So it's been a doozy let me tell y'all. Not only did we survive the happenstances of holiday hijinks (i.e. Christmas raves, removing drywall, and erecting staircases), we also developed our space and the possibility of utilizing our Tresor Space as a community gathering center for various groups in the area.
We have been working hard to get this place primed to host larger gatherings of friends and groups of people. We carpeted our stage, painted the walls to resemble a 90's library/Discovery Zone, added walls to my loft bedroom, and created a whole new loft in order to store Sean's photography/videography equipment. Neither of us can remember a day when we got back here and had nothing to do or build.
Also thanks to our cycling friend Brian, we learned about a cheap industrial salvage yard and warehouse called Loading Dock. This place was pretty much my wet dream; I could buy 8ft-long planks of 2x10 hardwood for literally $2. I even acquired some vinyl siding for the stage edge as well as wrought iron stairs that we eventually installed to lead up to the newly built storage loft.
Every now and then people will ask us if we own the place. When we tell them that we are merely renting this unit, they will quizzically look at us and wonder why we would invest time, effort, and money in a place that we will never own. To me it's such a silly question, because most of these people miss the point. It's not about knowing that I will ever own this place, but that the work, the toil, and the experiences shared in this place give us life and meaning. Yes I have been exhausted, sleep-deprived, swinging in my emotions since I have lived here, but I would not have it any other way. We thrive in this weird, creative cacophony of ideas sequestered in our own little corner of Station North Arts District.
We have a few experiences to look forward to: a third roommate in the weird side room that connects the hallway from our kitchen to the main gallery space, filming with Baltimore In Conversation, hosting artists for Alloverstreet, potluck dinners with Baltimore Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, and gatherings with Baltimore Burners. The idea is to build community here with the various tribes and friend groups with whom we've been spending time. In a few short months, we have started to see this place, our home as a hub for people to come together and share their stories, experiences, and art.