| Retro-Fit Gallery Builds Deli Tables
by Jill Maxwell, from the December 2005 newsletter
Photo by David Hall
Co-op patrons can now enjoy their Oaties, pesto rolls, and cappuccinos
while soaking up a bit of Co-op history. The new tables in the
Co-op dining area are made of recycled materials and covered with
reproduced newspaper clippings about the Co-op. They were designed
and constructed through the collaborative efforts of Jason Larus,
Tim Kientz, Selina Boyd and others affiliated with the Retro-Fit
Gallery.
Jason cut the plywood tops. Tim, owner of Mt. Emily Metalworks,
made the bases from old farm implements, while the posts came from
the local salvage yard. Selina tracked down and reproduced the
clippings and glued them down. The final finishing was also a collaborative
effort. The Natural Abode provided
a non-toxic coating for the tabletops, while the bases are covered
with a wax coating.
Jason is a natural choice if you’re looking for someone
to pull together a collaborative project. He co-owns and operates
the Retro-Fit Gallery with his wife, Alisha Nichols Laros. Jason
says the gallery was created to try to fill a community need for
an open forum that’s not affiliated with any particular point
of view. “I’m interested in promoting a peaceful culture.
That’s the foundation idea I’m working towards,” he
says. “If people all got along there would be a lot less
to fear. That’s what I’m trying to promote.”
He sees the gallery as “a catalyst to bring other groups
together, so people can become aware of each other.”
He wanted to provide a venue of young artists to show their work
as well as a place for people to experiment without having to worry
that their art is not mainstream. The community response has been
good, Jason says. The gallery space is currently full with sculptures,
prints, paintings and other multi-media projects representing 18
area artists. The gallery tries to rotate half of the artists out
each month, but two-month showings are sometimes available. Artists
can show their work in exchange for a commission on what they sell.
If an artist just wants to show their work at the gallery, they
can choose to rent space. In the future, a space for crafts will
also be provided. Also, he says, if people have other art they
want to sell, the gallery will consider giving them space for a
commission. For example, a Salvador Dali print is currently being
offered for sale.
Anyone interested in supporting Retro-Fit can become a member
of the gallery. If customers subsidize the gallery at $10 a month,
they can get a discount of 15 percent off of their art purchases.
Jason also wants Retro-Fit to be a place for collaboration on
non-art elements. He encourages social organizations to use the
gallery as a meeting space, provides a stage for poetry readings,
variety shows, or improvisational speaking, and provides a place
for musicians to host concerts, rehearse, or just come in and jam.
The Gallery is often filled with music, hosting an average of
four concerts a month. “We try to fill up every Saturday
with music,” says Jason. “It gives Retro-Fit a lot
of recognition.” Anyone interested in upcoming events at
Retro-Fit should check the window out front, where flyers announcing
upcoming concerts are posted. Soon, there will also be a marquee
announcing coming events, and a Web site where people can find
information.
Jason encourages people to call with ideas about how they would
like to use the gallery. He sees his role as trying to encourage
and support people as much as possible. The only rule, he says,
is not to harm another individual. He says he has shop space with
tools available that people can rent to work in, and he can also
usually connect people with others who can help them with their
projects. “I’m always interested in collaborative projects,” he
says. “There’s a lot of people in the network that
have expertise.”
Retro-Fit has been open for about a year. “It’s been
an interesting journey,” says Jason. He wants to extend a
special thanks to everyone that has helped them this far, especially
all of the artists and the city. He says a lot of people from different
organizations have helped and come together to make the gallery
work.
The Gallery is located at 206 S. Main Street, Moscow. Jason can
be reached at (208) 882-5003.
Jill Maxwell has lived in Moscow for about six years and is
constantly impressed by the community’s support for the
arts.
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