By Susie
Davidson
CORRESPONDENT
The
eviction struggles and continuing travails of the Out of the Blue Gallery at
168 Brookline St. were recently detailed in these pages. By means of update,
here is the latest in this saga, including events, fundraising developments,
ways by which the community can pitch in, and of course, the latest on a space.
The July 20
“No-Brainer $50 Courtyard Art Sale” at the YWCA, 7 Temple St.,
which included a barbeque, food, art for sale, poetry and music, was a success,
as was the July 21 “Artists Helping Animals Dog and Pony Show Closing
Party” at the Gallery, a benefit for the Bosler Humane Society.
At the July
16 6 p.m. weekly meeting at the Middle East, Gallery proprietors Priestly and
Tom Tipton outlined their standpoints.
“Out of the Blue members,” reported Priestly, “have begun seeking assistance from Mayor Sullivan’s office at Cambridge City Hall, Jason Weekes at the Cambridge Arts Council, and Beth Rubenstein at the Community Development Office as well as from City Councillor Marjorie Decker. We are hoping to either receive financial assistance, leads on available commercial properties in Cambridge, and/or fundraising referrals.” Thus far, she conveyed that not much has occurred except for one fundraising referral from the Cambridge Arts Council.
“Out
of the Blue,” she noted, “may also speak with the Cambridge Chamber
of Commerce to see what can be done to save the arts in Cambridge from being
evicted out of Central Square and look for some support there.”.
The Gallery
will continue to exhibit art and receptions at their ten, mainly
Cambridge-based sites, as well as hold Tuesday meetings at the Middle East to
initiate new artists and review their work for shows.
“Out
of the Blue,” said Tipton, “will look for a professional fundraiser
and/or angel investors and will accept donations from a variety of resources as
well as the community. While awaiting our 5013(c) status, tax-deductible checks
can be sent under Out of the Blue's umbrella fund, which was kindly provided
for us in this time of need.” (Tax deductible checks may be written to
Experience Unlimited, Inc., c/o Fran Chaiken, YWCA, 7 Temple Street, Cambridge,
MA 02139 [please notate in the memo that it is for the Out of the Blue Gallery]).
Their
landlords, Jamal and Manal Abu-Rubieh, who also own the Brookine Lunch at 9
Brookline St., intend to begin court proceedings to evict the Gallery on August
31, through their supporting Cambridge law firm Goldberg & Goldberg at 620
Mass. Ave.
“It
has been suggested,” continued Priestly, “that Out of the Blue try
to work out some type of negotiation with their landlords to see if they might
be reasonable enough to allow the Gallery to remain on a month-to-month basis
(without raising their rent to a phenomenal fee in retribution), giving the
management a little more time than three weeks to find a new relocation space.
The City of Cambridge might step in on this negotiation process if personal
negotiation between the Out of the Blue management and the landlords do not mix
well.
“Out
of the Blue members would be willing to pay an additional, reasonable fee each
month to help in keeping the monies available,” she said. “Teams of
volunteers (from within and outside the gallery) are being formed to help organize
the gallery and accomplish tasks.”
Priestly
noted that volunteers are still needed in the areas of Promotions, Clerical
(mailings, data entry, emails and web site), hands-on, i.e. Gallery
Sitting/Event Coordinators at Art Shows, Accounting, and other areas.
Those
interested in helping out in any way may feel free to call the Out of the Blue
Gallery at (617)354-5287 or email ootb@worldnet.att.net.
Lastly,
Priestly and Tipton noted the sobering fact that other local galleries and arts
organizations are in trouble of losing their spaces, including Green Street and
the Weston Gallery.