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Community Corner

Survival Adaptations Exhibition

Root Division, in collaboration with Adobe Books Backroom Gallery &
Aggregate Space, present Survival Adaptations, a multi venue exhibition
exploring responses to the current economic climate of the Bay Area.


Survival Adaptations dictate that “in order to survive and thrive in
specific environments, animal species have developed a host of amazing
characteristics that help them find food, protect themselves, [and] cope
with tough environments.” With a host of shifts and challenges in the
Bay Area socio-economic landscape, how do artistic communities and
individuals adapt and survive in this changing environment? What does
the economically driven relocation of cultural administrators,
institutions, artists, and residents of racial, economic, and age
diversity mean for the future of San Francisco? What dialogue does this
migration have with the development of arts centers outside the city,
and how is the perpetual cycle of gentrification being challenged and
deconstructed in the process?

Being that we are a group of
creative problem solvers, our intention with this exhibition is not to
point fingers, or place blame, but rather to explore the creative ways
in which artists are responding to the challenge. This is a project to
not only reflect on our changing city, but to celebrate those who have
chosen to stay and fight, and those who endeavor to redefine and
relocate our cultural centers in order to keep diversity and arts a
vital part of the Bay Area.

Adobe Books recently faced an
eviction due to rising real estate prices, but weathered the storm and
relocated with the support of book lovers and artists. Similarly Root
Division is currently transitioning to a new location this summer, and
sees the renovation of a new facility as the opportunity to be an anchor
for artists and educators in the city. One survival tool we have found
to be of utmost importance for our organizations is the ability to
collaborate and work together in crisis.

For more information: http://www.rootdivision.org/071214.html

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