This summer, artists have taken over Oakland’s Royal NoneSuch Gallery, turning it into a research space, a studio, and a hub for gatherings of all kinds. For three weeks at a time, George Pfau, Veronica De Jesus, and Amanda Curreri were, are, and will be Royal NoneSuch’s first three artists-in-residence. 3 for 3 is an experiment in gallery programming, an artist residency in which the participants maintain open studio hours and organize public events, putting their entire practice — not just finished pieces of art — on display.
From June 15 to July 9, Pfau was in the gallery four days a week, working on an ongoing project called Zombies Identified. Though Pfau has participated in previous residencies, this was the first one conducted alone, without an administrative buffer between him and the outside world. From the first day in the gallery he realized this was going to be a very different experience, one in which he would have a conversation with each and every person who entered the space during his open studio hours.
With a prime storefront on a bustling block of Telegraph between 42nd and 43rd Streets, the 260 square-foot gallery is never predictable in its offerings, but 3 for 3 is an entirely new venture. Traditionally, gallery hours at Royal NoneSuch amount to a total of six hours a week, not counting one-night-only events. With 3 for 3, organizers Elizabeth Bernstein, Carrie Hott, Carey Lin, and Kathleen Quinlan were able to expand the gallery’s hours and community presence while simultaneously handing over the reigns to a group of artists. While their divergent interests guarantee a range of inventive programming, in 3 for 3 they have ceded control completely.