Help fund a freak art space in Oakland

To whoever’s taking the time to read this, my name is Niko Nada (they/them) and I’m a first generation Salvadoran born and raised in the bay area. I’m about to start my third decade on this planet and realized there’s nothing more I want out of my adult life and career than to create a safe space for fellow lowbrow artists to showcase and sell their work, so I’ve invested every last penny into doing that by signing a lease in North Oakland to open up our future gallery, Crisis Club.




My art has always been influenced by my experiences of being queer, trans, and an overall wild kid who’s mellowed out but kept the same aesthetic. I really found myself when I became a part of the zine community and have spent the last five years traveling to fests, helping organize whenever I could (thank you especially BAQZF), and traveling the country to experience the diy scene wherever I can. It’s in these connections I’ve made along the way that I understand the importance of community through art and have developed a desire to create a space that taps into that as well.




Project goal:
Create a gallery that showcases bay area artists that are often overlooked (whether we be too political/raunchy/unmarketable to be shown in more traditional spaces) and provide a storefront where the community can sell their wares; to create a space that can have showings for rotating artists and, when it’s covid safe, hold events for the community to organize and engage with each other directly whether it be through classes, readings, mutual aid meetings, etc.




The space:
In a time where sacred DIY spaces are consistently being shut down, the opportunity to create a welcoming and safe one is crucial. I’ve signed the lease by myself for a spot on 59th and San Pablo that came absolutely bare boned. I’m paying our land reparations for the full year and this is a neighborhood I have connections in with both housed and unhoused neighbors. Thanks to friends and their labor we have managed to already start some major renovations in the gallery including the walls, laying a new floor, and general repair work. This is still an ongoing project. Due to it being a commercial space I had to sign a five year lease so am investing all I can into making this a functioning long term spot for our community. 




Expenses:
Monthly rent on the space is $1,650 not including utility expenses and until we can get a solid co-op styled income for the gallery this is coming out of pocket. All my savings went into the rent and doubled deposit and I’m also committing a monthly portion of my personal finances to land reparations. I’m picking up what shifts at my old job I can but, with covid precautions and zine/art fests at a halt, it’s more important than ever for us to have a brick and mortar place to help with artist income. So far just to get the keys we’ve spent $4,200. This doesn’t include the extra few thousand already put towards renovations and legal fees.




My sappy personal ending note:
Crisis Club, although the name has a chip on it’s shoulder, is probably the most communal and caring project I’ve thrown myself into. I turn thirty this week and that’s already years past what me and most people expected. Having a long term goal is something that is both new and exciting and I am eternally grateful to have the ability to make something of it. Creating a space for all generations but most importantly the youth to see that no matter how freaky and ugly we feel at times we are capable of so much more than society spoon feeds us. I’m a trans salvi faggot and I am lucky to have roots in a place that let’s me scream it at the top of my lungs or write it passively on paper. Every penny from this fundraiser will go to making sure the love and care we receive we can push forward to others one freak ass art show at a time
❤️