Local thrift shop and art space, The Thrift Store, will debut a new show tonight from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at its Old Town Goleta location. “DEPARTURE / ARRIVAL” will be open for the next month and features local artists Jack Aldrich, Demi Anter, Charles Starr and Justin Harrison.
Recently graduated MFA art student Chris Silva and current UCSB student Karly Williams opened this hybrid space earlier this year. The couple is using their business savvy, curatorial ability and love of Craigslist to do what most recent graduates only dream of: creating their own jobs in a field they really enjoy.
Silva and Williams are sharing the love with the community and creating unique opportunities for local artists along the way.
“I’m excited about the show,” explained Aldrich, a fourth-year art major. “I’m excited that there’s a local venue, especially close to campus, that’s working in parallel to the campus environment.”
Aldrich also explained that the fact that the venue is a thrift store rather than a “dedicated gallery space” gives him more flexibility in his art-making.
“That it enables me to experiment more as an artist is valuable,” Aldrich said. “It gives me leeway to try to do things I normally wouldn’t try to do.”
The work in tonight’s show will encompass sculpture, portraiture, video, interactive installation work and drawings. In their own ways, the artists balance introspection with interaction in the outside world.
For the next month, Silva plans to host additional events ranging from workshops to screenings to live performances in conjunction with the show. “DEPARTURE / ARRIVAL” is the second show the duo has put on in this space. This is surely just the beginning for this burgeoning, eclectic business.
Make “DEPARTURE / ARRIVAL” a stop on your list of awesome 1st Thursday art and culture events happening tomorrow evening. Get involved and get inspired.
“DEPARTURE / ARRIVAL,” the new art show at The Thrift Store in Goleta, will open tonight. The show features work by local artists, including Justin Harrison whose Untitled Portraits (one image above) depict a variety of close friends and members of the world around him.
Photo Courtesy of Justin Harrison
A version of this article appeared on page 10 of the Thursday, November 7, 2013 print edition of the Daily Nexus.
