[Squishy] [964] Wayfarers All

[Aaron Ximm]

Friends,

family,

I am in the unhappy position of writing to let you all know that last
light has fallen: yesterday we were told, and today I confirmed in detail,
that the board of the family corporation that owns 964 Natoma voted, on
review of the building and its situation, NOT to accept any offers on the
building -- NOT to sell -- and therefore, to effectively end our fight to
stay in the space.

While the owners remain open to possibility of leasing us the space on a
commercial-use-only basis, there is no way we would be allowed to continue
to live in the building as we have done for many years, which financially
speaking is the only way we have been able to run the space as a
completely non-commercial arts and performance space.

And so: barring unexpected windfalls that provide some $50-60K to upgrade
the existing infrastructure, and the sudden coalescence of a coalition
capable of coming up with $4K/month in rent, we will have to vacate
shortly. The existing build-out will be gutted, and 964's small but unique
role in the cultural landscape of San Francisco will end.

 ***

The process of shuting the space down, as an (informal) institution and as
our home, will take a while.

I'm not 100% sure what the timeframe on that process will be -- or on what
events, if any, we will be able to have to due justice to that closure --
so I must line the cloud not with plans for a last hoorah, just yet, but
with an installment of my gratitude:

Thanks, to everyone who has supported us, over the years, in making a safe
and comfortable space to encounter something different.

Thanks, to everyone who has supported us, over the last few weeks, in
trying to find a way to preserve and grow what we've made -- collectively
-- here in the space.

The ideas, energy, advice, and perspectives we have received have
sustained us through a trying and emotionally exhausting effort -- there
is no way to repay that.

And of course:

Thanks, to everyone who has volunteered so cheerfully; and to everyone who
has shared work with us over the years despite our quirks and ticks, for
without you we would have had nothing to share, and no way to share it.

And of course:

Thanks, to everyone, as always, for coming.

 ***

Before I close I hope you will indulge yet one more appeal, stemming from
the two immediate pragmatic consequences of this news:

First, I will be actively looking for a way to continue my curatorial
work. The shows must go on.

The Field Effects series, or its successor, needs a new home.

Anyone who has attended can probably imagine that I have somewhat unusual
needs, I've become quite married to the notion that the mind is most open
to challenging work when the body is most comfortable -- and to my belief
that we suffer from a general paucity of loveliness and fragility.

So... offers, ideas, and speculation on how I might continue to make space
for these things, and to share them with you, would be deeply appreciated.

Second... if it's not too self-involved to say (I know that it is!) --
it's not just the series that needs a home.

While our housemates Jeff and Zoe are finally free, now, to migrate north,
my wife Bronwyn and I intended and desire to stay here in SF -- and we're
out a home that holds not only a performance space, but our lives.

We need a new place to live, and I need a studio for my soundwork.

So... here too... ideas and pointers, deeply appreciated.

Of course a space that would, as this one has, combine the two needs would
be heavenly -- but I won't hold my breathe. :)

 ***

Pass me the Laphroig, and this is what I'll tell you:

It pains me to be asking, rather than giving; moving, rather than making.

But Mercury's in retrograde (still!?): and we take what is dealt, and are
thankful for what we have.

 ***

I hope to see you all soon.

I'll be in touch.

 best regards,

  aaron ximm

  ghede at well.com
  http://www.quietamerican.org

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