By Steven T. Jones
Another East Bay workspace for Burning Man artists is being threatened by a code compliance crackdown. The operators at NIMBY warehouse – an amazing Oakland warehouse instrumental in the creation of artworks such as Streampunk Tree House, Colossus, and Dance Dance Immolation – have spent thousands of dollars getting up to code and are now have a hard time making rent.
The Shipyard, a workspace in Berkeley run by artist Jim Mason, barely survived a similar struggle two years ago, one that sidetracked his work on project using gasification technology that generates usable power from waste products such as coffee grounds and walnut shells. Mason says he’s donated $1,000 to NIMBY and he’s urging others in the Burning Man and artist communities to help out as well.
“Each of us has been here. Each of us is really still here in some manner. And each of us will most likely continue to be here in some manner or other forever,” Mason wrote. “I don’t really think these institutions are beatable. I’ve lost my idealism on this one. the best we can hope for is management of a chronic problem to a state of tolerable pain. And the next project we do, the creatives vs standards enforcement dance will start again, with blood soon flowing across the dance floor.”
For more information or to learn how to help, contact NIMBY’s Michael Snook – who was also involved with La Contessa — at snook@nimbyspace.org.