MAGGIE CAVALLO REFLECTS ON UNDERGROUND SPACES, LIVING ART & BUILDING HISTORY

Nothing is more valuable than free space.

You probably have one of your own. A place that you and your close friends gravitate to; activate and are activated by.

Care deeply for these spaces. Treat them as the sacred environments they are. Invest in them and the magic they unearth, and you will be paid back in full.

The deepest way to experience art is to live it. Believe deeply in the mythology of artists and rituals that are occurring around you. Your communal story is likely more important to Art History than anything that’s been taught to you. Invest in each other, prioritize your projects and take your collaborations seriously. Your community is incredibly potent, and you will make change. Maybe in the city, or the world – but most importantly in each other.

Everything will shift. When you experience changes in the structures you’ve built and depended on, just remember that your artistic existence is a collection of myths. Continue to take care of dedicated partners, learn to let go and identify ways to level-up your practice. Allow for growth by experimenting with new communities and collaborators, all of which will build off of the solid foundation you’ve set.

Your effect is likely greater than a moment in time, your myth built off of the myths of others and having influence on the paths of those around you. Welcome your duty to develop our shared history, and dedicate yourself to making it a story worth retelling.