Interviewee:
Rachel TonThat (she/they)
In your own words, tell us about your business, organization, or initiative.
Airtight Garage is a brand new contemporary art space and incubator in Salem out of my new studio in a converted garage. The space is opening for its first exhibition in May, and free workshops began in March.
There are so many platforms for creativity in the North Shore and across Massachusetts, but this space attempts to address the lack of contemporary art spaces and support. The gallery system in Massachusetts is often either a membership system or focused on selling art commercially. I did my MFA in Zurich, and between galleries and community art centers are what they call “offspaces,” a term that isn’t really used here. These spaces can be anywhere (many of them were in basements or houses six months out from demolition) but still provided high levels of curation combined with a freedom and flexibility to experiment that galleries can’t offer.
I believe that this experimentation with support is key to advances in an artist’s practice, and I want to offer up my space and time as curator to fill this gap. At the same time, I also want to set up free programming for conversations around artistic career models, craft workshops, and artist talks. Salem is arguably already a creative hub outside of Boston, but the goal would be to create a space people would leave the city to see, something that only exists here.
Tell us a bit about you and why you do what you do. Share your passions for your business, organization, or initiative.
In the last five years, I’ve realized—slightly to my chagrin—that I live for non profit work. I really believe that as much as possible, things should be given. Part of this is because of my lifestyle, and how much I have received from others, but this ethos is a part of all of my work including the North Shore AAPI Coalition and Oreades Press. You’ll never pay for a workshop or event on my watch! I’m only okay with selling my books because it costs so much more to make them that even after purchase, you are basically getting them for free, while we get to keep making books… an endless cycle.
With this in mind, I’m trying to not only keep Airtight Garage free, but also to secure funding to pay artists to exhibit. There are just not enough paid opportunities for artists, period. Transportation costs are also very rarely taken into consideration. I am harnessing all of my grant writing skills to help compensate artists in this space and contribute to the growth of contemporary art in the North Shore.
Finally, all of my projects, including this one, try to create space for different communities. With Airtight Garage, I want to create a place of learning about everything from new techniques to artistic business models, a place where artists can come with their questions to receive support.
What is the last thing you read, watched, or listened to that had an impact on you?
Technofeudalism by Yanis Varoufakis. One of the best descriptions of the history of technology and social-financial structures that I’ve read recently, and incidentally a great argument for more nonprofit work and grassroots community building outside of these systems.
What’s the one thing people would be surprised to learn about you or your business?
The name “Airtight Garage” comes from a classic French comic strip about an asteroid that houses myriad worlds.
What is Creative Collective?
Creative Collective delivers comprehensive business services – marketing promotion, technical assistance, business consulting, and advocacy at all levels – for Essex County entrepreneurs, creators, and innovators. We support the whole person, not just the business, through a collaborative community where members learn from each other, not just from us, because we know thriving businesses are built by thriving humans supporting each other. Learn more and join Creative Collective at www.creativecollectivema.com/join
