When the arts world and inner city collide.
I was one of those kids that ran before I could walk and got told off for not breathing between mouthfuls. Which if you know me, I’m sure it’s not hard to imagine a tiny little force of nature on a colourful leash ready to try everything (or get hit by a car), and if you don’t, well, I’m about the same except the only leash I struggle with now is society.
Which is why with first discovering the Exchange, I felt a cosmic shift within myself, something like a sigh of relief. Something like coming home. This is a place like you’ve never seen before.
The polaroid that started it all! (with said table in view)
It was a warm day, we had biked and I thought its strange that we proceeded to park our bikes inside. I sat upon a grey couch, staring down at a low table, suddenly noticing the painted green tendrils and small bees that graced its surface. My friend ordered a long black, delivered in an eclectic cup that certainly didn't match the others. There was a flash, some wild critter (who is now a good friend of mine) had emerged from the studios with a polaroid camera, not long after a photo was delivered in my hands with silver sharpie scribbled across it. People perched around, laptops, sketchbooks, face to face catch ups. The barista, Pedro pottered along. It was all so simple, and yet intricate, I suddenly felt a little stir in my creative belly.
The boogie that solidified it.
Disco Never Died - 23/9/20
I then had seen an event following my fateful coffee date, it enticed my little dancing feet, so donning orange flares and a black bodysuit with big chunky gold jewellery I rolled up. Disco balls hung from the ceiling, a projection bounced off the wall, a platform had been erected off the wall and the DJ was kicking. My cousin rolled up, introducing me to a zesty little bean I was destined to meet. Through that, we sweated the night away, bouncing, jiving and popping to our hearts content. I saw an opportunity to ditch my shoes, something to become a long standing tradition on these floors. My first crunchie (Crunchy Town crew) encounter was led with a big squeeze and by the time I was biking home, I had hugged more people than I do over most weeks.
From there, I just started turning up, being brave and introducing myself as a keen volunteer up for anything. Showing up was everything. Within months I had situated myself as a dependable member (and friend) of the community and from there, the opportunities (and adventures) have been numerous.
It was something like fate, that when one of XCHCs residents artists, and one of my friends @legendoflou mentioned she was heading in to do an ocean mural, that I just offered to help. Apparently at this point, nobody really knew I could paint. So what began as helping with the application of that blue background, turned into me cheekily painting an entire whale swimming out of her mural, which grew into two other additional pieces (UV Manta Rays + Kraken) for the Atlantis party, and situated in multiple enquiries for my art.
Resident Artist for Mary’s Sock Exchange - Only because I showed up!
I will have to say though, it was Mary’s Massive Sock Exchange where I truly found my space. I was given free rein, and full trust to throw colour upon the walls alongside my temple responsibilities. I think anyone who stood up to offer their time, energy and resources to Mary Sock Exchange, can vouch for the extraordinary energy that came from collaboration, in being apart of a collective with a united goal. This feels like an energy I want to continue, so you know I am looking forward to helping host the next.
Mischief makers or change creators, you decide.
Without a doubt, it’s with my continued efforts, my courage and my love of this community, I have now been lucky enough to have stepped up to temporarily watch over this place while Preston (now another great friend) is away. And! Be involved in implementing new strategies to ensure this wonderful base can continue to provide springboards for others, just as it has for me.
Through a lifetime struggling with my mental health, I have found grounding after such a long time feeling lost and I surely know I am not alone in this displacement. So here is me inviting You, the weird, the wacky, the misfits, the outcasts, the creatives to the XCHC, hoping you'll be open as I once was and allow this community to welcome you to the family, just as you are. How do you do it?
Step 1. Just show up. Turn up. Roll up. Climb up? Any hour, well, almost. Just come along for something.
Step 2. Speak out, speak in, rah-dee-rah, share consensual hugs, connect and express yourself how you so please (respectful of everybody else’s expression while you do it).
Step 3. You’re in. You were probably already a member.
Important Note: It hasn’t just been about what happens within these four walls either, it’s the things I’ve chosen to involve myself in outside of it, head-first most of the time! In this unintentional autonomous zone that is the Exchange and the external community connected to it, I’ve embraced a new family, deciphered some partners in crime and solidified my base. Ensure you are never be afraid to volunteer, or surrender to a spontaneous adventure with this crew! (That’s where you find the real treasure!).
Discovering the Exchange and pushing my comfort zones beyond it, gave me a chance to find myself once again, and in doing so, I found a way to save myself.
So that’s that, now proudly apart of the team, so please never hesitate to come say hello; I’m the one usually making myself laugh or hustling between jobs, however I’ll always make time for a hug or a good chinwag!