The Gorilla House

I love The Gorilla House.  

I have stumbled upon a gem in our fair city. 

A lovely tattoo artist by the name of Erica Cyr told me about it and all about the wonderful things that go on there. 

I had driven past it many times, curious about what went on behind the doors. The Gorilla House is a live art venue. 

When the words "live art" came to mind, I pictured performance artists and installations, things that I knew nothing of and felt intimidated by,still ever curious. 

I had thought about inviting a friend along to help me brave the crowd. Instead I picked a day, it happened to fall on Figure Drawing Thursday - a figure drawing class for $10.00. I took my hatbox full of supplies and just walked in the door, unsure of what I was getting myself in to. Walking in the doors of The Gorilla House is like walking in to a secret club, the tree house of your childhood dreams. I felt immediately nervous, and at the same time thrilled. 

Here it was, this beautiful pocket of creative energy, new and interesting, always friendly and open people. 

I don't think I met a single face that night that wasn't smiling, for the pure and simple fact that we were all happy to be there. 

I was welcomed by three of these friendly faces, Jessica was one of them, she gave me the run down and explained how and where to set up etc. I was also informed of the Art Battles on Wednesday nights! Art Battles! I could tell then, this was going to be my new favorite place. 

After everyone was settled and set up, the stereo system was qued up with some happy music, and the figure drawing began. Katherine was our model, a gorgeous woman with curly hair and beautiful curves. She was so confident in her movement and I have to admire a woman that can stand nude in front of a room full of people. We had the chance to chat briefly afterward, and she told of how she had always wanted to be a dancer and complimented the artists work, such a lovely lady! 

We warmed up with short 30 second, 1 minute, 2 minute and 5 minute drawings, and then moved in to longer 10 and 20 minute poses. I did as I always do with figures, found a pose I loved and went straight to canvas, and worked off the model's poses for specific shapes and shadows. I am quite happy with the canvas, while still a work in progress it will soon be thick with paint. 

By the end of the class, I was sleepy, and ready to go home, but creatively I felt rejuvenated, full of ideas and a longing for more of that energy. The energy that comes with a crowd, a room full of people creating something, ideas bouncing off one another and shared moments. I felt like I had found something secret, I felt like I shouldn't talk about it, like a monk in a monastery, but it wasn't something so serious. The Gorilla House is something different, it is a gallery, a meeting of minds, a community hub, a place to meet new people, a creative oasis, and a beautiful place to end up. You can't help but smile. The walls are adorned with works of all kinds, and the hardwood floors are covered in paint and the marks made by many, the corners of every room worked in, and the house even caters to a few artists rented studio spaces. I was in love. 

A few weeks later I returned for one of the beloved Art Battles. The Art Battles run every Wednesday, with no admission cost and happy hour drink prices available across the street. Three to four topics or themes are chosen from the spinning of the wheel, you have 2 hours to complete a piece of art in any form and then the live auction opens up at the end, pieces are auctioned to the highest bidder and 50% profits go to the artist, 50% to the The Gorilla House to support the gallery. Meanwhile a crowd of onlookers, friends and the general public pace the gallery chatting and admiring artists work.  

I considered coming as a spectator first, before dipping my toes in the pool. But like everything in life, you can't let fear get in your way! So I packed up all my stuff and entered another unknown. Believing I was very late, I rushed in flustered and dropped my stuff in the first open corner I spotted, right near the front window on the floor, then scrambled around looking for an easel. A friendly gentleman poked fun at me from across the room when I mistook an old ironing board frame for an easel shouting " Are you going to paint on an ironing board?" I laughed and responded " I could try, but I'm not sure how well it will stand". Then I rushed back to my spot and set up, asked around about the themes, no one knew yet. To my surprise the battle had not officially started, still time. I brought two decent sized canvases, a bit over ambitious, but I love to paint under pressure, so why not? A throng of eager onlookers piled through the doors(even with the snow falling outside) and then it began. Rich Theroux the Owner and Founder of the Gorilla House, and one of his partners got the show started, with a few announcements and dun dun dun.. the wheel was spun. The ideas I recall were kids in super hero costumes, water, graffiti memorial walls, and something about tasting like vanilla.. A good mix, I latched on to kids in costumes and memorial walls and went to work. I was surrounded by other artists hard at work, a great source of immediate inspiration and energy. 

In the midst of a flurry of brushes and paint and puddles of paint water, a few bloggers and photographers walked around chatting up the artists and snapping photos. I am afraid to Google that specific battle for fear of finding unflattering photos posted to someones blog somewhere, in the same regard it would be really neat to find my work somewhere.. I chatted with a photographer, and a few patrons, I'm terrible with names so my apologies to any I've forgotten. 

I had the pleasure of chatting with a lovely girl named Edina, who seemed quite smitten with the piece I was working on, in the end she won the auction for my paintings and I couldn't be happier.They went to a good home. It was awesome to meet you Edina. 

I think that may be one of my favorite parts is the people,the connections you make and the people you meet in a few short hours. Art brings out a certain energy in people, it can go one of two ways. Either one of an exclusivity, a sort of club full of insiders or an open honest and inviting environment. 
The Gorilla House has open and inviting written all over it. I am admittedly not the most comfortable in crowds, but here, I felt instantly at home. I was motivated by the time limit and I nearly forgot the crowd was there at all. I was able to lose myself in a painting for a while, and had the pleasure of meeting some truly wonderful people. 

Thank you Rich Theroux for The Gorilla House, for creating such a haven, and for fostering such a laid back inviting atmosphere, the world needs more minds like yours. 

Ps. I love love love the stories you have posted on the Facebook page about how it all came to be :) 

If you haven't had the opportunity to check out the page here it is: https://www.facebook.com/GorillaHouseLiveArt?fref=ts

Come check out the live art either as a Spectator or an Artist. 

I promise you won't be disappointed! 

I apologize for the lack of photos taken, but you will just have to go check out the venue for yourself! 

"She Wanted to Dance" 

Acrylic on canvas 2013 - Work in progress.

Figure Class at Gorilla House Live Art

"I Wished on a Star for You" 

Acrylic on Canvas - series - 2013

2 Hour Art Battle at the Gorilla House - inspiration - kids in super hero costumes and a graffiti memorial wall - in this case a fence..

I have been feeling illustrative lately and decided to tell a story with this one.