Work space, live space: The Hatchery provides artists, musicians, and writers with opportunities to pursue their creative goals in a natural setting, and in an environment compromised by failed human endeavor.
Named for Synanon's child-rearing facility, The Hatchery refers both to the building (a former airplane hangar) and to the group of artists who have begun reclaiming it. THE HATCHERY FREE RANGE was the inaugural event: a show of contemporary art on Saturday, October 30, 2010.
In this stage between dereliction and renewal, artists are invited to make work. Several work spaces are available: a ready-to-use 400-square-foot studio; raw space in the Hatchery; in a double-wide, gutted mobile home; and in a huge warehouse. Housing on the property is affordable, and family- and pet-friendly.
Located in Badger, California, in the foothills of the southern Sierra Nevada, The Hatchery is 30 minutes from Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park, and approximately 4 hours from Los Angeles or San Francisco.
Save the date!
THE HATCHERY: EAST OF FRESNO
September 24 and 25, 2011
More artists, more music, more people.
Details at http://thehatcheryartspaces.org
Invitation
We invite artists of all sorts to come enjoy some space for Creativity, Being Together, Being Alone ... in the beautiful surroundings of the Sierra foothills. Itll be a relatively unstructured event, which will be shaped to a large extent by the Artists who decide to join us. The aim is simply to open the inner and outer space in order to dedicate ourselves to the process of creating art.
Disciplines
There will be studio space for 6 visual artists, plus some room for musicians, poets, singer-songwriters, actors, film makers, photographers, or any other sort of artist. Note that the weather may or may not be nice enough to work outside at this time of the year.
Setup
Each artist will be invited to bring their own art materials and while collaboration would be encouraged, no workshops of any kind will be planned for by the organizers of the retreat. There may be an ongoing collaborative piece that artists will be invited to contribute to. If you are not (yet?) an established artist, but would like to start with something at the Hatchery, COME! (You know who you are.) If you would like to get some guidance as to where to start, what medium, what to bring etc, please dont hesitate to contact us and well be very happy to help you get on your way.
Practicalities
There will be about 8 beds available, and room for lots more if people are willing to sleep on floors of the various houses (bedrooms are large). Bedding will be provided, and so will the meals. We do ask that artists contribute to preparation of meals, cleaning up after meals, and keeping the place livable. The price will be $25 per night which will include your work/studio space during the day. Food will be $20 per day ($5B/$6L/$9D). You can sign up for any length of time during this week, and hand pick the meals youd like to join in for, as not everyone may have the luxury of a whole week off from work. For those who fly in, airport pickups can be arranged for a fee. If anyone would prefer to pay their way in the form of work on the property or some extra help in the kitchen, this is something that can be negotiated!
Sign Up
We'd like artists to register by the 10th of April. Space will be allocated on a first come first serve basis. Due to limited available beds and studio space, the retreat may fill up before April 10th, so if you are interested we encourage you to get in touch with us soon.
For more information and/or to sign up, please contact Mahalia by using this form, or calling (559) 336-9383.
We look forward so much to seeing you there!
Raphaela Schipper and Mahalia LoMele
Located at Badger Creek Development in Badger, California, in the foothills of the southern Sierra Nevada, the Hatchery is a large airplane hangar that was formerly the central building of Synanon, a drug-rehab organization that fell into disrepute. It was then owned by City of Allah, a Muslim community which operated a charter school. It too fell victim to overreaching by its leaders, as well as post-9/11 hysteria.
After years of neglect and vandalism, the Hatchery is in a state of disrepair. It stands as a monument to the durability of 20th-century construction, the inevitability of natural renewal, and conversely, the uncertain hope of human renewal. In its ruined state, it is a fascinating backdrop for artistic expression, and of considerable interest on its own.
Photographers, filmmakers, painters, and installation artists will find this building ripe for interpretation and documentation.
View more photos here.
contact the HATCHERY
The studio at the HATCHERY art spaces is 400 square feet, ready-to-use.
Artists are invited to stay on the property (see available housing here) and use this studio for $20/day.
Contact Mahalia LoMele for information.
This 48-foot, 2-bedroom travel trailer is available when you work at the Hatchery art spaces.
Known as "The Lorene," the trailer has all the amenities of a small house. The full kitchen has a dishwasher, refrigerator, freezer, microwave, and stove. The bathroom has a sink and shower, and a washer/dryer. Built-in entertainment: an overhead sound system and a gas fireplace.
Outside, take advantage of beautiful Sierra evenings in the hammock or hang out at the fire ring.
Also available: large, indoor-pet-friendly houses at Badger Creek.
Contact Mahalia LoMele for more information.
The day started out rainy and foggy, then turned sunny and spectacular, confounding and challenging Matthew Rangel's painting students. But about 150 people turned out from Los Angeles, the Bay Area, Visalia, Fresno, Kingsburg, Three Rivers, and all the mountain communities for a lively, enjoyable, surprising, and inspiring afternoon and evening.
Paintings, photos, and digital prints by Jane Ziegler, Laura Horst, and Robert Mertens showed in the office gallery. Paintings by Matthew Hopson-Walker, Lex Calip, and Matthew Rangel, drawings by Kevin Bowman and Amie T. Rangel, photos by James Stark, and installations by Lex Calip, Nicole Shaffer, Anne M. Klint, and Bachrun LoMele were in the Hatchery.
A performance of Irish music by two of Amie Rangel's art students was an afternoon surprise before the BBQ. Singing and playing in the evening were Melissa Lou Castellano and Evan apRoberts - lovely, soulful, strong.
We're planning to do this again, at least once, in the warmer months of 2011 (probably September). We hope to see you then!
Thank you's go out to:
Gary Knight
Catie Karplus
Trish Rangel
Cathy Williams
Charlene Vom Dorp
Steve Stockabrand
Marwan LoMele
Bob Thornburg
Jack Huneke and Julie Harcos
Susannah Rosenthal
Reinhard Hesse
and to:
the artists
the musicians
everyone who helped
everyone who came
Thank you!!
Using GPS is not recommended in this area.
Download a map to the Hatchery from the San Joaquin Valley, Los Angeles, or the Bay Area:
or call (559) 336-9383
(559) 337-0747
