ERIC JUKELEVICS

Adjunct color and design instructor Craig Clements stands in front of one of Solar Culture Gallery's bare walls. Clements, who has his studio at Solar Culture, will help hang the art Solar Culture is seeking for its new show, which debuts

Wednesday October 24, 2001

Former produce warehouse now produces art, music

A train goes by at least once during every show at Solar Culture. If the music that night is quiet and most of the crowd is sitting silently, the rumble of the approaching train and its warning noise overpower the music.

Other nights, when the music is loud and people are dancing, the only indication of the passing train is its blur as it moves by the back entrance, behind the band.

Consider the proximity and noise of passing trains both a testament to the versatility of Solar Culture's space and the variety of its bands.

Solar Culture Gallery, 31 E. Toole Ave., which was once a produce warehouse, serves many more purposes now. It's a workspace for professional artists, gallery space for all kinds of visual art, and a music venue for a variety of bands. This energetic mix of music, art and community is the product of owner Steve Eye's vision.

"In my ongoing journey to open my heart to the voice of this Earth and the Cosmos, I kept getting the message to make ecstatic energy available for the people. Art and music are some of the most dynamic ways that I know how to do this," Eye said. "Having a place that offers people the opportunities to be connected with this culture is one of the greatest dreams that can come true."

Music at Solar Culture varies week by week. Some nights the music is quiet and soft enough for audience members to lie down on the gallery's hardwood floors and close their eyes. Other nights, the furiously dancing, near-capacity crowds test the strength of the floors.

Cat Power, The mAKE*UP, Mark Eitzel, The Faint, Le Tigre, Dismemberment Plan, Calexico and Blonde Redhead have all played Solar Culture. Without Solar Culture, many of these bands might have skipped performing in Tucson. Solar Culture's hospitality toward its bands even encouraged them to skip dates in Phoenix in favor of returning to Tucson.

"With cutting-edge bands and performers from all over the world constantly visiting us and sharing their art, all of us who work here feel blessed that we have such a rich cultural diversity in this small, but oh-so-loveable, out-of-the-way, dusty little town," Eye said.

Co-existing with the musical aspect of Solar Culture is art. The venue is home to nine studios - all fully functional as artist workspace.

Craig Clements, an adjunct faculty member in the University of Arizona's art department, has his studio in a former cold storage locker just off the main gallery and venue space. This studio was the only space he looked at when he moved to Tucson two years ago.

"At the time, Solar Culture wasn't doing shows - it started about six months later," Clements said.

Although his studio is located adjacent to a music venue, he's never had any problems with crowds at shows.

"It's been fine," Clements said. "I've never had any problems. Most people who come here are pretty respectful."

This respect may be because so many of Solar Culture's visitors are artists themselves. At the very least, they understand the connection between the music they have come to hear and the environment in which they've come to hear it.

"For many brave and daring people who have not succumbed to mainstream mediocrity, this place is a cultural oasis," Eye said. "A place where you can feel safe enough to take your first creative steps and unite with other people of the community and share your creations."

Sharing creativity is one of Solar Culture's most important roles. Four times a year, Solar Culture Gallery takes artists' submissions. The show is non-juried, which means anyone who has a desire to show his or her art, can. Art remains at Solar Culture until the next hanging, and Solar Culture takes no commission if a piece is sold.

"It's great, the whole community aspect," Clements, who also painted the large mural outside of Solar Culture, said. "Anyone who makes visual artwork can have it be seen here."

Solar Culture is currently taking submissions for its next hanging, which will be up until February. The gallery is open from noon until midnight Wednesday and Thurday for artists to bring in work. Studio art junior Feng-Feng Yeh is one student preparing work for the next hanging.

"Their submission policy is encouraging for young artists like me," Yeh said. "It's nice that you only have to think about your work, not about how much a judge will like it or if it will sell."

As for Solar Culture's future plans, Eye said simply, "To leap into the now."

Solar Culture's next show is Thursday, and features Konk Pack from England and Germany, with local band Prepping Finger Salad opening the show. All shows begin at 9 p.m. E-mail info@solarculture.org for information about upcoming shows.