Hello Alameda. This is the Island City Beat, and I'm your host Laura Thomas. I'm sitting on Webster Street today at the Alameda Gallery and Collective with Sandy Russell. A couple of days after its grand opening.
Sandy Russell:Yes, ma'am.
Laura Thomas:Hello, Sandy.
Sandy Russell:Hello, welcome.
Laura Thomas:Thank you.
Laura Thomas:It's nice to grab a moment to talk to you about this venture. I understand you're also the owner of the Fireside Lounge?
Sandy Russell:Yes, I am. I've owned the Fireside. It'll be fifteen years in 2026.
Laura Thomas:Wonderful. Wonderful.
Laura Thomas:So, why don't you tell us a bit more about that? How did you go from running a bar to launching a place for artistic endeavors of various kinds?
Sandy Russell:Oh, wow. It's been a long time in the making. I think that a few things ...
Sandy Russell:I've been involved in the West End in lots of different ways. I served as president of the West Alameda Business Association for about seven years, co-founded the West End Arts District, which is now run by Tara Pilbarao and Rachel Diovanov, and I served on the board of Rhythmics Cultural Works for a period of time. Through that, there's been a lot of of art and finding that, you know, art builds community, creates conversation. We've done art shows in the fireside for all of the fifteen years that we've been here. We've featured different
Sandy Russell:Artists across all of those years in in different ways. All of our all of our wall space is filled with different art. So there's currently an installation right now that belongs to West End Arts District, and it is a an installation of photography that was done from California wildfires a number of years ago. So yes, and then this space came available and my friends and I had been talking about this for quite some time and having, you know, the opportunity to do something next to the fireside that would also build community. Starting in January, we'll have classes that are DIY craft classes as well as different types of plant care classes and all kinds of different arts and crafts.
Sandy Russell:And many of the fabulous women involved with this and gentlemen, they're all artists, they're all crafters, makers and teachers and so we'll be offering those classes starting in January. So, plant care, it might be pet safe plant care for people who aren't as familiar with what plants are okay to have in a house with cats or something like that. Teaching people how to propagate plants. Even just repotting or
Laura Thomas:Repotting is not that easy.
Sandy Russell:It's not, and those are things that that folks need to know.
Sandy Russell:So we we carry a multitude of plants here. We have a a a really fun propagation station where you can propagate a cutting and have a vase and take that home with you.
Laura Thomas:Oh, is that a free service?
Sandy Russell:That's all here with us. Well, they pay for the propagation or plant cutting, but we help them through that process if they're just learning. And lots of opportunities, and that'll continue to build. We'll also be with the classes that we'll be doing, we'll be doing kid friendly classes here and at Calafia, and if they're adult friendly classes, we'll do them here and at the fireside.
Laura Thomas:Oh my goodness. That's the whole block.
Sandy Russell:Well, the whole idea is to help create an ecosystem that helps all the businesses. I mean, I'm you know, we hope to have be part of what builds and brings more traffic to Webster. Right.
Laura Thomas:Because there's been several businesses in this very spot in just the last five years.
Sandy Russell:yeah there was the record gallery, and he moved out mid COVID, and then Patina and Russ moved in and they were here for a little bit. I think they just had to make some decisions. Their lease was up and they needed to make some decisions about how they wanted to run their business, whether that was brick and mortar retail or if they were going to continue just doing the markets and things that they have done in the past. So it created an opportunity for me to open the space next door that, like I said, you know, brings together the community through art and Mhmm. Plant care and vintage collectibles.
Laura Thomas:So you have different so you're a collective running it?
Sandy Russell:Absolutely. Yes. So the like I said, a diff a whole gaggle of really creative art artisan folks.
Laura Thomas:Alamedans outside of Alameda?
Sandy Russell:Alameda and beyond. So two of the artists featured right now are Eric and Danica Reid. They own Alameda Tattoo over on Haight Street. They also own a tattoo studio in Grass Valley.
Sandy Russell:So there's quite a bit of their artwork and some of some of their vintage collections. Well, so all of this that you see here is is Reid and also the rock icons on the walls there. Those pieces in between are Danica this brightest ..
Laura Thomas:Can you describe the medium just a little bit since we're audio here?
Sandy Russell:Right. So Reid has a lot of different styles and works that he does. So this is more of a tiki style, everything he does is like a crazy 15 step process. All of the layered multimedia that you see is hand done, there's no two that are alike and there are no prints of these done. It's a one of a kind and that's all it's ever gonna be. So you won't see that, you won't see those pieces printed anywhere.
Sandy Russell:The rock icons in the frames, again, like a 15 step process that he does to each one, and I have those as just prints or prints in frames.
Laura Thomas:You're talking about these right here with the sort of mermaid or the naked
Sandy Russell:No. Are those are those pieces are Danica Reed. And those are hand painted originals.
