Mini history of artists in North Sac by Kim Scott
This Neighborhood (North Sacramento, mostly south of El Camino) has a tradition of artists live/work, artists studios and galleries from at least 1974 when Acme Gallery and studios was opened by Dave Stone, whose dad had a business up on the blvd.
Acme was located above (Alan) Marcus auto supply at 2030 Del Paso Boulevard.
I had my first big art show in that gallery in 1974.
I spent hours there every week hatching arts events and having fun with other artists.
We would all end up at Sammy's (across the street from ACME) to drink a gallon of coffee before and after events.
a few years later, Dave White Gallery moved into the same space.
The Artists Live Work ordinance passed in 1992, by artists members of the Visual Arts Committee, an advisory committee of SMAC (Sacramento Metro Arts Commission, now located at 2030 Del Paso). This ordinance made it legal for artists to live and work in commercial spaces.
Shortly after that, Neighborhood members, Redevelopment and the artists that framed the live work ordinance were getting together to talk about artists live work in North Sac, starting with 58 Arden, a large shed/warehouse (that at one time housed an airplane construction business for ww1... so I was told)
In the late 90’s there was a big arts boom here -fueled by the same forces, starting with Himovitz Gallery/BOB Building at 1616 Del Paso Blvd. (see current arts activities in North Sac at: http://www.sacforart.com/nsac.html) The 49 block area of Del Paso/Arden Way was declaired one of Americas 100 Arts Districts. Many galleries, theatre groups, studios and music studio and venues opened, closed and opened in the area. An inovative program called “Phantom Galleries” opened up unused storefront spaces on the Blvd for art exibitions in 1993. This was and still is maintained by the North Sacramento Chamber of Commerce. http://www.northsacramentochamber.org/
Different SurrealEstates Artist/members and potential building sites came and went (including the empty CityTow/RC cola plant, now Limn Furniture at 501 Arden Way- http://www.limn.com/ ) until Robert Charland and Kim Mueller found the playground behind the North Sac School District site, on the 600 block of Dixieanne, and the Surrealestates Idea really got a location.
SurrealEstates have been ‘ghost neighbors’ for some time now. Besides showing up for some local meetings, we have had three shows here including one in the library window for a month. Three years ago (2001) we had a big party for the neighborhood on the playground lot, with a band, light show by George Holden, pizza feed, costume contest for the kids and a pumpkin patch.
Individual past and present members have had studios in the neighborhood, many at 1001 Del Paso Blvd. including: Robert Charland, Numan Huseinbegovic, John Fortes, David Beunrostro and Craig Iwo
Dave White had a studio at Alan Marcus building for years
Jack Neilson has had a studio on Juliess for many years.
I have personally been in over 20 art shows in North Sac.
In 2000, SurrealEstates was recognized in Brooklyn as one of 9 artists live/works models in the US, being the only example of its type....(affordable, new construction, self built and artist owned live/work) Although you can find a few divided warehouses and a few lofted commercial spaces used by artists, Historically, Sacramento artist live/work is more often a converted detached garage or a dedicated den located in a housing neighborhood than converted industrial warehouse. SurrealEstates single family houses with detached studios and outdoor living space is uniquely Sacramento style. This community of 11 houses/studios surrounded on three sides by residential housing and one side by commercial businesses is in line with the history of artist live/work spaces in Sac.
More history to come....Kim Scott

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As you may know, SurrealEstates is a unique artist live-work project built by artists, for artists, with units owned by the artists themselves. The 11 families that make up the first SurrealEstates community have worked with an architect to design spaces that meet the needs of working artists. By building our own units, using a proven "sweat equity" model, our artists' families are helping to ensure that the units also are affordable.

But SurrealEstates is about more than meeting artists' needs. The project also provides a host of benefits to the community at large:

By locating in the Dixieanne area neighborhood between Del Paso Boulevard and Arden Way, SurrealEstates is helping to stabilize a residential area that has struggled in the face of significant absentee ownership and persistent petty criminal activity.

At the same time, because our homes will be just a few blocks from the heart of the "Uptown Arts" district, we are helping to extend the arts-related economic development efforts that have begun to revitalize the Del Paso Boulevard area.

In connection with our purchase of land for the project from the North Sacramento School District, we have made a commitment to assist the school district by providing studio tours and/or arts instruction to help fill the void left by the elimination of most arts programming from the public school curriculum.

These are just a few of the reasons that SurrealEstates already has garnered the support of a number of local businesses and public agencies which include the following:
*U.S. Bank
*Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency
*Mercy Housing of California
*Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency
*California Lawyers for the Arts
*Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
*Acanthus
*Angela Scott, local land use attorney
*Law Offices of Kim J. Mueller
All the above have contributed significant time and/or money in true "barnraising" fashion to help get SurrealEstates off the ground.

Bee Article- November 18 2004

News and Review- Bites Article- November 18th 2004

Sacramento Bee Project Story Here