Hi Friend 👋🏾

We’re entering a New Moon and SPRING! Thank goodness because I’m ready for sunny walks, hammocks in the park, and weekend drives. As we enter this new phase, I encourage you all to plant seeds for future growth because you are always on time to your blessings. I’ll keep my intro brief because this week’s newsletter is stacked with stories, musings, and the latest happenings. Can’t wait to share space with you!

Best,

✨ Jaleria Rivera, Founder

🗞️ News ↓

⚡️2024 Impact Snack: A Look at SpaceCraft Wins⚡️

The co-op and I have been hustlin’ ever since we opened the doors, and today I made time to sit down and calculate all we accomplished. I know some of y’all relate to the scrappy narrative, and let me say that SpaceCraft is mad scrappy. We didn’t have seed funding or investors to make our dreams come true!

I am beyond grateful for the folks, who supported SpaceCraft from the beginning from being a member before we had a space, joining the board, or helping me load and unload a car full of art supplies for every playground. Now that you’re in our orbit, I’m more than happy to share a sneak peek look (or snack lol) on our upcoming 2024 Impact Report. If you feel called to this work, then slid a donation in our wallets. Trust me, every cent counts!

“SpaceCraft is an arts studio cooperative based in Knoxville, TN. We are a grassroots coalition that houses six arts organizations across various creative disciplines such as classical fine arts (e.g. figure drawing, oil painting), comedy (improv, stand up), street dance, and performing arts (music, poetry, theater). We reclaim the “starving artist narrative” by weaving ancestral knowledge and solidarity economics to inform artists’ capacity to build a sustainable and thriving business. SpaceCraft is a homing beacon (third space, cultural amenity) for artists, misfits, and creatives across all identities, who share a mutual struggle within their economic status.

SpaceCraft currently runs four programs rooted in the central ethos of “making space for artists to craft”: The Arts Studio Cooperative, SpaceCraft Fellowship, SpaceCraft Membership, and SpaceJunk. Each program is focused on a different moment within an artist's journey and supports practicing artists from emerging to established.

• The Arts Studio Cooperative: Incubation space, peer learning, and studio governance

• SpaceCraft Fellowship: Artistic development program for established artists

• SpaceCraft Membership: Social collective for artists, creatives, and hobbyists

• SpaceJunk: Creative reuse and sustainability mobilization program for all artists (Official launch coming soon!)

SpaceCraft is a refreshing and timely experience in Knoxville, TN. Within six months of operation, SpaceCraft onboarded 23 members, earned $15,160 in revenue, and booked 156 events in the studio. As the cost of living rises and careers with liveable wages decrease, artists are faced with the same old question whether to “stay in or go”? SpaceCraft is a beacon of hope for artists seeking a constellation of creatives eager to build a world in our own image.”

🎉 Happenings ↓

View the calendar below to learn more about events, classes, and shows happening at SpaceCraft. Feel free to subscribe to our calendar because it’s ever-evolving as we add more programming.

Improv Workshop - Level 2 🤣 Every Sunday 🤣 6P

Take your improv skills to the next level by diving deep into the art of character creation! In this class, you will learn how to craft bold, dynamic, and memorable characters that bring scenes to life, through interactive exercises, scene work, and playful experimentation. Whether you’re looking to enhance your stage presence, expand your acting toolkit, or simply have fun creating, this class will give you the confidence to step into anyone’s shoes—and stay there. ​Prerequisite: Level 1 Improv or equivalent experience.

Screening & Open Sesh 👟 Monday, 3/3 👟 6P 👟 Free

Join Knox Community Street Dance for a special screening of "You Got Served"! This 2004 cult classic follows two friends, Elgin and David, as they battle rival dance crews in high-stakes street competitions while juggling personal struggles and friendships. Packed with electrifying dance moves and intense drama, this PG-13 film is a must-see for any hip-hop and dance fan.

​While admission is free, donations are encouraged to support future community events. Come through, bring your crew, and enjoy a night of epic dance battles on the big screen! We will follow up the night with a free open session where you can groove, practice, experiment, and connect with other movement artists. Open to all levels and styles!

