As a teenager, my garage was used neither for storing cars nor a personal gym. Instead, the garage held endless potential possibilities for building a place for escaping or, even better, a clubhouse. Until I was 18 and ready to become an aspiring productive member of society, the garage was a classic teenage safe haven for all my friends to listen to loud music, indulge in drugs, and participate in general deviant activities. I miss that garage. Luckily for the residents of San Francisco and myself, someone had a similar idea, with a more creative and adult approach.
I recall the first time I heard of The Garage Sale Project and felt that I had been left out of some secret. I instantly reached out to the director, Jack Halloway, and insisted on viewing and learning more about the space. Over time I would frequent many openings. Close Friends would eventually show work there and Mr. Halloway and I became friends. The Garage Sale Project has in many ways become my adult clubhouse, the only difference being that the music volume is a little lower, the conversations more engaging, and there is a more diverse group of participants. And we still might engage in a few drinks, but not so much the drugs part.
While most galleries are plagued with pretentious attitudes, programming schedules catering to hype and an elite crowd of collectors, The Garage Sale Project retains a humble, lighthearted approach. In many ways the gallery and its director are not in the business of art. Halloway’s charismatic charm is apparent immediately. He encourages random passers-by to come in and willingly enjoys divulging the Project’s history and ethos. I must not negate that some legitimate local talent has shown and transformed this space. Halloway’s carefully curated cast of artists, many being friends through a strong community revolving loosely around surfing, are a reflection of his own lifestyle aesthetic. I’m thankful that places like The Garage Sale Project exist as labors of love, pure in intention.
-Austin McManus
