The Art Worker 023
STUDIO LOAN will benefit the artists of Inglewood
By MonaLisa Whitaker, artist and arts advocate
I’ve lived and worked in Inglewood since 1993 and have had a variety of studio situations. Between 2004 and 2010, I had a studio outside my home at the Warren Lane Studios just off Centinela, which was sold in 2012. Now I typically set aside space in my apartment to create my analog and mixed-media photographic artworks.
I’ve been active in the Inglewood arts community including my role as Executive Director leading Inglewood Cultural Arts, a multidisciplinary arts nonprofit, and advocating for the passage of the live/work ordinance. Through my community work, I have been able to meet other local artists who had similar studio set-ups in their homes as well as a large number of artists in commercial and industrial buildings spread around the city.
Inglewood’s artists are diverse reflecting a range of disciplines as well as backgrounds, educations, career statuses, ages, countries of origin, ethnicities, and abilities. However, one common thread recognized among them is the importance of having dedicated space to make your work.
When an artist has an opportunity to travel and/or attend a residency, and their studio will be unused, they usually make phone calls and send emails letting fellow artists know that short-term space is available. This method has worked for years since many artists were familiar with each other but as Inglewood changes and grows, new artists move in and they may not be tapped into existing networks.
Having a place where artists can learn about available studio spaces or post their need for one will streamline the process of connecting artists and temporary/available space, not only in Inglewood but within the wider Los Angeles region. Additionally, the bulletin board will help artist-parents such as myself, who need space to work on a specific project for a short period without the worry of signing a long-term lease.
I know that this resource will be beneficial to the community of artists in Inglewood.
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STUDIO LOAN meets the need for affordable, short-term studio space in Los Angeles and sets the groundwork for one of CAL’s long term goals: a cooperatively-owned community center that houses support and services for art workers, including short term studio rentals. This evolution of the collaboration between CAL and The Artist’s Contract is an artist-led, community-based initiative to help pair artists with studios to lend with artists who need to borrow space for a short term.
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