The Arsenal Artists Colony (or What’s Left of It)
September 14 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Every time I wander the Arsenal down by Taylor and Lincoln I have the same two thoughts:
1. This place could be a wildly successful conglomeration of small businesses and art.
2. That might be the death of it.
This spot in the southeast corner of the city adjacent to the Port of Benicia is a collection of beautiful historic buildings, not-so-beautiful, not-so-historic buildings, and an oddball collection of artists ranging from the wallpaper designer I met a few months back to Scott Zoog, a metal sculptor who has lived and created here since 1993.
I wander up to Scott as he lounges in his no-longer-white-and-fluffy bathrobe outside the downstairs studio he shares with his wife Erika. He’s in a low slung chair alongside his rusty designs that include an under-the-table shovel bug, a coronavirus globe, and a bird sculpture. Scott remembers when the twice-yearly open studios here drew thousands of shoppers and enthusiasts to the once bustling artists’ row. The area became quiet about 6 or 7 years ago when the art-loving landlord died and management changed hands. These days, there’s no more bustle to be found.
Still, the area is drawing some new businesses. A few doors down I poke my head into an open space and find two women taking a break in their own low-slung chairs (folding this time). They are planning to open Legacy Cheerleading in a couple of weeks. I’ve seen them on the local Facebook group. Is it me, or can you smell optimism in the air here? Who doesn’t love witnessing the hope necessary for a new venture?
I also meet Pat Aranas, who owns Island Memories SF, a candle and scent company doing most of its business at pop-ups. Pat is reworking the front of her space for retail, and says she and her family are planning to open the first weekend of each month. It would be Thursday through Saturday to match the nearby, better know Luna Bella Vintage and Femmage. Pat and I share our 89 earthquake stories. Cause, Northern California. I tell her I’ll look for her at the next open studios. I have my eye on the wax-and-wick filled Spam can that’s a cheeky representation of her Hawaiian heritage.
It’s heartening that this one-mile, one-hour meander turns up three people (and one guy from Unico Mechanical nearby who cheerfully gives directions) willing to chat with a random stranger. The vibe here is laid back and friendly. As much as I’d love to see more artists and small businesses in this little corner of Benicia, I wonder how much of this lowkey charm might be sacrificed.
Still, this little corner of the city is magic, and I can’t help but want more for the Taylor Street regulars and their visitors. Later, I think of Pat’s plans for weekend-only business hours. Maybe this is a Thursday through Saturday kind of place: art lovers and shoppers on the weekend, bathrobes the rest of the week. There’s a plan I could endorse.Read more