The Works: The Bridge PAI’s

Rad space

The Bridge PAI finds new ways to connect by dreaming big

By Laura Drummond prints to support and encourage radical arts@c-ville.com thought in Charlottesville. The Bridge PAI hopes to make Rad Press

How does a community arts organia permanent fixture. “Radical literature is zation react to an ongoing pantimeless,” Goffinski says. “There are so many demic that requires the restriction conversations that need to be had about so of in-person gatherings? It gets creative. many things. Every week, something new is

“We’re still dreaming big,” says Alan Gofin the foreground...we want Rad Press to... finski, director of The Bridge Progressive Arts be able to shift and morph to include new Initiative. “One thing that I think we’ve always things as they pop up.” prided ourselves on as an organization is our While Rad Press keeps the conversation ability to shift gears, respond to the creative going outside, the Bridge’s gallery space has impulses of our community, and be that become active again through the STUDI0.00 resource for artists and culture shapers to initiative, which offers free, short-term stuplug in and make something happen.” dio use to artists displaced by the pandem

Programming committee member Federiic virus or reckoning with the pandemic of co Cuatlacuatl says, “We’re in the time where systemic racism, according to Goffinski. community programs have to constantly “This is a very basic effort to say to our reinvent ourselves and how we engage, which creative community that we exist for you,” he is challenging and overwhelming, but, at the says. “In a town where space is increasingly same time, exciting because we get to pave that more difficult to come by and more expensive, path. We get to throw out these ideas and we just never lose sight of the fact that our exciting new possibilities.” space is a valuable resource and we don’t want One of those exciting new possibilities is Rad Press, a collection of newsstands in front of the Bridge gallery space at 209 Monticello Rd., which offers a way to connect the community and elevates the voices of Charlottesville artists. They’re not traditional newspaper boxes in appearance or content. On the outside, they are vibrant works of art thanks to The COURTESY OF THE BRIDGE PAI it to sit dormant just because we can’t do what we normally do in it.” Programming committee member Katie Schetlick says the benefits reach beyond the individual artists themselves. “That space has those huge windows, so it also provides the opportunity to be reminded that people are still making art, which is a hopeful visual.” Bridge PAI programming committee members The Bridge has kept art opportunities flowing by sharing creative print content, including zines, pamphlets, stickers, and buttons in its Rad Press distribution boxes. The initiative has also uncovered new talent. Cuatlacuatl, Karina Monroy, and Daisa Grang“Some of the artists who have requested space, er Pascall, and Feminist Union of CharlottesI’d never seen their work before,” says ville Creatives members Heather Owens and Miranda Elliott In this time of prolonged isolation, The Bridge PAI recogSchetlick. “It’s been nice to actually learn about these hidden Rader. On the inside, they contain a variety of print content, nized the importance of tangible communication. “You’re gems that are right here in Charlottesville.” including zines, pamphlets, stickers, and buttons, exploring literally holding the opinions, ideas, and values of your comGenevieve Story took advantage of the empty gallery, using it themes of “revolution, resistance, decolonization, and witchmunity in your hand,” says Goffinski. “Having that experience for leather pyrography, fulfilling orders and preparing offerings craft,” according to Cuatlacuatl. of engaging multiple senses in that process of intaking someone for the holiday season. Hoping to have a larger space of her own

This effort “was a direct response to the Black Lives Matter else’s ideas is a really valuable and beautiful thing.” but unable to acquire it due to economic impacts of the coronamovement,” Cuatlacuatl says. “It was also a response to the The Bridge PAI reached out to local artists already making virus, Story had been doing work at her kitchen table. “The offer tension our communities are feeling under a pandemic. It print materials related to subjects like anti-racism and antifrom the Bridge could not have come at a better time,” she says. was at the same time a response to keep the Bridge going in fascism, and asked them to participate. Goffinski says the goal The space continues to be available on a first come, first terms of programming, being active, and responding in is to amplify those artists’ ideas, imagery, and literature. served basis, and Schetlick encourages others to make a regard to all of these phenomena. We’re always keeping in Lydia Moyer, an artist and UVA associate professor, is a request. “Don’t feel shy about it, even if you just want to mind, ‘how do we keep artists and communities engaged?’ big believer in independent and artist publications, as well go inside and wiggle around and make some funny noises,” It was a perfect way to keep everyone involved and tuned in.” as DIY distribution, and says she contributed posters and she says. “The space is there.”

“In a town where space is increasingly more difficult to come by and more expensive, we just never lose sight of the fact that our space is a valuable resource and we don’t want it to sit dormant just because we can’t do what we normally do in it.” ALAN GOFFINSKI

SATURDAY 9/5 & SUNDAY 9/6

BUBBLE WRAPPED

Kendall Street Company is leading the local return to music festival gatherings with its Company Picnic. The fun-loving jam band will perform four sets outdoors over two days, while guests watch from a distance in “safety bubbles” of two-, four-, and six-ticket groups. Patrons can have concessions delivered to their bubble, and the ticket price includes a mask and commemorative poster. $100-240, 6pm. Chisholm Vineyards at Adventure Farm 1135 Clan Chisholm Ln., Earlysville. chisholmvineyards.com.