As we reach the end of this trying year I want to thank each of you for your ongoing support of and participation in Co-Lab Projects' programming. Without your attendance and feedback, our programs would lack the critical discussion we so desperately need as an organization, individuals, and collective community. I also want to express my deepest gratitude to all the artists we've worked with over the years and more recently during our time downtown at DEMO Gallery, your talents and brilliance continue to make our experience rewarding beyond description. Finally, I'd like to thank Brad and Austin Nelsen of Nelsen Development for the use of 721 Congress over the last year and a half as our most ambitious programs would not have been possible without the donation of that space.
In response to many questions and some understandable confusion, I want to take this opportunity to update you regarding programs and what to expect from us in the coming year. The demolition of the building at 721 Congress was postponed from its proposed date of November 6th, which allowed us to extend the exhibition dates for "Good Mourning Tis of Thee" and, for a moment, led us to consider adding exhibitions in December, January, and February. However, due to the size of the space, exhibitions at DEMO Gallery typically required at least six months of planning and significantly more funding than previous locations. So, rather than scrambling last-minute to throw something together, we decided to end with our largest production to date "Good Mourning Tis of Thee," a contextually perfect exhibition about death, transformation, rebirth, architecture, and urban renewal. In addition to the conceptual considerations, some pre-demolition work has started in the building requiring us to move our equipment and supplies into temporary storage and limiting our use of the space for exhibitions. Now that the last exhibition is over, the gallery is empty and awaits its ultimate fate sometime in the first quarter of 2018 (we do not have an exact date yet).
During this break from regular programs, we are taking time to consider what the future looks like for our organization. We will refocus on development, finish editing our archive of documentation, build a new website/platform for this documentation, and continue the search for a new space. We will be presenting a few programs in 2018 that are currently being planned and will be announced throughout the year. These programs will focus on performance art, film, and music, and will take place at established venues and pop-ups around Austin. Also, our digital residency program #bitres will continue to feature new artists monthly, curated by Vladimir Mejia. Meanwhile, we are working diligently to find and develop a new, more permanent space that will allow us to continue regular exhibitions and programming.
This coming year will prove to be a challenging one for the arts with rent hikes and property sales leaving many organizations and artists without space to work. However, if you've been here long enough, you've probably seen this before and, therefore, know that we are a tenacious bunch. I, personally, have lost four spaces in the span of my twelve-year career working within the Austin art community and I'm sure that DEMO won't be the last. I've witnessed the resolve of our community despite so many uphill battles and I have faith that new opportunities are on the horizon even if we cannot yet see them.
Let's continue to work together toward a sustainable future for the arts. We need each other—now more than ever. Until then, the Co-Lab team wishes you the best and a happy new year!
Sincerely,
Sean Gaulager
Executive Director and Curator