Productions. I will pick up the check this Friday at 12:01 PM at Frost Park.
No Refunds.
T Thorax O'Tool June 16, 2009
I have the greatest strategy of all time.
1: make something crappy, a la Jackson Pollack
2: pretend your work is profound and meaningful, convince others of it
3: somehow tag along with, or become somehow associated with a famous artist (even if said artist doesn’t know it or your association is fictitious)
4: Profit!
Oh wait… almost forgot step 5. After you die tragically young of an OD or some exotic disease or by suicide, will me your entire collection and a check for $5000.
M Maria June 16, 2009
If Scranton, PA and Galveston, TX can support affordable live/work spaces managed by non-profit arts groups…why not Tacoma?
Heck, even Everett, WA has a project that will be completed next year.
What does it take to birth a project like this? A small handful of people who want to see this become reality, who are willing to put in the time/effort. Desire, vision and hard work. Educating the community. Conversations. Buy-in and participation from local arts organizations and civic leaders.
For me the question isn’t, could this work, rather it’s, is there anyone who has the vision and commitment to devote the energy needed to see this through?
E Eric June 17, 2009
ArtSpace has been to and is interested in Tacoma because I have personally talked/met with them but Tacoma at the time was not ready for Artspace. Now with the mixed-use center zoning near completion maybe they will come back. The Brownes Star Grill site is a perfect canadite.
M Mike G June 17, 2009
My feeling is that DB belongs in Seattle. He’s a Seattle kind of guy. I think he would feel more at home there, anyway. In fact, I think I am prepared to sponsor his very own art space in Seattle.
T Thorax O'Tool June 17, 2009
Ok, how serious are we here about this? No, I mean how serious are we really?
I’ve been scheming up something for a while here, and I’ve been thus far getting zero response. I invite everyone in this topic to email me at: thoraxotool at gmail dot com about this. I got space and can have a f’real meeting of the minds next week. I’m tired of all this talk. Let’s put our money where our mouths are. Who’s in?
K Kim Burgess June 17, 2009
Wait.
Someone’s offering to pay my rent in Seattle?
done.
I dislike Seattle, mostly.
But not having to cut rent buys me time.
Time to make the things that make a name that earns the living that let’s me live wherever I want.
We’re not asking for a free ride, just a chance to start being able to pull our own weight doing what we were made for.
D daniel blue June 17, 2009
Mike G,
two things.
1) who are you?
2) lets get this show on the road.
db
M Morty June 18, 2009
Well since the conversation has digressed…….
A gallery owner calls a showing artist and says, “ look I got some good news and some bad news.”
So the artist says,” Ok what’s the good news?
The gallery owners says, “I sold all of your paintings” ”Really? That’s fantastic! What’s the bad news?”
“Your doctor was the one who bought them all”
T Thorax O'Tool June 18, 2009
not bad, not bad, Morty.
No emails yet taking me up on my offer.
…I’m waiting.
T Thorax O'Tool June 18, 2009
12 hrs and not a hit.
Who is serious about this? C’mon, and step up to the plate.
M Mike G June 18, 2009
You know I’m only kidding…I can’t even afford my own place. I just sit and browse the internet at the downtown library all day, and sleep in the court e alley by night. I’m just an old hobo, that’s all. Don’t mind me. Anyway, Tacoma wouldn’t be the same without #1 cool dude DB around town. And I think he’s driving the gangs away towards Lakewood and Spanaway.
A altered Chords June 18, 2009
Margaret Mead said something like:
“Never doubt that a small group of comitted, thoughtful people can change the world”
Thorax is stepping up to the plate with real action.
I applaud his efforts to make something happen – not just talk or complain.
T Thorax O'Tool June 18, 2009
Thanks for the encouragement, AC.
But it’s worth noting that in 25 hrs, not a single response. It’s not really good enough to prove my point that no one wants to do anything, they just want to moan and bitch… but it does show that tendency exists.
BUT I’m not willing to trow in the towel yet. There’s probably like a thousand people who haven’t read this thread. So, tonight I’m going to send out a mass email via the art listserve and see what happens. I’ll also be putting it on my feedtacoma blog.
It is the grand experiment, isn’t it? Can we get anyone to show up for a get together where we sit down to plan something amazing. It isn’t going to cost you anything except a little time, and some effort.
