Corner Store

Opening Reception: December 6, 5:30 - 8PM

This holiday season, the 2727 co-op art gallery reprises its historic role as a beloved neighborhood corner shop, this time selling art in the place of candy. Amidst the glut of Black Friday deals, nostalgia-riddled commercials, and lavish box-store displays, the co-op provides an alternative community space while playfully imitating the conventions of convenient commerciality. 

While towns across the country steadily lose public spaces, mom-n-pop ventures, and arts venues to corporate interests, this local gallery remains dedicated to supporting small-scale arts and events. Participating artists explore their role as culture crafters while navigating lurking paradigms of preciousness, accessibility, and consumability. The pressures that influence artists to make small and sell cheap for the holidays creates confrontations between handcrafting and mass-production. 

Co-op manager Linden JL is curating a selection of work that jests at the ways art is valued, and its implications on the community.

About 2727 California: 2727 California is an artist cooperative exhibiting regularly at their space in Berkeley, CA. Formerly a corner store, the beloved neighborhood staple has transformed into a pillar of the arts in the community. The public regularly contributes to the space, exhibiting everything from visual to performing arts. Member artists regularly host exhibitions, displaying a diverse body of work that approaches the world from a number of perspectives. The space also works to engage their communities with art-making processes by hosting free and low cost workshops to help others refine their craft. Emphasis is on emerging artists and artists from under-represented groups who have had less opportunity to show their work. 

Corner Store will be open Fridays 4pm-8pm, Saturdays and Sundays 1pm - 5pm through the month of December with a closing party Tuesday December 31st 7pm-9pm.  Weekend events will include live music, artist talks, and interactive workshops.  A full list of happenings can be found at: https://www.2727.today/calendar?view=calendar&month=12-2024

Full resolution images available upon request.  For more information and a list of participating artists contact: Linden Julien-Lehn at gallery@2727.today