Although The Paper Heart Gallery may be temporarily on life support, the local art and music venue got a shock of electricity Saturday night as an outpouring of artists and fans jolted through the gallery's veins.
The Open Heart Surgery Benefit Show was a 13-hour revelry of local art in an attempt to keep the gallery open. The gallery's owner announced in early October that the Paper Heart would have to shut its bright red doors at the end of the year due to financial issues.
In one corner of The Paper Heart, easels were manipulated with spray paint and brush strokes in a live art exhibit before being immediately whisked away for auction. A raffle full of donated items as unique as the gallery and its patrons ranged from a Hohokam bowl to a shiny red guitar branded with a Paper Heart sticker.
On the main stage, the acts morphed from funky blues band Formula B to a seductive cabaret by Phoenix burlesque troupe Scandalesque to comedy duo Ron and Ryan. In the front parking lot, belly dancers entertained people crowded around a bake sale table.
The crowd was energetic and clearly full of loyal fans who were eager to share their frustration over the possible closing.
Gabriela Munoz, a 26-year-old ASU graduate and artist, was worried about how the closing would impact the local art community. "Many voices are going to go unheard," Munoz says. "It's a great loss because artists feed on other artists."
And The Paper Heart has always focused giving local artists a helping hand. Owner Scott Sanders says the idea behind The Paper Heart was "creating something that incorporated all of the arts into one area." The gallery first opened at Fifth Avenue and Van Buren Street in 2001. Although not the first or last multi-arts venue in Phoenix, the Paper Heart's focus on opening it's doors to anyone willing to show their stuff makes it stand apart.
Sanders always had motives to make The Paper Heart unique. "I talked to other galleries in the area, asked them questions and turned around and did everything opposite of what they said," he says, laughing. The current location at 750 N.W. Grand Avenue opened in 2004 with space for music, dance, theater, poetry, comedy and, of course, visual art.
Sanders says most people find the relaxed atmosphere at The Paper Heart surprising. "It's not a pristine, can't-touch, wear-a-suit-and-tie kind of place," he says. Sanders is more focused on the appreciation of the art. "I'd rather you wear sweats and flip-flops for all I care."
The Paper Heart has definitely had an effect on the downtown Phoenix art scene. "There's no other place downtown of this size and diversity," Sanders says.
He says The Paper Heart has affected the community by "catering to all the arts" with its policy of "keeping an open mind."
An understanding of downtown arts has also developed from the venue. "A lot of people down here are doing it on their own without any investors, like I did," Sanders says.
Faith Bencomo, a 30-year-old metaphysical reader who was inspired by The Paper Heart to begin reading poetry, gushes about the open-mindedness of the gallery.
"The Paper Heart opens its arms to people just starting out," Bencomo says. "Scott has donated his space to help artists who don't have money to get exposure otherwise."
A clear sign of how The Paper Heart has affected the community was the city's reaction to Sanders announcement in October that the gallery would have to shut down. The possible close has caused a tidal wave of support.
"People are coming out of the woodwork. There's been a huge outcry of people," Sanders adds, describing one woman who wanted to start a petition to keep the gallery from closing.
Even if it the gallery does close, Sanders says he hopes people will continue to enjoy local art. "Don't stop supporting downtown arts," Sanders says. He adds that while The Paper Heart may be a "missing piece," there are many other venues promoting the art scene.
Only time will tell if the benefit raised enough to keep The Paper Heart beating for months to come. In the meantime, visitors can continue to make donations online at thepaperheart.com, and enjoy its events like "B-Movie Madness," wine tastings, poetry slams, comedy improv and monthly acoustic music shows.
Reach the reporter at: amanda.fruzynski@asu.edu.
