Rebel Garages: Alternative Archives, New Futures and Co-conspirators for Disobedient Alley Architecture

AN
INTERVIEW
WITH
NICOLE
Nicole is a sculptor who makes
large-scale public art, mostly
out of metal. Her garage is
her dream studio where she
finally designed and built the
space she wanted for herself
and her work.
Rebel Garage Archive
What do you use your
garage for?
Nicole: For my
professional sculpture
studio. I work on largescale
outdoor public sculptures
in stainless steel, glass, mosaic,
and LEDs. I’m a welder.
Do you drive? Is your garage
ever used for parking?
N: Yes, we have two vehicles that
are street-parked, and no, we
never use the garage for parking.
Did you imagine using your
garage this way when you
moved in? How has it changed
over time?
N: I built it specifically for studio
space and it’s completely full
of my tools and materials—
everything that I need to
maintain a professional practice.
Prior to this, I rented studio
space in Bucktown, West Loop,
Damen and Fulton, Pulaski,
K-Town, and finally Gage Park.
After being “gentrified” and
ousted from them all, I finally
built one on my property.
What kind of changes to your
garage have you made to
accommodate your uses?
N: Well, I have 220 volts, heat, and
a fourteen foot overhead door!
Have you ever seen a door that
big on a residential garage? I
can’t keep it open in the summer,
though—there is pretty high crime
over here. The alley gets tons of
traffic and a lot of garbage pickers.
When I move sculptures in and
out, I try to make sure people
aren’t seeing inside. I also have a
security system and an excellent
guard dog, he’s part Chow!
Do you have relationships with
your alley neighbors? What’s
your block’s alley culture?
N: These neighbors [next door]
built their garage after mine,
and he has an upper floor
with a ginormous TV because
he’s a total sports fan. He’s a
fireman and electrician; in fact,
he did my wiring. I guess my
garage was sort of a catalyst to
build personal spaces. On the
other side these are original
vintage garages—some of
these buildings are of historic
status. There’s not really a
neighborhood culture, because
I have to keep it on the downlow.
But with my two immediate
neighbors, I have a solid working
relationship. Also, this particular
alley has become a thoroughfare
for the street to the east of
us because it is cul-de-saced,
and our historic street has no
driveways and all garages are
only alley-accessed.
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