An Open Letter to Coran Capshaw
Dear Coran,
You don’t know me - I’m just another local artist-type guy, trying to make a living in this too-cool and too-expensive town. I sometimes go to the shows you put on, I sometimes eat in your restaurants. Though I sometimes worry that you’re getting a little too much of a monopoly on the scene around town, I’m generally not among those who bash you for your efforts - I think it speaks well of you that you’ve chosen to invest a fair chunk of your money on local efforts. So I thought I’d pass along a great idea to you. I’m sure you’re not at a loss for great ideas to spend your money on, but here goes…
You know a lot about music and the arts and community relations, and all of that’s done a lot to put both Charlottesville on the map and money in your pocket - the bands you’ve brought here have added a lot to making this town a good place to live. But music is only one part of Charlottesville’s cultural scene. As someone who has been making at least part of my living from the visual arts for the past 25 years, I can tell you that there are next to no good, affordable working spaces for up-and-coming artists in this real-estate-crazy burg.
Our neighbors in Richmond have always had business and real estate people who have been willing to invest in great low rent studio complexes in converted industrial/warehouse spaces where artists can create and show their work. Charlottesville, on the other hand, has the city-supported McGuffey Art Center. Don’t get me wrong - there are some great artists making great art at McGuffey, but it’s no big secret that most of the work there looks and feels the same as it did a decade ago. And since existing McGuffey members pick new McGuffey members, if you want to make art and you don’t make the kind of work that the membership thinks fits the mold (no sour grapes here, Coran, I used to be an associate member), you’re left either working at home, or trying to rent a space that costs several times what the McGuffey spaces go for. (And it’s also no big secret that a lot of the renting membership there are successful enough to afford spaces whose rent isn’t supported by the city).
So here’s what you do: Find a building: Some old dirty warehouse or factory, close to downtown. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on it - artists dig hovels. A little HVAC work here, a little new plumbing there, some walls to divide the space up into studios, a coat of paint for common/exhibition spaces. Then hire some goofball like me to keep up with the administrative end of things, and you’re pretty much done.
Ahh, you ask: What am I getting out of this? Good point, Coran. Artists may not be picky, but we’re also poor - commercial real estate in this town and starving artists’ checkbooks don’t always get along too well. So here’s the beauty of my plan. As part of the deal for getting a deal on cheap studio space, all renting artists are required to donate artwork of a significant value to the cause. This could either be set up to benefit local charities directly, or we could put together some kind of an annual benefit auction. Either way, you come out as the hero. Local charities benefit, local artists have a place to work and show, and everyone lavishes endless praise on you! We all love endless praise, Coran.
Give it some thought. I know you have a lot on your plate lately, so there’s no rush really. I’ll be around, Coran, always ready to help you out, whenever you’re ready.
Gimme a call, we’ll talk…
Andrew
PS: In your honor, Coran, here’s a pic of Mike Doughty, taken at Starr Hill a couple of years ago. That was a good show, no?
