In my opinion: By Sarah Horton, Artist --
Truckee Literary Crawl Opening event was a SUCCESS!!-- Our 9848.Gallery was overflowing, standing room only and filled with so many special people, as you can see in the photos above. Your neighbors the reader may recognize from around town, our own Poet Laureate - Karen Terry; Reno's Poet Laureate, Jesse James Ziegler from Reno; others from Grass Valley/Nevada City area... as well as King's Beach , Tahoe City, Incline Village, Portola, Stockton --too numerous to mention by name, all of whom and more attended each event throughout the day - rumors that all venues were standing room only.
The "Kick-Off" at our own 9848.Gallery at Truckee Artist Lofts was a win for the Truckee Literary Crawl's first endeavor, as well as a win for US! The energy and excitement of hosting this event was felt by all of us who have worked so hard in putting the 9848.Gallery space on the Truckee Map.--(oh, oops, 9848.Gallery is NOT on this year's Truckee Trail Map..maybe a goal for next year!!)
History update: We began over three years ago with a small group of interested artists who wanted to see the retail level Gallery space used to create community and to invite the greater community into the new building. Collaboratively, we offered monthly showcases and meetings to determine the organizational structure and come up with guidelines that were inclusive of all who lived here and wanted to be part of this "Gallery." It's been a step by step process... some steps backward and many steps forward -- by the visual artists as well as an equal number of performing artists of music, dance, and literary status that were part of the "original residents" here. Yes, there was a time when you had to 'apply and be reviewed to live here. Imagine that! Yes, through all the 'start - up' bumps and bruises of construction issues in a newly-constructed, 'modular' building -- all challenges. Then the 'high hopes' of the first people to move in, after qualifying 'as an artist.' to participate in a "living-in-a-community-of-artists experiment". Some people had to wait 2-3 months for their occupancy permits from the town/county --2 months in the parking lot!! And then, once moved in -- only to be met with old-time-miner attitudes claim protection... from the other non-well wishers in the surrounding areas who felt threatened by 'the new.' In all fairness to the juried artists, there were many people who were 'placed here' and didn't want to really be in an artist community or had never lived in the mountain winter snow, and probably never really wanted to live in a 'community.' -- Many have left for "their greener pastures in warmer foothill climates".
By the way, some of us who bought into the promoted "vision of an artist community," and applied as "practicing and functioning artists as reflect in our IRS income statements; and who have lived in Nevada County for 5-30 years! Yes, there are a few of us that believed in the vision and were ready, willing, and able to put our time and our talents and our personal efforts into making this truly a "Tahoe Artist Lofts" -- the vision becoming a practical reality.
Yes, there were many obstacles to overcome -- some of these are simple -- for example: The promotional decorative street signs stop just before our block, the Christmas Candy Canes & Lighting stop just before our block...even though everyone going to and from the Downtown Merchants evenings have to park on our block and beyond and walk right passed the building. The Truckee Thursday Buses from all over the resorts and outlying areas stop right in front of our Gallery. mmmm).
In my opinion, one has to have 'grit' to live in the mountains, (to borrow a phrase from Kellie Cutler of the Truckee Cultural District) -- or the Mountain will leave her grit on you and spit you out. In my own words, It also takes courage to start something new -- to be on the ground floor of a vision that started in the early 2000's-- it means a step into the unknown -- a model of which did not exist in Truckee. TAL, we are not alone, however, there are many models of Artist communities that are alive, prosperous, and successful: The Sierra Valley Arts building on the Truckee River in Reno, our 'sister' Warehouse Artist Lofts in Sacramento, The modern refurbished railyard and granery area called "The Barlow" in Sebastopol, CA, now partnered with The Sebastopol Community Art Center and the Florence Street Art Community. And in Colorado, Break-create in Breckinridge --Colorado has done a really good job in marrying the arts and sports communities together. And I am sure there are others in the nation!
The Truckee Artist Lofts and the Railyard Marketplace adjacent to a historical main street area is not an original concept; yet, it is still a work in progress which takes 'grit' and determination and support from all aspects of the people who choose to live, work, visit, and make their roots here in the Donner Lake, North Shore areas. Growing community in these very "intersting times" is a choice -- to give of your heart, and your energy and in many ways, your love. Yes, and practicing patience and tolerance of a myriad of 'creative thinkers, doers, and independent folks who are attracted to making the mountains their home! There is more than enought spirit here for everyone! Let it be welcoming!
In my opinion, Sarah Horton, Artist.
