Raleigh, Chelsea and Building a Hipster’s Paradise

“Hip.” The word made a buddy of mine hold up his hand and stop our conversation cold. “Is there really anything truly ‘hip’ in Raleigh?,” he asked after a dramatic pause. Well, yeah, there are hip bars, record stores, peeps. But, my friend pressured, are these places that really push the envelop? That challenge your view of the world? That feel fresh, off-limits, plain weird? Or are we living—mostly happily—in a Disney World on the Piedmont?

I left the conversation a little bothered, but didn’t think much about it again until I saw this piece in The New York Times ...

No Windows, No Heat, No Staff, No Rent. This Is a Gallery?

Honey Space in Chelsea is a gallery in the raw. Minimalist. “No windows, no heat ... coating of black gunk on everything ... no rent is paid by the gallery. There is no sign.” The artists went in and set up shop. You gotta love that kind of passion, gumption ... you can throw all sorts of words at it, including “hip.” I’m sure Raleigh has a few like happenings. What are they? Hey, as another writer pointed out on this blog, we certainly have the warehouses.

Sarah02/21 08:18 AM

I have to admit when stumbling upon this article yesterday that I was at first really excited, then a bit jealous. It’s a great question-- what are similar projects here?
I think of the roaming HL gallery, which uses empty spaces to showcase emerging artists’ work. While I don’t know its business structure, I believe it’s sanctioned and supported by Empire Properties. HL certainly is a decidedly DIY approach to the gallery scene. And adds a much needed freshness.
Other art spaces of years past that similarly felt beneath the radar, underground, and (importantly) gritty, are the long-gone Basement Studios (closed to make way for other sorts of development on Glenwood), and the Greenhouse. Is the Greenhouse still home to artists?

And, hopefully, there are new projects underway, perhaps not just in the visual arts.

Jason!02/21 12:03 PM

Sounds like your friend needs to get out more. I’m not sure what “pushing the envelop[sic]” means, to be honest, and any list of things not only just one person’s opinion, but history.

I’m sure it doesn’t mean “experiencing mild discomfort and/or filthy surroundings while encountering art”, but we’ve got plenty of that around here.

We just don’t have the with-it, indie, rebellious New York Times to catalog it for us. I will say that the art mentioned it that article looks right at home in Lump or Bickett (neither of which are filthy, even though the second gallery is gone)

Sorry if this comes off as snarky, but hear a lot of folks complain about a lack of “hip” culture in Raleigh, but when I ask where they were when show X, Y, or Z was going on, the answer often involves being in front of the TV.

15002/21 12:29 PM

This will sound snarky too, but I don’t mean it that way…

I don’t get “hip”. In my experience, that usually is a synonym for weird. It’s cool with me if people don’t want to be cookie-cutter and enjoy being different, but to deprive ones self of things like heat and stand around in gunk, that doesn’t sound enjoyable. To me, that sounds unpleasant and weird, almost as if it’s for the sake of being weird. It most certainly doesn’t challenge my view of the world, either.

Of course, I don’t have to, and I don’t, go to things like this. I prefer the comforts of Disney Piedmont, I guess.

billy02/21 04:48 PM

Jason and 150, I hear ya. Jason, your point about being in front of the TV too much is a great one. Someone who’s doing a lot to bring some spark to Raleigh recently made that exact point ... are too many of us just not engaging with what’s here, and then complaining later? Fair question.

As for filth, that alone can’t be the definition of hip. Otherwise, my first dorm room would’ve been the center of the hipster universe (never happened). What I find inspiring about the Chelsea experiment is the artists seeing an opportunity and seizing it. It reminded me of the days a couple decades ago when modest little homes along Glenwood South became the sites of impromptu hardcore parties.

James02/21 05:11 PM

It seems to me one of the things that happens too often is exactly what the friend in the article did. It seems like his tone would invite you to feel stupid if you thought something really was happening in Raleigh. And if, god forbid, you were excited about it, you must really be dense. I understand that criticism is important, but hipsters beat themselves up too much.

stella02/22 07:58 AM

Last time I looked the Carter building on Glenwood - a delightful and tastefully shabby relic - was still filled with artist, co-ops and galleries - my own included.

My take on the local art scene is that people just don�t buy that much art - including the folks clamoring for a hipper, more vibrant, art scene.

I suppose it’s cheaper to support local music - shelling out $10/$20/$30 for a ticket is easier on the pocketbook then paying $100/$200/$300 for a painting.

Go-go

joshua02/23 11:18 AM

who needs hip? i’ll take authentic.

Sarah Dear02/23 09:05 PM

joshua - so right.
who cares about being “cool” when you can have a good time.

stella - i agree with your point that the “support” of art may be cheaper than music. but it is free to show up and support the artists. creating a vibrant creative culture in Raleigh takes more than throwing cash around.

the way that people in this town idolize nyc is obnoxious.
Jason! is right… get out from behind the tv and go find some authentic fun.
and if you can’t find it… make it happen. you can’t bitch if you aren’t doing anything about it.

hank02/25 07:35 PM

“I suppose it�s cheaper to support local music - shelling out $10/$20/$30 for a ticket is easier on the pocketbook then paying $100/$200/$300 for a painting.”
FYI--most local music is under $10. And although it is being better supported these days is still in need of help. !Fuck Hip! Think local!
Hank
ar4tm

pemajolei02/28 06:17 PM

I lived in NYC for 10 plus years. Design Box is cool, so is WSHA. World class, doesn’t get any better. What we need is an authentic techie hang-out coffee shop like Tillie’s near Pratt in Clinton Hill (Brooklyn), basically, a coffee shop that doesn’t appeal to family life or business life, more to the life of the perennial student, all ages. Cup-a-Joe on Hillsboro is cool as is Reader’s Corner and Nice Price. (See? We even have our own Strand Bookstore.) -pemajolei

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Billy Thursday, February 21, 2008