Something that will develop into a beautiful network of dazzling businesses, organizations, artists, musicians, community members and supporters of all things good is our “Features” section. For our first feature, we look to a unique and, in my mind, pivotal resource for both young and old.
Although their insight is better received in person (and in house!), find below an interview Manor House Quarterly had with the owners of Double Break.
MHQ: Who operates Double Break?
DB: Double Break is owned and operated by two artists- Matt Coors and Louis M Schmidt.
MHQ: When did Double Break open?
DB: We openend our doors on June 17, 2011.
MHQ: How would you classify Double Break? Is it an art gallery, zine store, boutique?
DB: We like to think of ourselves as half art gallery, half arts boutique. The majority of the items in the store (prints, cards, jewelry, shirts, publications, etc.) are produced by artists/designers, or by people who have a direct affiliation with the art world.
MHQ: What would you consider your niche within the San Diego community?
DB: Well, we wouldn’t say that we occupy a singular niche here, but there aren’t really any other places exactly like us in San Diego. We were really inspired by similar shops elsewhere- in Los Angeles, we love Ooga Booga and Family, in San Francisco, Needles & Pens and Park Life were big sources of inspiration. There are plenty of great examples in Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, Paris, etc.. but there was nothing really here. We would travel around to all these cities in search of this type of place, until it dawned on us- we should just open a place of our own in the city we live in! We wanted to create a place that showcased a select and eclectic mix of talented artists, writers and publishers- a place that represents great artists from diverse backgrounds.
MHQ: What gets you excited about the work you are doing?
DB: That’s a great question–SO much excites us about the work we’re doing! We definitely enjoy collaborating with other great local businesses- thus far we’ve worked with Tin Can Alehouse, M-Theory, Knockaround and Product Etcetera, and we’re working on some ideas we can do with some of our other favorite spots. Putting together good shows with great artists is pretty exciting- as artists ourselves, it’s rewarding to initiate communication with artists we like and see that through from the first email to the last day of the show. Although we’ve only been open for nine months, we’ve already been able to work with several well-known artists that we really love- a few examples include Chris Johanson, Jay Howell, Ruben Ortiz-Torres, Gunsho and Ed Luce. We have upcoming shows with Sadie Barnette, Travis Millard and Michael Krueger; our show in July, curated by Chicago-based artist Ryan Travis Christian, is going to be a real doozy- over 60 artists, two of which have been featured on recent covers of Juxtapoz magazine, many of whom are actually favorite artists of ours- so, that’s super exciting! Plus, for our one-year anniversary in June, we’re going to show our own work, and both of us are developing new projects that we’re excited to share with San Diego!
MHQ: What can we expect from your next exhibition, “Product Etcetera™ Brands, Ganges, Teams & Clans”
DB: From our press release–”Showcasing Product Etcetera’s latest in-house brands and products, “Brands, Gangs, Teams & Clans” investigates branding, its role in society and personal identity. On display will be original paintings of Product Etcetera’s newest marks, as well as a preview of their upcoming line of product.”
MHQ: Double Break has been around for some time now, how receptive has San Diego been to your shop?
DB: We’ve had a very positive response from everyone who’s come in! As a small business with an even smaller budget, we’ve made it this far mostly on word of mouth and a little bit of foot traffic. We feel like most of San Diego doesn’t really know about us- that’s an ongoing goal of ours- outreach! We have a great looking website (http://doublebreakstore.com), plus a strong presence on Facebook and Twitter! Check us out!
MHQ: Any last words, future plans…?
DB: We have a ton of great stuff planned for the upcoming months. Besides the shows mentioned above, we’re talking to several fantastic artists about possible shows for the fall and beyond. In collaboration with Tin Can Alehouse, we’re inaugurating our first monthly “live drawing” event with a bunch of great local artists, hosted at the Tin Can. That’s on March 27, and the second installation will be in late April. We’re also working with a local writer/organizer to put together a poetry series which we’ll host in the gallery. Over the next few months, we’re also going to produce and release a few limited-edition publications and t-shirts with several different artists. Lastly, we’re planning a couple (currently top secret) early summer events that will involve many of our favorite places in San Diego.
We look forward to the many great things both, Matt and Louis are doing through their work at Double Break.
Upcoming Show!
PRODUCT ETCETERA™ BRANDS, GANGS, TEAMS & CLANS
Opening Reception: March 22, 2012 (6—10pm)
Double Break
1821 Fifth Ave
San Diego, CA 92101
619.238.2325
