Althouse: "It’s that dream a lot of artists have. You want to find a raw space, and something you can build into a live-work space where you can make art."

March 21, 2023

"It’s that dream a lot of artists have. You want to find a raw space, and something you can build into a live-work space where you can make art."

From "What’s It Like to Live in a Grocery Store? Surprisingly Comfortable. When two artists bought the vacant building, it was ‘grim and creepy.’ Now it’s not only a home — it’s a communal arts space" (NYT).

15 comments:

Heartless Aztec said...: I just did that. We bought a beautiful river front house in Florida. General Distaff has the gorgeous part - but up and over the bluff is the large 900 sqft detached garage which has been renovated and is now our art studio (she paints and I'm an historical illustrator), musical creative area and dvd theater. And, in a pinch - my hideout man cave. Just me and the big grey hawks, owls and bald eagles. Heaven.; 3/21/23, 11:53 AM
Joe Smith said...: At least they can 'put their stamp on it.'*

I hope it has lots of 'natural light.'*

*I take an imaginary drink when I hear these two phrases on house-hunting shows.

I am theoretically plastered every time : ); 3/21/23, 11:59 AM
n.n said...: open floor plan; 3/21/23, 12:19 PM
mccullough said...: Lot of bad art coming out of Seattle; 3/21/23, 1:01 PM
Fred Drinkwater said...: Probably a zoning violation, and construction standards for residence violations.

I just love twitting my artsy friends about their double standards on regulations. (Too bad I'm too nice to actually verbalize such twits.); 3/21/23, 1:07 PM
Tom T. said...: "The nice part is that the Starbucks counter stayed open."; 3/21/23, 1:27 PM
Rollo said...: Do not automatically assume that abandoned grocery stores are grimmer and creepier than communal arts spaces.; 3/21/23, 1:47 PM
Old and slow said...: Out of seven comments so far, there are five snotty and/or critical, one positive, and one drawing attention to the nature of the comments/commenters. It's a cool use of unwanted commercial space. Why the snark every time?; 3/21/23, 3:27 PM
Ann Althouse said...: This post only really works for people who look at the photographs at the link. If you're not actually going to look at them -- and obviously I know they are at the NYT where they'd like you to pay -- I don't know why you'd have anything to say about the post.; 3/21/23, 4:08 PM
n.n said...: Studio apartment

Central heating, indoor plumbing, vittles, too? Is that a bar? No floor covering, white walls, raw but livable.; 3/21/23, 5:41 PM
Heartless Aztec said...: @ Old and Slow: There should be a "snark" law as there is for mentioning Hitler/Nazi - Godwin's Law.; 3/21/23, 6:05 PM
Fred Drinkwater said...: I looked at the photos. Just what I expected. There are any number of conversions in south San Jose for example, like this, but all are art galleries. No workshops, no (legal) residences. Despite California's mandates about affordable housing. Way too much trouble to get planning permission for either. The galleries are, of course, subsidized by the city, county and state, because they host diverse artists.; 3/21/23, 8:27 PM
fizzymagic said...: Althouse said: This post only really works for people who look at the photographs at the link.

Did you bother to mention that in your post? No.

I'm willing to believe that your other recent apparent decompensations are part of some larger plan, but this was just plain rude to your viewers. Post something with no explanation or further comment, and then indicate contempt for your readers when they do not view the content in the way you intended.; 3/21/23, 8:53 PM
Assistant Village Idiot said...: Artists seem to care a lot about the space they work in.; 3/21/23, 9:50 PM
Old and slow said...: Blogger n.n said...
Studio apartment

Central heating, indoor plumbing, vittles, too? Is that a bar? No floor covering, white walls, raw but livable.

Raw but livable? Are you fucking kidding me? That looks gorgeous. What world do you live in? I'd love to come and visit. You inhabit this weird abortion obsessed universe where that is a so-so living space. What the fuck are you?; 3/21/23, 11:35 PM