After I don’t know how many false alarms, the studios at 443 Eye Street NW (aka “The Hosiery”) are finally succumbing to the gentrification that has been threatening its existence for the last couple of years. 15 or so artists and musicians will be kicked out of their studio or rehearsal space and the developers will start turning the building into condos or some type of corporate/House of Blues entertainment-complex monstrosity.
When I moved in there 5 (?) years ago I no idea what I was getting into. My studiomates Nick Pimentel and Lisa Garfield had just started throwing semi-monthly parties. Artists hung art, bands played music and people came to hang out in an old converted warehouse. They were part art opening, part concert and always really fun. Tons of bands both local and national played. Devendra Banhart played there before he got famous and did MTV Cribs. We had one of the first benefits for Callum Robbins. Rob Garza’s Dust Galaxy project had its DC debut there. Throw in the odd record release party for Dischord bands, not to mention all of the artists who showed work, and it was a pretty amazing thing to be a part of, proving that DC isn’t all lobbyists and policy wonks (thanks Nick!).
Unfortunately there won’t be anything to take its place. Rent continues to rise and space for artists is getting harder and harder to come by. Gentrification has it’s benefits, but the big downside is the displacement of underground art spaces like the Hosiery which contribute, it whatever small way, to the cultural landscape of the city. No one makes money off that space so the owners have no incentive to allow artists to stay there. The Hosiery provided a creative outlet for a number of people and it’s elimination will make it that much harder for artists to live and work in the District. I don’t know what that means in the long run, but if the trend continues (and I don’t see any reason why it won’t) DC will eventually find itself without much of an art community beyond Corcoran students and the few artists who are already well established in their careers. There are a lot of other cities (*cough* Chicago *cough*) where, due to cheap rent and community support, it’s easier to be an artist than DC.
In 2005 we had our first scare from the developers and knew we were on borrowed time ever since. Hopefully we made the most of it. I moved out in August when I left DC for grad school and things continued on. It’s a shame to see it end, but I’m sure Nick won’t let it end quietly. Looks like I’ll be making a trip back to DC sometime this spring to see it off.