Artists Playground 🎨 Every Tuesday 🎨 6P 🎨 $15

You’re dismissed! Enjoy an open art-making session with other Artists in your neighborhood. ​Take a break from the stresses of daily life and get back to the child-like wonders of being an Artist. ​You’re welcome to do whatever your creative mind desires, whether that’s to rest, craft, tinker, make, or shake!

Figure Drawing ✏️ Every Wednesday ✏️ 6P ✏️ $15​​

Our open figure drawing sessions provide a dedicated space for artists of all levels to practice and refine their skills. Every Wednesday from 6-8 PM, we host undraped model sessions that offer a range of poses, from quick gestures to up to 20 minute poses. Our goal is to maintain an approachable atmosphere for new artists practicing, as well as a high quality set.

Hellmouth: Interest Meeting 👁️‍🗨️ Thursday, 3/6 👁️‍🗨️ 6P

Hellmouth Magazine is seeking contributors and board members as our publication continues to grow. As a non-profit, we are dedicated to publishing quality cultural & political commentary, literature, personal essays, and art. We aim to foster meaningful dialogue between multiple sphere of influence, encouraging cultural exchange through engaging and provocative compositions.

If you're passionate about elevating your community and taking actionable steps to do so, please join us! We are looking for creative thinkers who can develop original ideas that push boundaries toward a "utopic ideal". We welcome individuals from diverse backgrounds who bring fresh perspectives to the table, whether you're an established voice in your field or just beginning. ​ If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected]; we hope to see you soon!

Improv v Stand Up 😂 Saturday, 3/8 😂 8P 😂 $5

Check out some of Knoxville's funniest! After each comics set, the L'Orange will use the material to improvise. Who wins the night, Improv or Stand up - You decide! ​Stand up comedy by Keith Marcell, Andrew McAffry, Amanda Kruel and Ethan Wheeler.

📣 Co-op corner↓

☎️ Message from First Take Co ☎️

Hey y’all,

EG from First Take here 👋

Back in 2022, we presented a project called PROOF OF CONCEPT. It was a space to take our rough ideas, polish them up, and get them in front of people. There was no time to overanalyze – we had to do it scared, and we were: minimal rehearsal, three projects, full tech, and the first time we charged tickets for our work. Crazy? Absolutely.

Around that time, we also fell into the SpaceCraft orbit – and it completely changed how we made work, held space for each other, and began feeling like a part of the scene. One of best things about being in this community is seeing the constant growth, not just of the scene itself, but the individual artists who make it thrive.

Currently writing from London, where I’m in rehearsals for THE BEARCAT, a play about Knoxville originally shared during PROOF OF CONCEPT. Hearing these words again with actors from across the world, talking about Jackson Avenue and Sassy Ann’s, just goes to show how supporting local artists can lead to endless possibilities. Thankful for y’all!

See ya soon with our next Knoxville shindig – till then, keep makin’.

EG

🖼️ Throwbacks ↓

💖 There’s nothing sexy about smut 💖

Okay, here me out. I truly believe there’s nothing sexy about smut. Steamy? Yes. But, sexy? Hard pass. For me, smut is ultimately hilarious; and Tiny Stage Comedy delivered one of the funniest shows I’ve seen in Knoxville. By the end of the night, my cheeks were sore from laughing so hard. I morphed into the classic image of the black woman hitting her friends and running from her seat because the comedians were so damn funny. Each comic had an unique twist on how to merge the stylings of smut and comedy from annotations to storytelling to singing a Taylor Swift parody.

What were my favorite moments you ask? Let me recount the evening.

• Whizbang K giving me an in-depth tarot reading.

• Rowan and Savannah singing "Why would I show you my pussy for free?” to the tune of Taylor Swift’s hit jam, “You Belong With Me”.

• Maddei giving the audience a play by play of a monster themed smut. Y’all. This book was like a Tyler Perry Movie ngl lmao!

• Brandi sharing off the cuff remarks on what happened in the room before she got on stage. How’d she know the black folks brought the sangria to the show? lol

I highly recommend you stay in the loop on all things Tiny Stage Comedy because they’re cooking up a new series of shows that are more unhinged, unique, and guaranteed to make you holler!

🎨 Ways to support ↓

SpaceCraft is open to all mediums, no matter if you craft, make, design, tinker, or shake! Our intention is to become a beacon for all artists seeking a space to make art uninhibited.

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• • Exclusive, free entry to SpaceCraft gatherings
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