J Jesse June 19, 2009
I applaud Thorax for wanting to DO something here. Your future is always a consequence of your choices.
At any rate, I had an idea as well… don’t know how doable it is but here goes… Ever heard of the slum-lord Paul Post? He owns many properties in Tacoma that are run down. He’s an old coot who is unwilling to repair his properties and the city has leveraged fines against him in the hundreds of thousands of dollars range. What if a deal was cut with the city, Mr. Post, and an art consortium to essentially pay off the fines by allowing some properties to be converted into art spaces near inner Tacoma while the artists fix them up to code? Then when Post dies, his fines can be paid off by donating the said properties to the non-profit art commission. Is that possible??? It’s a win-win… no?
E elcomancho June 19, 2009
I’d chip in to get Thorax thrown off this forum-
T Thorax O'Tool June 19, 2009
Whoops… I mean SATURDAY, JUNE 20th
forgot Sunday was Father’s day.
…sorry, dad.
T tom waits June 19, 2009
well, i guess it only took you what, six years, to discover ArtSpace and the Tashiro Kaplan project?
ArtSpace is well aware of Tacoma. And Tacoma is very much aware of ArtSpace. They’ve been here; the City has hired them. This is not news.
amazing what you learn when you get out of town every once in awhile, isn’t it?
oh, and rent in tacoma is cheap too, by seattle standards. imho, if you can’t find an affordable place in tacoma to live, you’d better start planning your move to east whatcom county. the problem is managing your expectations; unfortunately it can be a rough transition for the “poor kids” from middle class families living with mom and dad, to out on your own with very little income but a determination to pursue a difficult, high risk low return, self-defined career. i remember how shocked i was when i realized i no longer had a dishwasher, for the first time in 18 years.
at any rate, deciding to pursue a career as an artist is a great thing. but it won’t get you a downtown condo, at the TK or anywhere, for quite awhile.
the TK project is very much needed in a city where the SF costs are what they are. but it was still a very thin margin project and hovered on the brink for quite a while. as has been stated, it is heavily subsidized.
J Jennevieve June 19, 2009
As a “young” artist, just a couple years out of art school, I moved from Seattle to Tacoma 6 years ago at the age of 29 to buy a house. I don’t know why anyone could ever think Tacoma doesn’t have affordable housing or that an artist would never want to be burdened by a house? I was overjoyed to buy my house, on my own, making only around $40K a year at the time, to have my own space no one could kick me out of and a giant garage to turn into an art studio. Sure, I might not be in the “hip” part of town, but I don’t care about the hip part, I care about the making art part, the most important part of the whole equation. And the honest truth was that it was hard: you have to work on a house, you have to save money, work on keeping your credit in good order, and be focused and want it badly. Nobody gives you something because you whine about it. Young artists are rarely the ones making the money or actually supporting the arts (unless you call going to openings to drink free wine supporting the arts)-The ironic thing about your post was the comment about trying to find parking for a half hour! Would people still like Tacoma if it got really busy but there was no place to park?
L Lynn Di Nino June 21, 2009
boy, there’s alot to respond to here, but I’ll keep it brief. About six years ago ArtSpace came to Tacoma with a presentation and we artists worked our tails off to get 500 surveys back to them, justifying our needs. When nothing happened, I was told by the local ArtSpace director (who I know) that the city-owned empty building they sited as appropriate for an artist coop could not be purchased because the city couldn’t/wouldn’t bargain down in price. . . .
Also, I know some people here in town who rehabilitate warehouse spaces for artist use, who approached the city in an effort to help rewrite zoning codes to benefit a live/work model. The city could not/would not modify these codes even though there are guidelines available from many other cities. My friends gave up working with the city.
The third point is that although Tacoma may be blue collar, there are PLENTY of very wealthy people living here. I believe I’ve seen a stastic that we have the highest per capita of wealthy in the area (wish I could quote my source). The problem is they are used to buying their art elsewhere. I believe we’re on a continium and simply have not reached the tipping point along these lines.
A recent story in the Trib declared that the City was going to CREATE an arts area -‘Brewery District’. I’m still so inflamed that our economic leadership believes this is a viable approach, I can barely talk about it, unless of course what they have in mind is calling ArtSpace back for a second chance. . .
