New Art Making Space, Sequoia Fabrica on Potrero Hill!
It’s always nice to hear that a community-run arts non-profit has come alive in our city. And for you artsy creative types who don’t have room for a big workbench or the coin to buy nice art-making machinery, this is a great development.
A new non-profit, volunteer-run art and workshop space in Potrero Hill called Sequoia Fabrica has opened up. There are arts and crafts stations, sewing and knitting machines, a laser cutter and more. So meet the artists Max, Maggie, and Emeline, the members of the board, and go make some art and rub elbows with fellow creatives…
Max, Maggie, and Emeline the Sequoia Fabrica’s board
“We love this city and really just want to create something awesome for it, a place where people can learn new skills and have access to tools we could never fit in our tiny sf apartments!” – Sequoia Fabrica
We asked Sequoia Fabrica board member Maggie Frankel about the new space:
BAS: What artists are currently working out of Sequoia Fabrica?
Maggie: We just got the keys three weeks ago, so we’ve been very focused on our build out process rather than our own projects, but we’ve already hosted a figure drawing event by Sketchboard, a sewing 101 workshop presented by a member of Fyber Collective. This coming week we’re hosting a book club and creative support group for Mothers in Art and Design as well as workshops in mending, candle-making, and linocut printing!
We’re really excited to present lots of programs to the public on topics including drawing, textiles, digital fabrication (3d printers and laser cutters), integrating electronics into your art, wood working, arts and crafts for kids. We’re planning an open house for the neighborhood on Saturday, March 9th, 11am-2pm, with activities for kids and adults. Sequoia Fabrica is a work in progress and we expect it to evolve over the coming months!
Why is providing art-making space in equipment in San Francisco important?
Maggie: The Bay Area can be a challenging place for artists, makers, and craftspeople. On top of the financial pressures, many of us live in small apartments where it’s impossible to have things like power tools, industrial sewing machines, or a laser cutter. We’ve seen so many creative spaces disappear or come under threat in the Bay, with the pandemic often serving as a final nail in the coffin.
In the grand tradition of art collectives and makerspaces, our goal is twofold: create a program of classes, hosted workshop hours, and public events where people can come to engage with art, learn new skills and use some awesome equipment, and to provide a clean and safe space where artists and craftspeople can regularly work on their projects.
Who can we thank for helping fund this great project?
We crowdfunded from friends and family, dug into personal savings, and raised some money by hosting pop-up workshops. We’ve also spent A LOT of time searching for free or used equipment online! There’s no endowment or anything. We were very lucky to find an affordable sublet until the end of year, applied for 501(c)(3) status, hope we can make this sustainable with grant funding and monthly memberships.
This community workshop is a modest and DIY endeavour, everyone involved is a volunteer, most of us have taught classes around the Bay at places including public libraries, art collectives, and makerspaces. If you have an art or craft you’d like to teach others, any leads on funding, or you’d like to become a member, please get in touch by email or Instagram 🙂
To celebrate and inaugurate things we’ll be hosting arts and crafts workshops ($2-20 donation) all month and have an open house for the neighborhood on Saturday, March 9!
Check them out at https://sequoiafabrica.org/ and 1736 18th Street.
Event RSVPs: https://www.meetup.com/
Howdy! My name is Katy Atchison and I'm an Associate Editor for Broke-Ass Stuart.
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