The
cultural essence of Berkeley is the product of its visionaries
in science, politics and the arts. The warehouse building at
2750 Adeline St., in the South Shattuck area, has played a part
in Berkeley's rich cultural history. In many ways, this building
has been known for years as a place where discarded artifacts
of the past have been given new cultural importance. It was
the home of Berkeley Architectural Salvage. It housed a well-known
and beloved vintage toy store that pioneered in recognizing
these objects as significant cultural artifacts. At the same
time, this store provided diverse and affordable toys for the
neighborhood children. It has been, for 26 years, the home of
a ground breaking publisher of alternative comic books, revitalizing
a neglected art form that had once been considered beneath the
level of "culture."
Now this building, which still has much to
offer, is itself in danger of becoming a discarded artifact.
For over 30 years, without fanfare and without
public support, this building has been in essence an artist's cooperative,
a home and workplace of artists who have contributed to Berkeley's cultural
history. It is, in fact, one of Berkeley's best-kept secrets. Its upstairs
loft spaces have hosted artists as diverse as cartoonist Robert Crumb and
vocalist Diamanda Galas, as well as many others who are not as well known.
The list of artists and musicians who have
lived and worked in the Warehouse at 2750 Adeline includes: Dori Seda, Miles
Boisen, Richard Zvonar, Diamanda Galas, the band MX 80, Natasha Shawver, Ernest
Shawver, Don Donahue, Shelly Ainsworth, Starr Sutherland, Anne Sutherland,
Don Peterson, R. Crumb, Dan O'Neill and Rozita Fogelman.
© 2002 B.A.P. ALL RIGHTS
RESERVED.
DESIGN: WWW.ROZITA.COM