Sandy Russell:I'm talking about the rock icons with Escarito and Catwoman, Kid Congo, Sid Vicious.
Sandy Russell:And then we have another artist here, Johnny Dismal Mhmm. Who's done a myriad of things. You'll see that oval painting in the center and then surrounded by small pieces on the wall here. I'll point to it right there. Right.
Sandy Russell:Those are all Johnny's and I've got a couple other pieces around. And let's see. We have another artist, Terry Tellis. A lot of the hand painted furniture pieces are done by local artists. Tara Mae Scott, Sarah Woodruff, Melissa Rivers, Johnny Dismal also has done some of those.
Sandy Russell:Reid and Eric Reid and Danica Reid have both painted furniture pieces for me as well. Trying to look around what else.
Laura Thomas:Well, I'm very impressed. It just shows what your your network of artists has been able to provide for you in the sense that you could just open a spot and here they are.
Sandy Russell:Yeah It it's great. And we're all also plant lovers. The collection of vintage collectibles that are here, some of them belong to the Reed's. Most of what's here right now is mine. Mhmm.
Sandy Russell:Like I told you earlier, or may not have. I don't know. You're a vintage no. May I? The the vintage Pixie elves that are all from the forties, fifties, sixties, and seventies, that's from my personal collection.
Laura Thomas:I see. So you're a collector.
Sandy Russell:Yes. That's about a quarter of my collection here. The the lady head bases from the forties, fifties, and sixties.
Sandy Russell:The lady head bases are my collection as well and then some other random things that are ones and twos but yeah, and then we've collected a myriad of things that are they make great gifts for gift giving, so there's kind of something for everyone. You can find something for a dollar all the way up to a one of a kind piece of art.
Laura Thomas:I think that's good to know. It makes it accessible to lots of people.
Sandy Russell:Very, very, and then we hope to have the classes in different ranges that can be accessible to multiple people as well.
Laura Thomas:So it seems, Sandy, that a few other artisans have opened businesses on Webster recently. So what you take that as a sign of anything?
Sandy Russell:Well, I think, like I said, art builds community and creates conversation, and I think that, honestly, art is what is going to bring this world back together.
Laura Thomas:I couldn't agree more and it seems like in Alameda, there is a little bit of an artistic flourishing happening.
Sandy Russell:Absolutely. Absolutely. And just, you know, any creative and any time you can get your hands moving, at least I know for me, I have a very active mind, the only time my mind is quiet is when my hands are doing something.
Sandy Russell:You know? There's nothing more peaceful for me than creating something with my hands.
Laura Thomas:Right. Right. So I wanted to ask you too if what if you have sort of a vision about what a healthy and vital commercial district ought to have in it besides art.
Sandy Russell:Wow. I mean Yeah. I think Yeah. I think vibrant and interesting retail.
Sandy Russell:I think food and beverage establishments that are open consistently and and able to serve broad diverse community like Alameda, and I think we're doing a pretty good job of that on Webster. Mhmm. It was interesting through the pandemic watching this district come out of it stronger than it went in. I Think we lost very few businesses through COVID, and when we did lose businesses, new ones opened.
Laura Thomas:Yeah. Because Park Street looks a little more I don't know. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems a slightly slightly decimated is too strong a word, but affected less slightly less vibrant.
Sandy Russell:There's a lot more businesses competing for the same customer customer share, I guess, but I think Webster Street has always lent itself as an artsier, edgier side of town. Mhmm.
Sandy Russell:When the naval air station was open, this was the best side of town. You know? And I think that history lends to what makes it artsy and edgy now.
Sandy Russell:And definitely not the bad side of town. In fact, it's the it's the center of town.
Laura Thomas:Well, it feels less mainstream perhaps, more willing to experiment?
Sandy Russell:Willing to experiment, I think. Willing to tolerate oddity. I don't know.
Sandy Russell:Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. For sure.
Sandy Russell:And I think, you know, with the development on the base, Webster now becomes the center of town. Or, at the very least, definitely one of the main streets. It always has been, but I think it's we're we're growing in foot traffic as as the island expands. Mhmm.
Sandy Russell:There's not a lot of retail out on the base. There aren't a ton of restaurants And and personal care services. Mhmm.
Sandy Russell:Right? Out on the base yet. There I'm sure there will be at some point, but you need a haircut. Webster's the closest place to come to.
Laura thomas:So what are the challenges of being a business person on Webster Street?
Sandy Russell:The foot traffic isn't as heavy as it is on Park Street. Park Street's been established as the shopping district for a very long time. And again going back to the ode of when the naval air station was open, this was the bad side of town. Right. So I think changing some of those perceptions from Alamedans that have been here multi generationally, you know, we're trying to do new and exciting things to get them over to this side of town too.
Laura Thomas:Right and what works really well here or what has been the highlight?
