color by number

“Okay Marvin, so what do you want to contribute to this piece? Oh! Alright, I guess we’ll add it in.” *draws a cartoon nun

comedywomb-8.jpg
comedywomb-9.jpg

The wall opposite the windows in our studio living room space has been blank ever since we moved here over a year ago. In a stroke of inspiration, involving Thanksgiving break recreation time, Sean used a Montana Paint Pen to draw a collage of faces, shapes, patterns, and figures on the wall. That was the easy part of the design. The following three weeks involved coloring in and filling in the outlines of the shapes on the wall. Sean rallied friends, old roommates, and his boyfriend to help him color in the wall along the way. As the temperature fell, Sean’s motivation to perform tasks and projects at home rose. It was remarkable just how invested Sean became with the projects that he had been putting off for some time. As his roommate, I looked back to a few months ago when he shared with me a photo of some painted faces on a wall in a café in Brooklyn. I remember just how excited he got after having shown me the photo, and how he wanted to do the same thing back here in tresor space.


It’s funny how we plan for events that we host back here at tresor space. We start work on pet/improvement projects when there are sufficient funds, enough motivation, and a specific due by date so that we can immediately get gratification and validation from visitors. It’s definitely 50% selfless and 50% selfish reasoning behind the work that we do. The gratification and validation of our work on our own, and seeing friends enjoy the hard work that we pour into this space make it all worth it.
*Note: Sometimes it’s more 80% selfishness, since we’re millennials and instant gratification is a good motivator.

Finished Wall.jpg

Gone with the Windows

As the weather gets colder outside so too does the temperature here at The CopyCat. It may have to do with the uninsulated walls, the drafty single-pane windows, or the random cracks in the CMU/brick walls that funnels cold air directly into our space. Fortunately, the boiler was turned on early this year, which allows our radiator to create a wall of heat next to our cuddle puddle stage. We have also installed plastic window kits in order to create an air barrier in-between the window panes and the shrink-wrapped plastic. Then there you have it, a warehouse arts space without a draft and a radiator that clangs, bangs, and thank-you-maams at all hours of the day depending on the grace of the boiler room goddesses.

The artist, himself, wrapping the windows. Note the side-hip.

The artist, himself, wrapping the windows. Note the side-hip.

Seeing Fire

“I just felt like I was finally being the best version of myself that I always aspired to be.”

This summer has had its share of ups and downs here at Tresor Space. There have been a lot of changes around here, from our former storage, side room transforming into a fully-livable bedroom with a storage loft. The cuddle puddle has also gained a few extra plants, and the gallery has been cleared of many old belongings that would collect dust.

More-so than the physical changes that have occurred here, are the changes that have happened to the people who have passed through here. Last year, Tresor Space was just getting started. It used to be all-white walls; a fully blank canvas that could have become anything. Since then, it has acted as a photo/dance studio, bed and breakfast, post-party decompression, and home for people who visit us here in Baltimore. If last year was spent building up the hosting capacity of this place, this past summer was spent sharing it with visitors, friends, and family members. The reaction is usually the same, with guests asking how a space like this even exists or operates. We then go through the litany of explanations:

tresor space in the beginning

tresor space in the beginning

tresor space - original kitchen

tresor space - original kitchen

“No we don’t own this place, but we have invested a lot of money here in the hopes that it will repay in emotional fulfillment."

“Four people live here and yes rent is very doable despite how big the space is.” “

No we don’t have to put everything back to the way it was after we leave; the future tenants will inherit what we have built here.”

“Yes it was very daunting to take in this place back when we didn’t know what to expect from it.”

The best thing about this place is that it has represented how a dream and vision can come to life. A little over a year ago, I can still remember wanting to live in a warehouse that I could call me own, and now I am living in a vibrant space that I can not only call my home, but also can call a community space. One of the BROS dancers shared with me that he enjoyed coming over to tresor space for dancing, and appreciated that it was not just a home but also a place to gather people together.

PEX2017-48.jpg

That’s part of our vision; to bring people together to our vision that comes to life every single day.

