The Beauty Shop: Collaboration and Creativity

The Beauty Shop is Fairfield’s two-year-old music and art venue. It’s a chill place to hang out, work, do home-work, learn something new, practice something old, or get to work on something you’ve always wanted to do.

Maharishi University of Management alumn Steve Cooperman has been involved with this space since the beginning when, in 2008, the non-profit Bonnell Building Project was founded; and it seems that more and more people join the ranks each day. One of Steve’s favorite things about the space is the active creativity that is expressed. “Things just happen here,” says Steve, “We didn’t go out and ask people to start the projects that are now defining this space, they came to us and asked if they could create a music venue and a café. It’s awesome to see people’s desires become reality and to be a part of that process.”

The mission of the Bonnell Building Project is to foster and empower passion-driven learning and action by the young people of Fairfield. Music and art have become a major focus of the project, centered around The Beauty Shop and Appleseed Studios.

 

The Beauty Shop is managed by a team of young people and regularly hosts performances by local and touring musicians as well as popular art shows featuring young artists.

 

 

Maharishi University alumn Phil Rabalais and his brother Dom are pioneering forces behind creating a safe space for young people to discover and express their creative musical voices. One vehicle for doing this is Appleseed Studios, a professional digital multi-track recording studio where young people can learn the business of music. Maharishi University alumna Hilary Nelson passionately organizes the art and craft events at The Beauty Shop.

The Beauty Shop also houses a café, under the direction of Melissa Gurney. It’s open 7 days a week serving:

• Arbor Tea
• Northwest Coffee
• Cupcakes and pies from Meara Oberdieck’s Bombshell Bakery
• Bread from Michael Emerson’s Handcut Bread Bakery
• Raucous Love Bagels from Taylor and Julia Ross

“I volunteer here and make coffee here,” says Joseph Mayfield, “I like that artists can come here and commune and collaborate together. There are artists in this town with extreme amounts of talent, but now they have a space where they can collaborate. Since, this place has started, I’ve been working with other artists more than I have in the past.”

I’ve mentioned a few names of people involved in the Bonnell Building Project and The Beauty Shop. However, the glory of the existence of this space is that everyone is welcome and encouraged to continue learning in this space by exploring their own areas of interest.

As Taylor Ross states, “If there is a belief that the entity of the Beauty Shop runs on, it’s that whoever is there, in that moment, working on whatever project is happening, those are the right people. Having that belief gives a certain ease of existence. There is no time spent worrying that the wrong thing is happening. If we create unfiltered work that is honest, then honest and unfiltered people will come back in our direction.”

Ways to get involved:

Don’t miss the June 4, 2011 CD release concert for “The Beauty Shop Presents: Bedrooms and Basements” at Fairfield’s Stephen Sondheim Center for the Performing Arts. The event is a fundraiser for The Beauty Shop.

Café Hours:

3pm -11pm Tuesday – Sunday

11am – 11pm Monday

Regular happenings (all free of charge, though purchasing of drinks and food is appreciated):

Monday: Movie Night – underground, unknown, strange and weird cinema 8pm

Tuesday: Board Game Night 8pm

Wednesday: Open Mic Night 8pm

Thursday: Free form break dancing session 6:30pm

Friday – Sunday: There are usually at least one or two concerts to attend on the weekend (cost of admission varies).

Anna Bruen is a MUM alumnus who graduated with a degree in Sustainable Living. Anna is the resident blogger here at MUM. To learn more about Anna take a look at her introduction post.

Tagged as: Alumni, Fairfield, Student Life