I can’t go to this meeting tonight, but would like participating in a face-to-face discussion with others and will contact ‘Thorax O’Toole’. Along with others I have fought some pretty hair-brained ideas coming from the City, and have won at least two skirmishes. We ARE in a city where we can make a difference, unlike Seattle. . .
T Thorax O'Tool June 21, 2009
Lynn: email me at:
thoraxotool at gmail dot com
I look forward to it!
J Joeski June 22, 2009
I’m between 18-35. I’ve been known to paint things. I have great credit and I own my own home which cost in the realm of 6 figures. My garage is my workspace.
I worked my ass off to get where I am and let me assure you that “poor kids with shitty credit” didn’t help me. My neighborhood isn’t awesome as described because of artist kids who might now “leave us for better cities.” It is awesome because of younger families who bought homes in our neghborhoods and took ownership of thier block. These people support the local business districts and have upped the property value in our city. (Trust me- some hipster kid who rides a fixed gear bike had very little to do with it.)
If you seriously think rent is expensive in Tacoma then I would hate to see you try and make it ANYWHERE else. You have to work for success and comfort. Nobody is going to hand anything to you.
T tressie June 22, 2009
it used to be affordable in Tacoma…and someone making 20K a yr. cannot buy now…and if you give a foreclosured house as evidence that Tacoma is affordable…dude. Foreclosure. I bought all my houses and farmland on Owner Contract. I pay rent, cheap, but it is still tough.
Lynn, I do remember all the talk about affordable live/work space.
I’ve been on this subject for nearly 15 years. My definition of affordable live/work space is a big building near or in dtown, with 500sqft at 250 a month, means-tested only. Why 250 a month? Because a minimum wage worker could afford that.
Why won’t Tacoma city bosses approve real work/live? Because they are old and unimaginative, I guess. Perhaps new fresh blood will move Tacoma into the New Times.
If you are middle class, you don’t need much help but for FHA type loans. Daniel is right about a lot here…the young and poor don’t have much of a chance…but no one stops you from making art…but making art stops you from earning a living on your own. At least till you sell some. Thanks for kicking over the hornet’s nest db…Good Job!
A altered Chords June 22, 2009
I like how Joeski identifies his/her age.
Attractive woman: “how old are you?”
Altered Chords: “I am between 18 and 52”
J joeski June 22, 2009
18-35 was Daniel’s original statement.
But if it bugs you that much; I’m exactly 30….and I’m a guy.
T Thorax O'Tool June 23, 2009
Nobody is going to hand it to you… very true.
But least ye forget, no man is an island. Those of us with good jobs, impeccable credit and houses have said things because doors have been opened to us at one point or another.
The whole point of affordable art space is to open that door for others.
R RR Anderson June 23, 2009
I think rich people are rich because they don’t give away free money to ‘artsy-fartsy’ types.
I think that the struggle to produce art is part of the natural order of the universe.
My question is what are you supposed to do with art once you make it?
R RR Anderson June 23, 2009
If artists are going to do anything productive with their meek lives, artists need to learn how to make money the honest way: pick a beloved local coffee house and sue the pants off em.
A altered Chords June 23, 2009
RR – careful how you use the term “artsy-fartsy”
L Laura Hanan June 23, 2009
Don’t make me come over there, RR!
J joeski June 23, 2009
RR- “My question is what are you supposed to do with art once you make it?”
-hang it in your house so all of your friends can tell you what a great artist you are and then ask you to paint them something for thier house For free.
That’s what I do :)
A altered Chords June 23, 2009
There are other places to put one’s art after it’s creation.
It works better with sculped pieces, less well with paintings and does not work for music or poetry.
O offbroadway June 24, 2009
I think that survey/thesis, from the other thread (where I decided not to make this comment) missed too many artists that are representented well by Jennevieve posting above (36) who quietly churn out impressive work. Worked hard, studied hard, learned well, saved wisely, spends a lot of her life in the studio, and with only the humblest of fanfare among friends, has completed installations around Tacoma, Puyallup and well beyond. Thanks for filling in the details about ArtSpace, Lynn – I remember when TK opened, but I wasn’t aware they had history in Tacoma.