Glad and Boujee

"Thank you for hosting us, and know that you will always have a place to stay in Austin, TX when you come to visit."
~Band Member of Bourgeois Mystics

IMG_7108.JPG

The weather has been getting much warmer over the past month, and as a result more denizens of the CopyCat building spend time outside on the steps hanging out and chatting with passers-by. They notice the sign above our door proclaiming that inside that door is tresor space. We then get asked if our gallery space will ever be back in use for exhibits or if we will ever throw shows again on our stage in the main studio room. While we are still working on clearing out our gallery space of all the excess building materials and storage supplies, we have thrown at least one real show in our studio. Back in April, thanks to our friend Audrey who introduced us to the local burner scene, we hosted the Bourgeois Mystics:

"Since early 2015, Bourgeois Mystics has captivated TX audiences with their distinct combination of funk, art rock, and hip-hop which they dub "Art Funk." The group couples its infectious and bombastic compositions with witty tongue-in-cheek lyrics and electrifying live performances. Distinct originals and unique covers are sung in various languages including French, English, and Hindi."
~Facebook About Page

Of course we were a bit nervous about hosting our first real show, especially since we didn't want to cause a commotion or problem being one of the most exposed units in the CopyCat building. This show was going to be a trial run for us to see what we could expect from the logistics of hosting a show. We were expecting them to show up on Thursday evening for a more intimate show comprised of friends and family of the lead singer Taylor. Back in Fall 2016, Taylor had left the east coast and her burner community to go to Austin, TX and pursue her career a musician. This show was the first time that she was able to share her music and her growth as a musician ever since she left her community here. 

The result was hosting 40 burners, artists, friends, and family members through an evening of the band performing on our cuddle puddle stage used for something other than sleeping and cuddling. It's a versatile stage. It felt very validating to literally provide a space for Taylor and the bandmates of the Bourgeois Mystics to perform, eat a warm dinner, and sleep in peace before continuing their tour across the country. The ability to provide space just for a little bit, brought such a smile to my face. At one point during the show, the entire crowd jumped from their chairs and danced in the studio room and danced to the music. It was moment's like these that allowed tresor space to showcase a small bit of its potential as a community gathering space to share music, dance, art, and space.

Notorious R.B.G

"If I had any talent in the world, any talent that God could give me, I would be a great diva."
~Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme Court Justice

The other day I asked Sean to create one of those dope-ass sweaters that you see the cool-millenial kids wearing these days on the block as they hip-hop EDM dance and do extra-curriculars in their spare time. The inspiration for the design stems from Ruth Bader Ginsburg's ascribed title taken from The Notorious B.I.G. Her notoriety comes from being the leader of the liberal justices on the Supreme Court, and often the one writing the dissenting liberal opinion after a case. Even as the oldest serving justice, her jurisprudence and rational demeanor has led to liberal gains concerning abortion rights, same-sex marriage, and gender equality. In essence, she had become the level-headed, sage-like national treasure embodied in a jabot-wearing powerhouse of a woman, representing the patience and mic-drop inducing opinions that millenials wished they had.

So tresor space proudly unveils the newest article of clothing that will keep you warm during the colds months and can be given as a C̶h̶r̶i̶s̶t̶m̶a̶s̶ Chanukah gift to the more Conservative members of your family that may or may not be treasured for years to come. Let your friends know that you have faith in the checks and balances of our government and that if all else fails the Notorious R.B.G. will uphold our inalienable rights.

Notorious R.B.G. Sweater <<click here!

Meh, the pen is still mightier than the sword.

Meh, the pen is still mightier than the sword.

Gruntled Onesies

"Whenever there's something near my mouth, I have a natural inclination to eat it."
~Rachel Belkin, RPCV

It's been a gruntling and exhausting few weeks here at tresor space. We've hosted Halloween gatherings, hungover brunches, and as of recently a 4am comedown after nights well-lived dancing against the patriarchy, flailing to Dan Deacon at The Compound, and burning at the National Monument.

"I want to be a good witch."

"I want to be a good witch."

What can I say other than that this place has now hosted several friends from many walks of life. Many visitors have stated that this place is not only ideal for preparing for an adventure, but also for the aftermath of an adventurous night "painting the town" when all you want to do is sink into a warm couch as the ambient murmurs of the new Bon Iver album accompanied by the colorful glow of hue lights hanging from the ceiling.

"We live in Mount Vernon."

"We live in Mount Vernon."

"Yeah, I don't think that your loft floor will collapse..."

"Yeah, I don't think that your loft floor will collapse..."

"Dude, this is awesome!"

"Dude, this is awesome!"

What I have started to learn is the potential of this place. It's a guilty pleasure of ours to bring in someone into our space and see them marvel at the new projects and endeavors on which we worked. It's starting to be a running joke that as soon as a new visitor stops by, Sean immediately shows off the colored hue lights, the sound system, and his hippy-trap of a room while I show them the kitchen, lofts, and general cleanliness of an artist residence.

"We definitely survived Peace Corps."

"We definitely survived Peace Corps."

"The Queen ain't got nothin' on me... Also I'm so cold."

"The Queen ain't got nothin' on me... Also I'm so cold."

Let's just say that these days mantle us with creative outlets and gruntle us so much.