the-mesmerist:

Well judging by my low grade fever, completely shot voice, and the tiny black spiders I’ve been hallucinating in my peripheral vision due to an extreme sleep deficit, FMLY FEST LA must have recently concluded and probably was pretty fun.

The shows were divided between three spaces, Towne Hall, ArtShare, and FMLY’s newest project, the LA Fort.  All three spaces were within a mile radius of each other in what I think was little tokyo?  Since I can’t fit all of my thoughts into one post I’ll focus on the Fort today; it was definitely the most inspiring part of my trip which is saying a lot because the people and bands and art were totally fantastic as well.  

Walking into the Fort I definitely felt a sense of anything can happen, there were two artists working on a colorful mixed media mural, as well as someone setting up a screen-printing station to be used on the giant pile of donated clothes.  There were volunteers sweeping, putting up signs, and doing other more whimsical chores like hanging an upside down christmas tree next to an corner-mounted giant illuminati eye.  I felt from them a real sense of excitement and ownership; how often do you have a chance to build an art venue from the ground up!?  Talking to Cameron Rath and Daniel Kantor and other folks that are intimately involved with the space, I was pleased to see a pattern of horizontal decision making and deliberateness of action.

For instance, in asking about how the bands were picked, Cameron said they had an open call for participants and put together listening parties every two week long before the fest.  From there they were able to make a shortlist of both talented bands that were their friends as well as others from different communities.  This kind of transparency also comes into handling the expenses.  It sounds like they have a small monthly membership fee (like some food coops have) and then those people have a say in how the space is run as well as other benefits (presumably less $ for shows?)

What I like about that system is that it both makes the community have an ownership role but also relieves a lot of the pressure of making tons of money at shows to pay the bills.  As with any pay-per-month system, there is lots of room for it to go astray but I’ve got a lot of faith in women and men that I’ve met in FMLY so far and the purity of their intentions.

After spending some time in the neighborhood it was apparent that there is a large contingent of homeless or transient people around.  Dealing with the tension that can arise between a group already prone to feeling displaced and middle class peoples that come in and change the surroundings in the name of “cleaning up the place” is a very uncomfortable reality to life in the city.  I was really happy to see FMLY had already hooked up with Food Not Bombs to provide free or donation based food during the fest, as well as including some of the homeless people in the chores when they asked.  I know the answer is never simple but the fact that The Fort was trying to be respectful and inclusive to the people already around seemed like a big step in the right direction.

Perhaps the most telling thing about The Fort was that by the end of the last day it was much more complete than two days prior, before the fest.  The inside mural had been completed, tons more screens for printing had been made and used.  A group of notable street artists had painted the entirety of the courtyard wall, the sound system was better organized, and someone had felt inspired to bring a small CNC table to make exact cuts which I think was used for making stickers?  Instead of people coming to consume, to buy- they came in to be inspired, to create, to dance, to take a class, to be a part of something. 

Studying the trials and victories of small art/community spaces trying to be semi-autonomous, with horizontal membership is hugely interesting to me.  It always seems like an experiment, a microcosm of what life could be like if there were a ton less bullshit and it was instead replaced by personal responsibility and mutual aid.  Seeing how much thought and heart and work went into The Fort, I can’t help but think its got a better chance than most for being sustainable.  I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed and try to lend a hand over there any chance I get.