Behind the barn

It’s hard to have a conversation of any length with Craig Blamer without him dropping multiple esoteric references to movies, songs, plays, books and jokes—allegorical sources he sometimes compares with situations in his life. It’s an understandable habit given that—as a Blue Room Theatre actor, director, playwright and long-time CN&R film critic—the arts are the pillars of his life and livelihood.

On June 1, Blamer started renting a derelict-looking former auto upholstery shop on 11th Street with the intention of turning it into a subscription-based community arts center, a resource for artists of all stripes to work, network and exhibit the fruits of their labor. Due to the building’s appearance, which he described as “a steampunk variation of a wild west set,” he christened it The Barn. Through word of mouth and social networking, news of the project spread fast, with lots of Chico’s artsy types volunteering time, tools and money toward Blamer’s relatively modest goal of $2,500 to get the space in working order.

But since Blamer broke ground on the project, he’s taken to comparing the effort with the 1939 Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland film Babes in Arms, about a group of theater kids who put on their own show in a barn. Though he said the movie hasn’t aged well (it ends with the main actors donning black face and putting on a minstrel show), he feels the theme, in which the players face bad weather and other obstacles to their production, is appropriate to his own effort.

“All we wanna do is put on a show, and instead of tornadoes we’ve got the city of Chico and the local Gladys Kravitz to contend with,” he said, referring to the fact that city officials—spurred by a neighbor’s complaint—interrupted efforts to redo the building’s facade and install outdoor lighting, saying Blamer and company needed an $85 building permit to do the work. Furthermore, for the space to be a live venue and otherwise function as Blamer envisions, he may need to pay the city $3,000 to apply for a use permit.

Mark Wolfe, director of the city’s Planning Services Department, confirmed he has spoken with Blamer, and said he informed him he needs to submit a letter detailing exactly how the space will be used for the city to determine if he needs a use permit. He noted the building is zoned for residential/mixed-use, which allows several commercial activities, but the permit may be needed because of “assembly uses” (i.e., group rehearsals, public performances) planned for The Barn.

The $3,000 application fee is non-refundable and approval is not guaranteed, and Blamer fears The Barn won’t get the green light because of ongoing issues in the neighborhood.

“I’ve basically stepped into the middle of a land war,” Blamer said, explaining that some neighbors, including retired Chico State professor and historian Michele Shover, have long been at odds with landowner Hal LLC and the city over blight and transient issues (see “Blight in our eyes,” by Howard Hardee, May 8) associated with the old upholstery shop and nearby buildings. Neighbors have asked the city to tear down the buildings, but Blamer feels his efforts to rehabilitate this one would be more valuable to the community.

“We’re an unwelcome part of the narrative being written, and they just want to see the building gone,” Blamer said. “But I love this building. I’ve walked past it practically every day for the last 25 years. It’s like a ’58 Edsel—it’s just so goddamned ugly it’s beautiful.”

Blamer said he’s prepared to stick to his guns, even proceeding without a permit if need be (“What can they do, come and arrest a bunch of actors for rehearsing?” he said), and explained he feels that if subscribers pay the rent they should be able to do whatever they want in the space. He argues that, with limited funds changing hands, it is more of a collective or a clubhouse than a commercial venture, and therefore it shouldn’t require permission from the city or neighbors. The Barn’s main focus would be as a workshop, he said, with public events infrequent, limited to a few dozen people, utilizing no amplified sound and ending before 9 p.m.

“People suggest other places, but we’re gonna get the same NIMBY crap and the same problems with the city anywhere,” he said.

Blamer said that The Barn could be ready to host a small theater production this fall, open to subscribers even sooner, and that he already has more than 200 people interested in joining as members.