Art in the Suburbs

Staten Island, New York is a short ferry ride from the fast paced world of New York City, but it seems like a world away. It's known for being the hometown of one of the Jersey Shore cast members. It's not exactly known as a cultural Mecca. Despite this reputation, there are small pockets of the island where the arts thrive. One of these places is very dear to my heart.

Hub 17 is a small not-for-profit art space in the Stapleton section of Staten Island. According to their website, Hub 17 is A Creative and Modular Space for Everyone. It houses a gallery, an area for video production, live theater, podcasting and photography shoots. This haven for creatives is operated by Ken Graham and his partner Kimbra Eberly.

I first met Ken in the fall of 1998 at our local public access cable station. He was managing the in-house television studio, and I was an intern. Ken was, and still is, one of the most laid-backed people I know. The world can be falling down around him, and he's a calm as can be. I aspire to be that cool under pressure.

Ken and Kim work really well together. Ken has a wonderfully creative eye as both a video producer and a photographer. Kim is a wonderful musician and writer. They are both artists in their own right so, they recognize the needs of artists in their community. In an area of the city that is devoid of artistic spaces, Hub 17 gives artists a place to create and showcase their work . Do you want to display your paintings? Put together a play? Ken and Kim can help make it happen.

In addition to running the art space, they also facilitate collaboration between artists. They have created an online artist database so artists can find each other. Annually, actors, writers, and filmmakers come together for an event, The Grand Gignol. They also organize an annual film festival. I've had the pleasure of attending both events.

Hub 17 not only help the Staten Island arts community, they also help the community as a whole. During the pandemic, they partnered with another not-for-profit organization. They distributed PPEs and other desperately needed supplies. They also partnered with local businesses who supplied screenings space for the film festival. They have collaborated with local eateries for a variety of events. Finally, they provide space fo activities, including a cosplay meetup and organization meetings.

Being a small business owner himself, Ken supports other local businesses. On many occasions I have worked with Ken to create fliers and other collateral for events at Hub 17.

In 2020, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Ken and Kim had to adapt their business model, like so many others. The gallery was open at a lower capacity and by appointment only. The Grand Guignol was virtual, focusing on a variety of short films instead of live theater.

Ken and Kim are amazing. They saw a need for a much-needed art space. They then filled that void. They inspired a creative community in downtown Staten Island. A stained-glass studio, photography studio and Hub 17 can be found, where there was nothing.

I also love Ken and Kim's ability to adapt. The pandemic turned the world upside down and as usual, Ken "rolled with the punches". Due to social distancing, the gallery cannot have normal events, so what did they do? They went virtual. Ken and Kim thought, "What can we do to use the space with limited capacity?" The solution- focus on podcasts. There is no complicated setup. It only involves a handful of people but can reach so many more so, it was a no-brainer.

What have I learned from Kenny and Kim? Stay calm in a crisis and learn to adapt. Good life advice!

For more info about Hub17 please visit www.onwavestreet.com