About seven years ago, Pat Sells came to York. On his second day in town, he connected with Steve Mitchell of Rudy Art Glass. Not too much later, Mitchell gave Sells keys to the basement of one of Rudy’s buildings and told him not to make a habit of sleeping there.
Sells, who now runs Salvaging Creativity and creates large industrial art pieces, joined Rudy Collective last year. The idea is for artists and designers in the group to network and collaborate on large projects. Now, Sells and Erin Casey of Rudy want to expand that concept to the community this fall with Working Class.
They announced their idea earlier this year and held a community meeting Feb. 7 during First Friday festivities in York. Before the meeting, Sells navigated the labyrinth of rooms behind and below Rudy’s 15 E. Philadelphia St. location. The space, about 11,000 square feet with room to grow, includes several pieces of machinery that Rudy has acquired. All told, the equipment — from hand tools to large saws and printers — totals $400,000.
Working Class would invite in groups, individuals and businesses to use the machinery and space, which formerly housed a printing press. People could also rent space to work on everything from wood and metal projects to computer programs to graphic design. Rudy Collective is working to refurbish a retail and gallery space at 25 E. Philadelphia St. Sells said that pieces — large and small — created in Working Class could be sold in the storefront. As Working Class expands, Rudy plans to move a large part of its manufacturing to another location on Prospect Street.
Sells said many creative types work alone. Bringing them together would create new collaborations. Working Class could be an incubator for art, businesses and ideas. There will also be an education component that would allow creators to teach their trade. Working Class would be open to artists, designers, businesses in need of team building exercises, students, hobbyists and DIY-ers who don’t have enough garage space for home projects.
Collectives similar to Working Class — known as makerspaces — exist in several other cities. But Sells said few have as much space and equipment as Working Class will. Community members will be the ones who will decide how to use those resources. Sells equated the project to a gym. People will pay a daily, weekly, monthly or annual rate for access to training and equipment.
More than 30 people attended the First Friday meeting, including Jess Bernhofer and Sarah Pottle of Sew Down Goods. The identical twins run an eco-friendly re-upholstery and textile company. They both live in small apartments and are looking for work space. Pottle said she’s interested in teaching others about weaving. Sells rolled out a white board and encouraged attendees to write down ideas for Working Class.
Now that the concept has been introduced, Sells and Casey hope to attract more interest. They submitted a video to YorIt Social Venture Challenge in hopes of getting exposure and winning funding for up-start costs. They will also continue to host First Friday meetings. But Sells said the sessions will involve less talk and more work. He plans to invite the community to build projects along East Philadelphia Street when the weather gets warmer.
Follow the tweets:
Working Class is planned space for artists, designers in #iloveyorkcity. Community meeting 6 tonight. See you there! http://t.co/cb9caXRHZe
— flipsidepa (@flipsidepa) February 7, 2014
Just got grand tour of space Working Class will use. People starting to gather for presentation pic.twitter.com/fDXJPjZclQ
— flipsidepa (@flipsidepa) February 7, 2014
Concept of Working Class involves making art, business and idea incubator in #iloveyorkcity
— flipsidepa (@flipsidepa) February 7, 2014
Working Class would involve education component and encourage collaboration. Upcoming #FirstFriday meetings might include demo projects
— flipsidepa (@flipsidepa) February 7, 2014
Talked to two ladies of Sew Down Goods who have upholstery and textile company. They live in apartments and are looking for work space
— flipsidepa (@flipsidepa) February 7, 2014
Light installation turned on at Working Class #FirstFriday #iloveyorkcity pic.twitter.com/bmOuX4uUx8
— flipsidepa (@flipsidepa) February 7, 2014
Rolling out whiteboard so people can share ideas for what they want to make and learn at working class pic.twitter.com/auUgleAKKc
— flipsidepa (@flipsidepa) February 7, 2014
A few things people have written: Refinishing wood, adobe software, pottery, textile design pic.twitter.com/7A5PBc2yzT
— flipsidepa (@flipsidepa) February 7, 2014
