Phoenix's art community deserves better

What's going on with Lost Leaf?

In the last few weeks, I’ve learned two people in the Phoenix arts community died. Michael Twentythree and Rachel Rigali. I didn’t know either personally, but I know people who love them. We love the same people, the same place. Isn’t that enough reason to mourn them?

Friends posted about the loss of these two bright lights, and how they were supportive forces for good in the community, each in their own unique ways. The community organized a benefit show for Rachel and circulated the GoFundMe that Michael’s family started. There is no fixing this grief. Mourning them the best we can is all we can do.

If you’re local, Phx Firebird Events is hosting Rachel’s celebration of life benefit this Sunday, June 18, at Valley Bar starting at 7pm. $10 at the door, and all proceeds go to the Sarcoma Cancer Organization. Deserted Rituals, Jerusafunk and Ghost Boyfriend, are featured, and there will be an open mic for music and poetry and vintage clothes and art for sale. Full details here.

Since most of you aren’t local, if you can, I’d be so grateful if you considered donating to Michael Twentythree’s GoFundMe or sharing it with your friends. Some of my dearest friends are deep in mourning, and something we can do is support Michael’s wife and young son in their time of need. 

This newsletter should only be about sharing this sadness with you and hoping you can contribute or spread the word. This time should only be about preserving Michael’s memory and Rachel’s memory, holding their art close, and supporting their family and friends.

And yet, there’s more because under late capitalism, grieving is often an afterthought, a disturbance, an inefficiency. 

The benefit for Rachel was initially scheduled for June 11 at The Lost Leaf, a local bar, art gallery, and music venue. The benefit was first announced on Lost Leaf’s IG on June 5. It seemed to be the perfect fit – the bar employs people in the arts community, shows local art, and hosts local bands. The about section on Lost Leaf’s website says, “The Lost Leaf was started on the idea of getting local artists off the ground by not charging commission.”

After closing for most of 2021 because of Covid, the bar reopened but was struggling, The Phoenix New Times reported. And then, in March 2022, Eric and Lauren Dahl, the original owners, sold the bar to David Cameron, a real estate investor. At the time, the vibe was hopeful. People were grateful that Lost Leaf wouldn’t disappear. If you read the New Times article, you’ll see that Cameron’s quotes are full of the desire to continue to support the community of artists and musicians that Lost Leaf built over the years. He called bartenders his friends.

Then, on June 9, Lost Leaf posted to their IG that they were closing for maintenance and upkeep for the rest of the month. AZ Central reported on it that day, adding that Lost Leaf plans to reopen on First Friday in July.

The comments on Lost Leaf’s post filled up with surprise, anger, and more information. People said the post was a lie. They said that Lost Leaf made artists rush to pick up their art, and events were canceled – including Rachel’s benefit. People asked why Cameron’s venues weren’t dependable. 

Within a few days, the comments were deleted, and commenting was turned off, but I have the screenshots. 

Savannah Meadow of Phx Firebird Events responded by posting to call Cameron out:

ANNOUNCEMENT: Due to lack of compassion, care and professionalism- the Owner of @thelostleaf David canceled all events and let go of his staff without notice. His staff even fought for our event to be their last.

We are sorry for those employees who deserved better! As this being a huge event, with many people involved we are working hard to accommodate all those involved. We have found BETTER venue but waiting confirmation from the bands. More information coming soon as possible but the date to mark on your calendar is June 18. As inconvenient as this is, at an already tough time. I want to take the time to say thanks to all of you for your patience. Thank you to the Lost Leaf staff for giving us a place to make beautiful things happen. 

Apologies, this was out of @phxfirebirdevents hands. But I have a feeling it’s only going to be better. 

Three days ago, Phx Firebird Events announced the new date and location at Valley Bar for Rachel’s benefit and Savannah’s right – I’m sure it will be better, more at home, and supported. 

And yet.

This instability and lack of care in a time of grief is violent. Who knows what’s actually happening. I’m listening to the community I’m connected with and making some guesses, connecting some dots. But the confusion alone is harmful because grieving people are now thrust into this murky space where they can’t trust the ground beneath their feet.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

Kind and transparent communication could go a long way. The disconnection between the new owner and the community Lost Leaf serves/has served is apparent.

Does the owner not know one of the canceled events is a memorial event? Does the owner know and not care? I don’t know. But regardless, there is a community grieving and outraged, left scrambling and unsupported.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

Arts communities deserve support. Their contribution to a city can’t and shouldn’t be measured in dollars and cents. Arts communities and organizations shouldn’t be priced out of the very cities they built.

A piece of information I haven’t mentioned: Cameron bought the Lost Leaf and a string of other properties around the same time. I speculate that the pandemic was the last nail in the coffin for many small, privately owned arts hubs in Phoenix and beyond. Real estate instability is draining the life out of the arts community. 

It doesn’t have to be this way.

I read about CAST – the Community Arts Stabilization Trust – “a community-centered real estate organization for artists and cultural workers in the San Francisco Bay Area.” CAST helps arts organizations buy buildings, negotiate long-term leases, and more. It’s been around since 2013, and they are finding proof that their mission is working. This is needed in Phoenix. Arts hubs shouldn’t be crossing their fingers, hoping that their landlord won’t double rent, let the place degrade and then bulldoze it, or slowly make the conditions worse and worse until it’s necessary to leave. Bleeding arts organizations dry while they serve the community is a recipe for burnout and cities devoid of art.

Yes, I know Lost Leaf isn’t an arts organization. It’s a bar. A business. But it’s always been something more, and the original owners ran it to support local artists first. The new owner made it sound like he would continue that mission, but things often change, especially when everything gets more expensive.

It may be a bit cliche, but I’m reminded of Ursula K Le Guin’s quote: “We live in capitalism. Its power seems inescapable. So did the divine right of kings. Any human power can be resisted and changed by human beings. Resistance and change often begin in art, and very often in our art, the art of words.” 

It’s no wonder that capitalism conspires against the creative community. But we can resist it, even if all we can do now is talk loudly and openly about the whole story and support the people most in need, like Michael and Rachel's families and friends. 

P.S. I have a feeling I’m going to continue writing about this topic, so if you have any links to stories or organizations working in the arts / real estate / organizing spaces, please leave them in the comments <3