Michael Graham and Shayne Brandel joke that they might be the only two artists in Nelson who never lived in the historic Kerr Apartments. But that doesn’t mean they don’t remember them fondly.
“It’s such a well-known building and such a beautiful building,” says Brandel. “Even now as it stands there, it’s amazing.”
“It’s got such an interesting history from when it built,” adds Graham. “How modern it was and how beautiful and so current — it had electricity and it had plumbing, all that sort of stuff.”
When the apartment block was gutted by fire in early January, the two artists decided they needed to produce a work that would explore the Kerr’s place on the Nelson landscape. Though they tossed around several options, including a theatrical production, they’ve settled on a book.
Tentatively titled Kerr Plunk, the book will contain stories, photos and historical recollections of the downtown apartments collected from former tenants, or those who simply have a few colourful memories of visits paid to the building.
“The Kerr had a lot of do with the creative space of the area, and more than that it was sort of a landing place for a lot of people that come here,” says Brandel.
And though the building has only been out of commission a few months, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation, he thinks launching the project now is essential to capturing the building’s essence.
“The longer you get from the tragedy — the burning of this building — the more stories that will get lost,” he says. “If you’re going to compile the best group of stories I think it needs to happen as soon as possible.”
The duo is asking anyone with a connection to the Kerr to get in touch, either with photos and written submissions or for an in-person conversation.
“We’ll probably do lots of sitting down and talking to people and recording,” says Graham.
“We might even get a gathering of people who have stories together and just start talking.”
“They don’t necessarily need a story,” adds Brandel.
“I’d love to hear from people who just want to talk about the Kerr and their life in the Kerr. If they don’t have a specific story then maybe we can just chat.”
Brandel says he’s also hoping to hear “second generation” stories involving the Kerr — from those whose parents and grandparents once rented an apartment, for instance. Among the stories he’d most like to find?
“I’d like to hear stories of people falling in love,” he says. “Or just really unique happenings that have to do with the space.”
To get involved in the Kerr Plunk project, email kerrplunknelson@gmail.com
From Grid Gallery to Grid Inventive
As Shayne Brandel and Michael Graham venture into the world of book publishing, their most recent artistic venture is going mobile.
Grid Art Gallery, located in a Baker Street laneway, is closing April 1, and the duo are relaunching themselves as Grid Inventive.
Brandel says he and Graham didn’t think they needed to be tied to a physical space, and will instead stage artistic and cultural events in varying locations around the community, with sites decided on a case-by-case basis.
In addition to Kerr Punk, the pair are collaborating with Nelson’s Grans to Grans group for its In Praise of Pews fundraiser, which will feature an auction of pews decorated by a diverse collection of local artists. Money will support the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa.
Brandel says he and Graham are hoping to turn the Grid space over to another arts group, and are currently looking for interested parties.