History

History: Citywide Studios Part 4

Richard Bledsoe History, Richard Bledsoe, Writings

An ongoing description of my two years living in an art studio warehouse 2001-2003
The barred security door to my unit, and my own heavy exterior door, were orange-the color of ambition. And I was ambitious. Where others would see a rudimentary living space plunked down in the ghetto, I saw the  fulfillment of a dream to dedicate my whole lifestyle to painting and art.

The scary local populace, primitive facilities and seasonal discomforts meant nothing compared to the excitement of have 2/3 of my home as studio space.
In the final 1/3 of the room is where I crammed all my non-art possessions, discretely separated from the studio by a partition assembled from bookshelves and cabinets.

In time in my back room I obtained a loft bed and installed my computer table beneath it. I had a double burner hot plate to cook on. I had a coffee pot and an electric kettle for endless cups of tea. I even ended up getting a 5′ refrigerator/freezer, which enabled more home cooking.

I had a TV on a rolling rack, a VCR, and one big chair for lounging purposes. The stereo was out in the studio. The uncomfortable futon I had arrived with devolved from serving as the bed to a couch, then to an outside couch, then to the dumpster.

to be continued

History: Citywide Studios Part 3

Richard Bledsoe History, Richard Bledsoe, Writings

An ongoing description of my two years living in an art studio warehouse 2001-2003

My unit of the building was one big open room, probably about 15′ x 35′, if I remember correctly. Some day I’ll have to confirm that.

Cement floor. 20′ high ceilings with immense exposed wooden rafters. A little half bath was walled off  in one corner, and an industrial sink installed in the main room. A swamp cooler provided the only climate control. No heat, and no air conditioning in the Arizona summer. Very challenging.

The shower was in the unit next door. To get there I had to walk outside through the parking lot and use keys to open a barred gate and heavy exterior door. That shower was well secured.

Inside the shower room it was well tiled, with lots of colors and whimsical chunks of broken ceramic sculptures incorporated into the walls. The whole building in fact was painted in bright colors. It reflected the style of the landlady.

to be continued

History: Citywide Studios Part 2

Richard Bledsoe History, Richard Bledsoe

Citywide Studios were named after the television repair business that once was run in the building. It was a one story complex of 6 units, each of which opened onto a gated parking lot on one end; the other end had doors with street access. Those could have served as store fronts, but the the nature of the location prevented that.

Citywide was in a bad area. Drug addled prostitutes and a drunken tribe of nomads pushing shopping carts were our neighbors. Part of what kept the rent down, and I did not mind it. While pursuing my art I’ve always lived in bad areas, to save on expenses, so this was actually more familiar terrain for me than the well manicured apartment compound I lived in during my first year in Phoenix.

The spaces were rented specifically to working artists; the landlady held kind of a jurying process of the artwork of potential renters. And productivity was enforced: my space had become available when the owner realized the previous tenant had abandoned art and was using the space just for storage. In exchange for the excellent opportunity, almost an artist-in-residency program, tenants of Citywide Studios were expected to be committed and serious.

I loved this expectation.

to be continued

History: Citywide Studios Part 1

Richard Bledsoe History, Richard Bledsoe, Writings

From 2001-2003 my home was a warehouse studio space in downtown Phoenix. A friend stated that I lived in a shed.

The rent was only $230 a month, which allowed me to go part time at my corporate job. I worked three 10 hour days (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday) in the most depressing role I’ve ever held-credit card retention. In a cubical, tied to headset, accountable for ever minute of my time. Trying to prevent people from closing out their over-extended credit, or moving away their high interest balances. I shuddered in horror when my company proudly announced customers now owed over a billion dollars in unsecured debt.

Unfortunately I was very effective in this evil pursuit. I’ve always been a very dedicated worker. Good performance gave me leeway with the management; they tolerated my nonconformist appearance and attitudes because my numbers were good.

Away from the job, my life revolved around my art.
-to be continued