Machu Picchu Gallery of the Americas

Hi, my name is Keri Mechling and I am a friend of Olga Enciso Smith. Together we are raising money to keep the Machu Picchu Gallery of the Americas open. All donations will go towards paying the offset of the gallery's recent 35% rent increase starting September 2023 through December 2024.

Olga, a native of Peru is the Founder/Director of the Machu Picchu Gallery of the Americas showcasing for almost 50 years the exquisite workmanship of the artisans of the Americas to help sustain and preserve their culture. Olga's mission is a world without poverty through socially responsible enterprises. She has tirelessly been dedicated to rescuing and regenerating Art and Culture from the Americas, supporting Indigenous communities and master craftspeople to improve their quality of life & ours. Click here to learn more about Olga.

We humbly ask for your donation to help sustain and preserve the culture of the South, Central and North Americas and support the indigenous artisans that are such a vital economy for their families and their communities. The indigenous artisans are in danger of losing their craftsmanship skills due to the lack of meaningful support for them.

Struggling artists squeezed out of San Jose

Article summarized below:

An exorbitant rent increase is breaking apart a longtime artist enclave in downtown San Jose.

Roughly six dozen artists at Citadel Art Studios at the corner of Martha and Fifth streets were sent into a scramble when their landlord, R&C Brown, announced rent hikes of 100% or more in some instances, starting February 2023. Artists organized to fight the new rates and managed to reduce the increases for some tenants, but many said they would have to downsize or lose their space altogether. One artist estimated roughly 30% of tenants are leaving.

Citadel Art Studios has long been an artist workspace and gallery for sculptors, painters, sketch, textile and multimedia artists. Some have been making art there for more than 20 years. The industrial building once served as a cannery and has maintenance issues, but tenants said it’s a unique place that offers private studios, space for larger projects and relatively cheap rent—a rare find in San Jose’s expensive real estate market.

The rent hike comes as artists continue to feel frustrated with the rundown condition of the studio. On a recent rainy day, water leaked through the roof of the building, seeping into the walls and creating puddles in the hallways. Artists say several pieces of art have been damaged due to water problems. In one case, the water leaked from the ceiling into an electrical outlet, prompting safety concerns.

A coalition of artists brought up the rent increase to the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs, hoping officials could intervene. But officials said their hands are tied because San Jose and the state lack rent control measures for commercial spaces.

Despite Olga's several attempts to negotiate with RC Brown, they have not agreed to decrease the rent - even 5%.

The issues at Citadel Art Studios highlight the challenges facing artists in San Jose, where spaces and opportunities for art are shrinking. Artists point to the loss of local art stores, such as the University Art and the Arsenal, in recent years and rising rents across the city. With the rent hike at Citadel, many worry the downtown artist community will disappear eventually.

Wishing you peace and many blessings

Keri and Olga