GILMAN STREET ART STUDIO PEEPS PARTY

It's been about a year and a half, when Tom Franco and I arrived back from the Oscar's celebration in LA, March 1st 2010. Drove straight to Gilman street, which at that point was an empty beautifully lit potential art space, and met the first two painters who moved in: Elyane Ryder and  Emily Zuckerman.
Elayne connected us to many of the artists who are now part of the collaborative.

Here we are today, 24+ artists sharing an open floor plan, with a great sense of collegiality as Ellen Zucker mentioned in her talk at the opening night of the current show at Gallery North, about painting and the art of harmonizing as artists who work in community.
We couldn't be happier.

Maggie Hurley curated the show and gave it the theme "Nostalgia" pertaining to that "ole summer feelin'".
We hope that you take time to come see the show. The paintings are true treasures and available to take home to light up your environment.

Open times are a bit tight, as the space also hosts great art groups in order to be self sustaining, but you can find out by clicking on the Calendar tab and look for Galley Open times.

Here are some collages of opening night scenes and more photos on our facebook page.
We always like to hear from you. Drop us a note below in comments or post on our page.

Julia Lazar

for FAC

JULY 2012 SHOW OPENS FRIDAY 13

Firehouse Art Collective Presents: Nostalgia, Summertime in the Good Ol’ Days, A group Show At Firehouse Gallery North

Dates: July 13 – July 29, 2012

Reception: Friday, July 13, 7-9pm

Berkeley, CA, (July 9, 2012):  Opening this Friday, July 13^th from 7pm – 9pm and running through July 29^th, the Firehouse Collective is pleased to present, “Nostalgia: Summertime in the Good Ol’ Days,” a show celebrating themes of summer at the Firehouse North Gallery, 1790 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94709. Work by eighteen members of the collective will be on display. Although the artists hail from diverse artistic backgrounds and styles, each has contributed remarkable work to a truly beautiful show.

"In putting our July show together, I thought a summer theme would be fun and appropriate. I grew up in Southern California and all of my memories seem to include the ocean, and warm, salty air. Maybe you spent your summers at a lake, or there was a BBQ where everyone gathered. Or maybe your favorite thing to do was stare up at the clouds and find animals. My thoughts are that this show celebrates the idyllic memories of the past that trigger those lovely moments of nostalgia," said Maggie Hurley, Curator and Firehouse Gilman Studio artist. 

The full list of artists includes:

Merryl Berner Circourel, Sherrod Blankner, Luka Dziubyna, Stephanie Elliot, Tom Franco & Julia Lazar, Sarah Hickman, Maggie Hurley, Kelle Jacobs, Carol Jenkins, Korianna Kisielprice, Kristina Lim, Anne Lourie, Elayne Ryder, ShawN ShawN, Louise Valeur, Janet Yelner, Ellen Zucker

FIRST BIRTHDAY ADELINE ART STUDIOS + SHOW & SELL MARKET

Celebrating our first year after opening the Firehouse Adeline Art studios which include half a dozen private art studios, two micro store fronts: Alchemy Cafe and Vintage & Tarot boutique, rehearsal and recording studio for 4 awesome local bands, a black box theater in planning stages and the wonderful weekly Show & Sell Spot we also call the Buzzar, a place for local artists and makers to bring their goods to the community.

As the entire Lorin district and beyond, celebrates the annual JUNETEENTH festival, we open our doors to participate with what we do best: offer spaces for artists of all disciplines to co create currency and culture one event at the time.

Jessie Brown of CK Smokehouse, his wife Mo and family friends, fed everyone with his famous ribs and the best smiles for miles.
A very HAPPY BIRTHDAY indeed!
We hope you enjoy the photos and come visit us.
Open every Saturday noon to six pm, as well as hosting all kinds of live events you can find on our CALENDAR.
3192 Adeline street corner of Fairview two blocks south from Ashby Bart, Berkeley CA 94703.

Many many thanks to everyone who continues to show up to make this place the coolest gig in town.
Let us know what you think and stay in touch...you can use the comment section below, our facbook page or em-mail us: Firehouse.Art.Collective @ gmail.com

JUNE 2012 SHOW AT GALLERY NORTH

OPENED second Friday with local and out of town friends.

"FORREALISMN" a local group of artists we met last year at the November art murmur in Oakland is exhibiting a very cool collection of paintings and 3D wall sculptures.

Joaquin A Newman pulled the group together and curated what we think is a truly awesome show.

Here are some visuals, the gallery is open on Saturdays from 5 to 9pm and you can always email us: firehouse.art.collective @ gmail.com or call Julia at 510 593 0733 to make an appointment to see the exhibit and purchase any of the art.

Enjoy the photos and come by when you can.
We always love to hear from you...feel free to use the comment box at the end of this post.

ART FOR SCHOOLS FUNDRAISER IN PIEDMONT

Firehouse Art Collective directors Tom Franco and Julia Lazar were invited to collaborate. With onsite live painting projects to be auctioned off live.
Silent auction goes on of super cool creative birdhouses and other intriguing tidbits goes on while champagne and wine flows and the locals mingle.

The irrepressible and dynamic Karen Stanton generates the annual "Birdhouse Auction Gala" hosted by Piedmont residents and parents in their upscale, short of posh estates, and is crazy successful pulling the right peeps together in support of Art in public schools of the district.

This year she got Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day to donate a signed guitar and other rock'n'roll paraphernalia, where half of the proceeds went to Billie Joe's old high school  in the Rodeo district in Oakland.
Cool we say!

Was an awesome day and people donated great funds for the arts to continue in public high schools these parts of town. Thanks Karen!!! really.
Special thanks to our friend Andre Salcido, a pro auctioneer in Alameda, for coming out to help.

Tying Knots...

18ct Yellow Gold, Australian Blue Sapphires

9ct Yellow Gold, Australian Blue Sapphire

9ct Yellow Gold

14ct Yellow Gold, Australian Fancy Sapphire

9ct Yellow Gold, Australian Fancy Sapphire

PRO ARTS WALKS TO GILMAN OPEN STUDIOS

FIREHOUSE COLLECTIVE OPEN ART STUDIOS

for the annual east bay PRO ARTS exhibits...we visited our 1000 Gilman street artists on Friday and the open floor shared studios are amazing! 

What a collaborative of mediums and backgrounds. We loved it and hope you will too...more about the Firehouse Art CoLab studios on Gilman street OPEN Studio event here.