My first thought when hearing about the Ghost Ship house fire in Oakland, California that claimed the lives of over 30 and counting concert goers was, “We have all been there before.” It doesn’t matter where you live, or where you grew up, there has been a party/art show/concert in a warehouse that felt risky or sketchy.

My first thought when hearing about the Ghost Ship house fire in Oakland, California that claimed the lives of over 30 and counting concert goers was, “We have all been there before.” It doesn’t matter where you live, or where you grew up, there has been a party/art show/concert in a warehouse that felt risky or sketchy. If we were to take a step back and consider the possibility of a fire or something dangerous happening in the space, you know your emergency exit would be precarious.

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And we all would have still been there, because no matter what, art and culture are made in these places and spaces. Underground movements start on the fringes, in warehouses late at night, where creativity can be nurtured without the fear of noise ordinances or high rent prices, without worrying about curfews or velvet rope entry. Artists find these places, and they create and invite others to join them through art shows, concerts and communal living. It’s been happening for years in cities around the world, from Berlin to Oakland, Miami to Hong Kong. It will never stop, because artists don’t operate like that. Organizers will find buildings on the outskirts of town for raves, artists will find warehouses in industrial neighborhoods to live and make work. And we will find these spaces and join them in a communal spirit of originality and expression.

There are so many parts to this tragedy that could have been prevented. I know that. But what we saw in Oakland on the night of December 2, 2016, was a group of people were gathering to celebrate art, to enjoy themselves, to have a night of simple fun in a warehouse. To join friends, make new friends, listen to music and be free. And their lives were taken from them. No matter what caused the fire, what could have been foreseen, the most important part is we lost a group of young people in the Bay Area and beyond who chose a night to listen to music in a warehouse in town. We have all been there before. From Juxtapoz and the entire art community around the world, we express our deepest condolences to everyone who lost a loved one. —Evan Pricco

Photo from the London Guardian/AP, by Nick Otto/AFP/Getty Images
Cover image from the San Francisco Chronicle