Offbeat Artists Cooperative Opens Doors

Oct. 1, 2012 - PRLog -- Boheme Collectif, the best-kept secret in Nashville's burgeoning art scene, will mark the end of a successful first year Oct 31 with a celebratory Halloween soiree for its tight-knit members and the creative community at large. “Boheme's Swinging Macabre Spooktacular” will serve as the official public launch for an underground art house and event space that had primarily relied on word-of-mouth for its membership enrollment as well as for its diverse events, workshops and classes.

The first annual Halloween party, which lasts from 8pm to midnight, doesn't aim to compete with the  infamous Five Points pub crawl. Boheme's creative director, Sabrina Langlois, believes it will instead be the perfect place for grown-up ghosts and goblins to kick off the night in a spooky speakeasy setting. “I love the pub crawl,” she said, “and I think our gathering will be a great way to start so that one is ready for that madness. We’ll have music, magic, burlesque, and other performances – and of course we will have some drinks.”

Langlois also sees the retro-themed event as a mainstream launch for the growing artists collective, which has primarily operated under the radar in the community at large. Nestled among a group of nondescript brick warehouses on Gallatin Road, the bright stenciled sign that beacons drivers along East Nashville's main thoroughfare piqued interest among passersby. But Langlois, an east side resident for 7 years, did little promotion for the first six months, shying away from the public eye when she began work on the space last October.

“It has been a natural evolution,” she said. “Generally artists want to feel connected – to themselves, to their intentions, to others, and even to the world at large. Art is created to share, so we offer a place for artists of all genres and forms to experiment and grow.” One visit to the impressively eccentric space and it's apparent that this growth was inevitable.

“Originally, it was set up more as a workshop downstairs and a performance and gallery-style space upstairs. But as time went on and it began to expand organically, we realized that we needed the help of
many hands to keep the place alive.” Her background in theatre, visual art, and non-profits helped inspire her to take Boheme to the next level.

This resulted in the completion of a chic upstairs loft space that recalls Andy Warhol's Factory with high ceilings and metallic-colored walls. Langlois asserts that the metamorphosis was encouraged by the collaborative experience of the cooperative's early days. “I get energized by art and artists, and I love the process of creation and execution of projects, self-improvement and self-discovery,” she said.

Since the first art exhibit in January, Boheme has expanded to include regular events that cater to both niche audiences and a mainstream crowd alike. Big Daddy Cool brings his voodoo circus and cabaret act to the space on the fourth Wednesday of every month. Vinyasa flow yoga takes place every Saturday morning. The Funky Junk flea market, which features local vintage, art and craft vendors, attracts savvy shoppers once a month. On top of that, new events are constantly being added to the regular event calender – like a UK Bass & Dubstep night, a wine-fueled writing workshop, and a 6-week belly dancing course for beginners.

Langlois is also in the process of acquiring a 501 (c) 3 non-profit status for the art house, which has already been partnering with local non-profits for fundraisers and  community-focused, affordable art classes and workshops for home-schooled children, teenagers, adults and couples. “We are so fortunate,” she said. “The people who join the collective want to hone in on their own artistic skills, but also come with the desire to teach and share with others, so it’s a great network.”

In the coming year, Langlois plans to further expand the uses of the multifunctional facility. “If there is something that the community wants, we will try to provide an outlet for it,” she said. “I hope it gives people a place to be, learn, grow and maybe even get to know themselves and the world around them a little better.”