David Shoe

“David Shoe, 2003-2004, was housed within the warehouse bearing the same name on Central Avenue and my first foray into curating and hosting events. The space was located on the second floor along the Livingston Street side of the building and functioned as a gallery and venue, at times spilling out into or having shows within the larger confines of the warehouse. There was a metal shop, JotCo on the first floor run by John and Vicky who owned the building and who were less then thrilled about my activities. Nevertheless they seemed supportive of the arts to an extent as the building itself housed a spectrum of characters and creatures. Events ranged from group exhibitions, concerts, dinner parties, a comedy show, movies with live soundtracks, an Esquire Theater group art show, and more. The space was constantly evolving speaking to its construction, wood for framing was mostly scavenged from the jobsites that I was working at the time, from doing demo or out of dumpsters. Some of the original walls were made of cardboard, pegboard, or other found materials until they could be replaced with drywall. There were three bedrooms that I built in the space that housed me and others, and a community in the building that helped out in a myriad of ways from playing music and exhibiting in shows, to letting me shower in their spaces, as mine never got to the point of having hot water.

I have almost no photographs and minimal flyers from the shows held there so trying to visually share what took place is a challenge, but the experience was formative speaking to the other galleries/spaces I went on to run, my art practice, and aspects of my perspectives on life. Spaces like David Shoe as it was then are seemingly nonexistent these days as rents go up, costs of living go up, since the Ghost Ship fire in 2016, Fred Lane’s passing, post the everything else. I believe when having the ability to interact together in spaces with fewer rules or limitations then in more commercially focused environments that individuals are possibly able to be more open, and if given the chance will enjoy themselves for the most part in a manageable and responsible way. And yes, while things at times happen, as life exists, I’ve witnessed over and over people celebrating, showing care, kindness, and generosity even in the midst of chaos, and can attest to the relationships, bonds, seeds that I’ve seen planted, grow, and bloom from having the opportunity to share spaces and experiences which I see as equal to or of more value then the works, objects, or otherwise that are presented, experienced, or collected along the way.”

-Ryan Fabel