From before unseen space at the Northrup King complex has been fashioned a ramp-accessible gallery with a permanent but flexible lounge and hospitality area. Perhaps it’s a metaphor for what’s happening among the artists served by and serving this space. On October 15, Public Functionary staff brought chairs in from the lounge for an artist talk where Leslie Barlow, now a part of the leadership, said that until a previous show curated by PF she had “never felt so seen.”
Nailah Taman, who arranged the current show, explained that the artists themselves had cleaned, painted and put up wallboard to create the space that house Smoke and Ground, curated by ‘zine artist Adrienne Doyle and available to view through November 6. Doyle did studio visits with at least 20 artists offering help through conversation.
The artists in Public Functionary’s various studios scattered throughout the building appreciate each other. With the various career stages those shared studios represent, panelists remarked that it is helpful to be in “your own clubhouse with others working on way different things.” They lend each other use of equipment, consult on methods, and as Nouf Saleh put it “I have no excuse not to work. It is nurturing to me.”
As the sign on the cavernous space explains, the artist led space and the program center on early career artists who identify as Black, Indigenous, people of color, queer, trans and gender fluid. The studios are a multidisciplinary platform for exploration and collaboration. Studio numbers are 400, 285, 306, 471 and 211 (The Study – a communal workspace for producers, media and music artists). The gallery space is #144, off the loading dock to the left upon approaching the main NKB entrance at 1500 Jackson St. NE. Hours: Thursdays 5-8 p.m. and Saturdays, noon-8 p.m. Website: publicfunctionary.org
—by Margo Ashmore