CULTURE THE WORKS
21
Rad space The Bridge PAI finds new ways to connect by dreaming big By Laura Drummond
prints to support and encourage radical thought in Charlottesville. arts@c-ville.com The Bridge PAI hopes to make Rad Press a permanent fixture. “Radical literature is ow does a community arts organitimeless,” Goffinski says. “There are so many zation react to an ongoing panconversations that need to be had about so demic that requires the restriction many things. Every week, something new is of in-person gatherings? It gets creative. in the foreground...we want Rad Press to... “We’re still dreaming big,” says Alan Gofbe able to shift and morph to include new finski, director of The Bridge Progressive Arts things as they pop up.” Initiative. “One thing that I think we’ve always While Rad Press keeps the conversation prided ourselves on as an organization is our going outside, the Bridge’s gallery space has ability to shift gears, respond to the creative become active again through the STUDI0.00 impulses of our community, and be that initiative, which offers free, short-term sturesource for artists and culture shapers to dio use to artists displaced by the pandemplug in and make something happen.” ic virus or reckoning with the pandemic of Programming committee member Federisystemic racism, according to Goffinski. co Cuatlacuatl says, “We’re in the time where “This is a very basic effort to say to our community programs have to constantly creative community that we exist for you,” he reinvent ourselves and how we engage, which says. “In a town where space is increasingly is challenging and overwhelming, but, at the more difficult to come by and more expensive, same time, exciting because we get to pave that we just never lose sight of the fact that our path. We get to throw out these ideas and space is a valuable resource and we don’t want exciting new possibilities.” it to sit dormant just because we can’t do what One of those exciting new possibilities is we normally do in it.” Rad Press, a collection of newsstands in front Programming committee member Katie of the Bridge gallery space at 209 Monticello Schetlick says the benefits reach beyond the Rd., which offers a way to connect the comindividual artists themselves. “That space has munity and elevates the voices of Charlottesthose huge windows, so it also provides the ville artists. They’re not traditional newspaper opportunity to be reminded that people are boxes in appearance or content. On the outside, still making art, which is a hopeful visual.” they are vibrant works of art thanks to The The Bridge has kept art opportunities flowing by sharing creative print content, including zines, The initiative has also uncovered new talent. Bridge PAI programming committee members pamphlets, stickers, and buttons in its Rad Press distribution boxes. “Some of the artists who have requested space, Cuatlacuatl, Karina Monroy, and Daisa GrangI’d never seen their work before,” says er Pascall, and Feminist Union of CharlottesSchetlick. “It’s been nice to actually learn about these hidden ville Creatives members Heather Owens and Miranda Elliott In this time of prolonged isolation, The Bridge PAI recoggems that are right here in Charlottesville.” Rader. On the inside, they contain a variety of print content, nized the importance of tangible communication. “You’re Genevieve Story took advantage of the empty gallery, using it including zines, pamphlets, stickers, and buttons, exploring literally holding the opinions, ideas, and values of your comfor leather pyrography, fulfilling orders and preparing offerings themes of “revolution, resistance, decolonization, and witchmunity in your hand,” says Goffinski. “Having that experience for the holiday season. Hoping to have a larger space of her own craft,” according to Cuatlacuatl. of engaging multiple senses in that process of intaking someone but unable to acquire it due to economic impacts of the coronaThis effort “was a direct response to the Black Lives Matter else’s ideas is a really valuable and beautiful thing.” virus, Story had been doing work at her kitchen table. “The offer movement,” Cuatlacuatl says. “It was also a response to the The Bridge PAI reached out to local artists already making from the Bridge could not have come at a better time,” she says. tension our communities are feeling under a pandemic. It print materials related to subjects like anti-racism and antiThe space continues to be available on a first come, first was at the same time a response to keep the Bridge going in fascism, and asked them to participate. Goffinski says the goal served basis, and Schetlick encourages others to make a terms of programming, being active, and responding in is to amplify those artists’ ideas, imagery, and literature. request. “Don’t feel shy about it, even if you just want to regard to all of these phenomena. We’re always keeping in Lydia Moyer, an artist and UVA associate professor, is a go inside and wiggle around and make some funny noises,” mind, ‘how do we keep artists and communities engaged?’ big believer in independent and artist publications, as well she says. “The space is there.” It was a perfect way to keep everyone involved and tuned in.” as DIY distribution, and says she contributed posters and COURTESY OF THE BRIDGE PAI
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PUBLICITY PHOTO
Kendall Street Company is leading the local return to music festival gatherings with its Company Picnic. The fun-loving jam band will perform four sets outdoors over two days, while guests watch from a distance in “safety bubbles” of two-, four-, and six-ticket groups. Patrons can have concessions delivered to their bubble, and the ticket price includes a mask and commemorative poster. $100-240, 6pm. Chisholm Vineyards at Adventure Farm 1135 Clan Chisholm Ln., Earlysville. chisholmvineyards.com.
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SATURDAY 9/5 & SUNDAY 9/6
September 2 – 8, 2020 c-ville.com
“In a town where space is increasingly more difficult to come by and more expensive, we just never lose sight of the fact that our space is a valuable resource and we don’t want it to sit dormant just because we can’t do what we normally do in it.” ALAN GOFFINSKI
