Civic Studio has operated in a variety of locations in the Grand Rapids area since 1999, with each project bringing new insight to the histories and presents of the city. Studio members spend a semester researching the area surrounding the studio’s location, which culminates in a final research based art project.
Studios
Bridge St. Studio
2003Studio in and old storefront; formerly the Music Center, an all-accordian music store.
Alabama St. Studio
2003Studio in the Fritz Manufacturing building, makers of wagons, cabinets, and ice cream parlors.
Wealthy Street Studio
2008A study of Wealthy Street, a five mile street that begins and ends in the city.
On the River Studio
2009Focus on the Grand River and environs from two containers on the Interurban bridge.
American Bread Company
2012Studio in a long-closed neighborhood bakery
Studio at the Community Archives
2019Studio housed between the Community Archives and Research Center (CARC) and the Public Museum High School
Civic Studio: Weird Research
2021Still in the midst of online learning, Civic Studio members research paranormal phenomena, urban legends, folklore mythologies, or other “weird” regional histories from their hometowns and regions.
Civic at Straight and Wealthy (again)
2022Back in person, studio members create research-driven art that looks at the histories, presents, and futures of the SWAN neighborhood on the west side of Grand Rapids.
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Civic at Straight and Wealthy
2023
Back at the Padnos Iron & Metal company factory and offices, Civic Studio members lean into weird fiction to probe structural systems reflected in the natural and social landscapes of Grand Rapids, Michigan.