Sandy Russell:I think the businesses on Webster are super creative and are heavily event driven. Certainly, at the Fireside, we do a ton of events almost every night, there's something going on.
Sandy Russell:The Feathered Outlaw across the street, they do a lot of events more directed at their kind of witchy than witchy art Their crowd. I think that now with Replenish, I think with Thrifty Kitty and Diggity Dog, the thrift stores that are fundraising stores for Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter, Coven of Stitches, which is another artistic venture down the street. I think those people are drawing to Webster.
Sandy Russell:I think, honestly, the the cannabis clubs are drawing in more foot traffic, definitely some parking in and out traffic, but we're just trying to create more opportunities for people to stroll Webster and find fun, interesting things. My hope is that here at Alameda Gallery and Collective, we've got a little bit of something for anyone.
Laura Thomas:Right. So, what could the city do to help you guys more?
Sandy Russell:What could they do?
Sandy Russell:Yeah. I think making processes more accessible. Meaning permitting processes? Permitting processes are lengthy and expensive. Not to do retail, but to do beyond you know, because the buildings are old and and they need to do certain things. Things that we'd like to do down the road. We'll have to do some plumbing and electrical, which then requires engineering plans and all of that stuff that has to go through the city, which costs a lot of money. And then you have to go through an approval process and inspection process and all the things. The city's been wonderful about providing information around that and and trying to help us achieve those goals.
Sandy Russell:I am hoping to take advantage of the city's facade grant program this year. Hopefully, maybe it's an awning, maybe it's security cameras, I don't know. it's not a whole It is a grant program that's been around for years, and this year they're not specifying. Each year they've kind of focused on something, one year it's awnings, one year it's painting the front of your building or new doors or whatever. As I understand it, they're not specifying anything this year and they've opened it up to things like security cameras or security gates, like rolling security gates or things like that.
Laura Thomas:Is it a competitive thing or is it?
Sandy Russell:It is. Yeah. It is. That said, there are generally fewer applicants from Webster than there are from the others the other parts of the island, and that actually increases your chances because they try and do it somewhat evenly. And I think also some of that is with the restaurants that we have here on Webster. Some of the restaurants on Webster, we have a variety of multicultural restaurants.
Sandy Russell:With that, I think there comes some language barrier, and I know the city has tried to make it accessible, but it's really hard in a family owned business because you're you're there all the time. You're on all the time. Even when you're not at work, you're working.
Sandy Russell:I think you know sometimes getting down to city hall and Getting down to city hall or understanding the complexities.
Sandy Russell:The complexities and everything else. So I think that might be part of it, but I know that the city is trying to make those things more accessible.
Laura Thomas:Well, that's good. That's good because, you know, I think the city needs to do everything it can to support small business. Small business people are not major corporations. Right? They don't have the resources to do alot yet they offer us so much.
Sandy Russell:I agree.
Laura Thomas:OK, well, I don't know when we're gonna put this on, but twelve Days of Alameda might still be happening?
Sandy Russell:It is .. So it's November 29 through December 10. Yeah. And basically, when you go into any of the participating businesses and you purchase something, you'll get a card with that that has a QR code, and that QR code is attached to your ticket number. When you order or when you activate the QR code, you're entered into a drawing for one of 12 different baskets from this for the twelve days of Christmas, and all of those baskets are participating businesses like Alameda Art Gallery and Collective, as well as the Fireside Lounge and many other businesses on Webster have donated towards those baskets. So one day it might be a self care basket and it might have, you know, all kinds of things to do with self care, whether that's a massage or a facial or a haircut .
Sandy Russell:Or what have you. You know, one might be a date night type of thing. So Fireside has donated a gift certificate and we've also done swag, a t shirt and a hoodie and stickers and things like that. For Alameda Gallery and Collective, we've donated class passes, a couple of class passes for upcoming classes starting in January. Okay.
Laura Thomas:Alright. Well, thank you very much. I don't know, is there anything you'd like to tell us about the Alameda Gallery and Collective that I haven't asked you?
Sandy Russell:Absolutely ..So we are located at 1451 Webster Street in Alameda, and you can get in touch with us either on our Instagram, which is alamedagallerycollective or at our website which is www.alamedagalleryandcollective.com.
Laura Thomas:Okay. Well, it's been wonderful to talk to you. I'm excited I'm excited to see this business on Webster Street. It's really lovely. It's really very well decorated, and I hope everybody comes to support you. So thanks Sandy.
Sandy Russell:Thank you Too. I'm super thrilled with the support from the community so far.
Sandy Russell:The response has been great. You know, we wanted to create something that was happy and joyful and welcoming, and so far that's the response we've gotten so we're excited about what the future holds.
Laura Thomas:Alrighty, good. Well thanks for coming, for listening to the Island City Beat and we'll see you next time.
Sandy Russell:Thanks for having me.