Zeitgeist Gallery

Opens in New Cambridge Location

CAMBRIDGE - Alan Nidle and Rob Chalfen’s Zeitgeist Gallery has officially transcended their uncertain period following a fire last April which destroyed the former locale. The gallery has just relocated to Inman Square, Cambridge, and kicked off the celebration with two weekends of performance and music featuring an art auction, Jeff Robinson’s Gypsy Moonshine (hot club swing), along with Andrew Neumann's Select Electrons (abstract electronics), the Joe Maneri Group (microtonal jazz, featuring Katt Hernandez on violin, Brad Kemp on bass, Judith Berkson on vocals and Jacob Braverman on drums) and Russ Gershon & His Hot Combination (jazz moderne). The loyal clientele, in large numbers, welcomed back the typically Zeitgeist bill.

The new spot, at 1353 Cambridge St., is nearly twice as large, and will feature a donated grand piano. “It’s such a relief to be able to continue,” said Nidle. “The overwhelming support we received from the community was the key factor in securing this great space. It came in the form of both contributions from artists and audience members as well as a string of benefits produced around the Boston area, which all drew capacity crowds.”

The Zeitgeist features highly eclectic music, art, performance art and dance series (many of which were diverted to Cambridge dance studios and alternate venues such as the Boston Dance Company , the Dance Complex and Green Street Dance Studios in the interim period), and the agenda will go on, even expand. Nidle plans to invite multicultural area organizations to present art shows and cultural events; he also hopes to add poetry to the myriad offerings.

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“We host monthly and bi-weekly art exhibitions,” says Chalfen, who runs the gallery’s “Subconscious Café,” “several musical performances a month, life drawing classes ,films , and a variated flotsam of random events. We need to be more astute in promoting our brand of art here,” he continues, “given the new opportunity to garner walk-by traffic, which is much greater than at our previous location.”

“Inman Square has a great atmosphere,” adds Nidle, who praises neighboring establishments Inman Square Hardware, the Druid and the 1369 Coffeehouse for their supportive contributions to the renovations and openings. “The neighborhood is just a great fit.”

Upcoming shows include the Missy Mizzoli Group, featuring Missy Mizzoli on piano and Rachel Hyman with poetry, and Bopants, with Marc Bisson on guitar, Katt Hernandez on violin and Walter Wright on video on Aug. 10.

Aug. 24 will feature Greg Burke on piano, Bob Moses on drums, and Seattle’s Gust Burns on piano in Chorus taught to Pitch. On Sept. 7, the Amelia Hollander Group will spotlight Hollander on viola through delay and loops along with Brad Kemp on laptop and Adam Schneit on saxophone. Following this, the Ho Bynum/Rosenthal Group will showcase Taylor Ho Bynum on coronet and Eric Rosenthal on drums.

Doors open at 8 p.m. and shows are $10, “or best offer.” The new gallery is wheelchair accessible, and all ages are admitted.

“Zeitgeist gallery has been disrupting Cambridge for seven years,” says Assistant Curator Peter Barnes, who rounds out the core team. Despite recent events, we are here and continuing!”

For information, visit www.zeitgeist-gallery.org or call 617-363-0713.