Even in such a creative city as Los Angeles, finding a job in the visual arts has become increasingly hard today. Due to exorbitant material costs, lack of space, and difficulty finding business, the “starving artist” trope has become all too common, leaving South Central LA to be classified as an art “desert.” As such, the goal of the Connector Commune is to eliminate these high entry-level barriers and create an adaptable and diverse live-work environment for marginalized individuals in the community through the lens of visual arts. With two on-site Artists-In-Residence as well as a fully equipped workshop and makerspace, members of the co-op will have all the resources they need to build up their own practice and apply turn their newfound—or perhaps existing—skills and knowledge into a profitable endeavor at whatever pace they like.

 

As an affordable housing project based on art, collaboration is key. That is why the Connector Commune is designed to create connections on three distinct levels: neighbor to neighbor, resident to co-op, and co-op to the broader community. Within the units, residents have their own private living quarters as well as a connected private workshop with their neighbor. Common spaces are also frequent throughout the commune to encourage team-building. Finally, in order to attract the public and incentive support for the artists, the makerspace and gallery space are positioned right along Vermont Ave. to both actively and passively engage passerbys. Following the pandemic, it has never been a better time to unite and animate artists as museums and galleries begin to reopen, and the Connector Commune aims to do just that.