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Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Media Goodbye, Ruby Green: Closing of Award-Winning Gallery Leaves a Void

Posted by Jim Ridley on Wed, Jul 29, 2009 at 10:18 AM

click to enlarge floorplan2.jpg
From Scene arts writer David C. Maddox: In 2005, the Ruby Green Contemporary Arts Center, a non-profit arts space on 5th Avenue South, received a major grant from the Andy Warhol Foundation. This was a huge endorsement of their programs by the one of the country's leading funders of innovative visual arts organizations. It could have been a launching point for Ruby Green to go to the proverbial next level, but in retrospect it looks like it was a high water mark. The gallery has struggled to maintain and build its base of financial support. After going dark for a few months, mounting two shows last fall, and then converting to artist studio space, Ruby Green is now closed. Warhol Foundation included RG in its Warhol Initiative program because of the superb, sophisticated exhibits they regularly put on. Local artists had a chance to show what they could do--exhibits featuring Andrew Kaufman, Sisavanh and Jarrod Houghton, Erin Anfinson, and Julie Roberts come to mind--and director Chris Campbell capitalized on great ties to Atlanta (Leslie Kneisel, Donte' K. Hayes) and Southern California (Mery Lynn McCorkle), among other hot spots. Plus artists just came to them. Campbell has the eye and curatorial sophistication to know good stuff when she sees it. During various periods the space hosted poetry readings and experimental music performances, and they developed a nice capacity to present video--it all extended the importance of the venue. Ruby Green is said to be looking for new space--a new lease and a new lease on life--and Nashville is probably looking for a new Ruby Green. With luck, maybe they can be one and the same.

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You have to admit, the Ruby Green gallery could not have been located in any worse of a location. A move could only help.

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Posted by Kevin on July 29, 2009 at 10:46 AM

Yes and no. Yes, that location is pretty creepy, especially at night. But in a city like NY, Chicago or San Francisco, that would just notch up the gallery's street cred. Walking into Ruby Green, you felt almost like a conspirator, or like you'd discovered some kind of shared secret. I saw some amazing shows there, like Eugene Chadbourne and Han Bennink.
I can understand why some folks didn't want to go there, but getting artists to reclaim rundown urban space is an idea that deserves more consideration.

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Posted by mr. pink on July 29, 2009 at 3:22 PM

People in Nashville keep taking a stab at creating those undeniably urban venues, carved out of the remains of deindustrialization. I haven't seen the space yet, but there's probably some of that going on with Open Lot, a new art and project space opening Friday at 1307 Jewell in East Nashville. Type the address in Google and it tells you it's B&B Tire Disposal. http://www.theopenlot.org/

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Posted by David Maddox on July 31, 2009 at 1:05 AM
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