At years end, like many of you, we find it valuable to take stock of the lessons we learned, the doors that opened (and closed), and the relationships we fostered over the year. These reflections help bolster our commitments and inform our goals for the coming year.

We think it’s vital to reflect and review if you want a better vision of what truly matters and where you are headed. Not to mention, it’s a great way to remember the moments that made a year special.

As an unfunded, all-volunteer organization, it is crucial to highlight the individuals who generated ideas, led projects, and whose participation and dedication brought our ventures to life.

The commitment, passion, and energy exhibited by both our core team and the broader volunteer community are what gave us a chance to “work hard at work worth doing.”

We began this year with a closing exhibition for the sculptor Lynette Nicole Betancur. She had been using the vacant space at 536 Davis St (which we have been programming since fall 2021) as a sculpture studio since November. With this larger studio space Lynette got the chance to create works that were bigger in scale and deeper in intricacy. This exploration led her to insights on the limitations of her process while creating stunning new forms which were showcased during the closing exhibition. Since then, our work with Lynette has continued and we’ll share more in 2024.

Shortly after, we presented a collection of paintings by Jeff Masamori who is usually behind a camera at Problem Library events, or working closely with young artists as co-director of Problem Children. We coordinated the show to put some heat on Jeff as he deftly explored a new medium. Despite being a novice painter, Jeff created a collection of gorgeous and refined paintings that reminded us that beginning again is crucial to the vitality of any creative practice.

To wrap up our time at 536 Davis we brought Will Thomson out from London for his second show with us. Two Hundred Pounds of Cement was a collection of plein-air paintings made in 2022 and 2023. The collection of small paintings were a tremendous shift in Will’s practice and pointed toward the barriers around us. They acted as a reminder of the forces that seek to pull us away from ourselves, from each other, and from the world we are born into.

In January, Daniel and Jeff co-directed a Winter (or “level two”) program for Problem Children alumni. With bi-weekly check ins, ad-hoc meetings, and greater self-direction, Giovana and Airis worked to explore their professional goals and take the next steps on their respective creative journeys.

Airis expanded their photographic practice by incorporating sculpture, video, and writing to create an installation that explored the gifts of their grandmother. Meanwhile, Giovana was tasked with researching, designing, and creating a representation for a Problem Children school. She drew layouts, designed a 3D model, and built a small scale physical model of the building which she named Solis Ardor. Both students presented their work at an intimate closing reception on May 20th.

On June 10th we kicked off our sixth Problem Children summer program. This year we focused on improving the program by refining readings, conducting new group activities, and creating an extensive three-week mentor training program. Organized by Jess, this training helped us better define the contours of the deeply human and timeless role we ask mentors to take with students.

Defining the intentions, goals, and commitments of this vital relationship necessitated longer form writing and spurred new conversations about the cultural gap Problem Children is filling. This gave us new language and insights into the heart of our work and has reverberated across Problem Library throughout the year. It has been a wellspring of clarity and direction as we continue to build out Problem Children and develop new educational programs to be in concert with it. More on that in the new year.

Alongside this learning, our six Problem Children artists met the challenge our program presents and joined the community of ambitious, creative, and thoughtful young artists we have been cultivating since we began in 2018. The closing celebration on August 26th was a show of creative force and skill that once again validated the belief that lies at the heart of our work in education: 

If we give people the opportunity to do something great - they will.

Since our first [working] project in 2018 we have worked with a range of property owners and development groups to transform vacant storefronts into spaces of artistic activity and neighborly engagement. This has helped us position ourselves as a bridge of trust between real estate managers and working artists which allows us to create opportunities for success on both ends. And this year we were given yet another chance to exercise this capacity and uplift ever more artists.

Through our long-standing relationship with Ben Lazzareschi at JLL, we were invited to program a vacant space at Uptown Station in Oakland. As a historic site, we wanted to find a local partner who would help us extend this opportunity to the artistic community of the East Bay. After lots of outreach, research, and conversations, we found that partnership in Jared and Ian, the two brothers behind the Oakland mainstay Good Mother Gallery.

After months of negotiations stewarded by Blake, the Good Mother brothers got keys to Suite E and promptly turned it into a beautiful white box gallery which they named Good Mother Studio. This new venue is roughly twice the size of their former gallery and has allowed them to put on larger group and solo shows. With a focus on young and early career artists, Good Mother Studio is a platform for artists to develop their practice and sell their work while attracting hundreds of visitors to what was recently a vacant and dim storefront.

The goal of [working] has always been to turn underutilized retail storefronts into a means for the expansion of local culture. We’re incredibly proud that we have been able to connect Good Mother to Uptown Station and look forward to how their work in uplifting local artists plays a role in transforming the neighborhood, the bay area, and our shared creative communities.

Over six years working with young creatives through Problem Children we have recognized a need for sustained support and pathways for these hungry and motivated minds to engage with the world around them. Furthermore, it’s been clear that these must be local, physical, opportunities where they can articulate their unique voice and form connections based on shared passions, perspectives, and purpose.

To figure out what this might look like we decided to take the best parts of Problem Children and turn them into a two-day event open to a wider audience. This led us to design and produce Too Much Information (TMI). Structured as a symposium, TMI aimed to be a pathway for creative spirits of all ages to create new knowledge, develop wisdom, and expand their potential through inter-generational relationships built on mutual support, encouragement, and daring.

For our first attempt, we invited former Problem Children students like Chelsie to lead a reading discussion, Gio to present on Solis Ardor, and Airis, Carter, and Kaiya to share recent projects and personal dreams. Alongside them we hosted a conversation between sculptors Lynette and Georgia Hodges, made space for Vicki Tan to share an excerpt from her forthcoming book, and asked Danny Jones to take us down a rabbit hole of generative image making.

This intermixing of ages, mediums, and inquiries created a space of inter-generational conversation based on a shared commitment to honesty, self-expression, and grace. It was an atmosphere of fellowship and warmth that uplifted presenters, attendees, and us as the hosts. It was a true blessing to see our intentions come to life through the presentations and exchanges of those who attended.

Thank you to everyone who showed up, shared, and joined us in creating a new pathway for younger creative minds to engage with their community, city, and culture. Moving forward, the educational offerings Problem Library creates will continue to move us in this direction.

Conversation, experimentation, and reflection have always been at the heart of how Problem Library grows. If you’ve been following us for a while you’ll know that we have changed quite a bit since our first days in 2016. This is a feature not a bug or lack of vision. It is a reflection of our dedication to listening for where our collective skills, talents, and inclinations can be of service to those around us. While the events listed above represent major milestones, this year we also experimented with other ways we might be of service to exceptional people and projects.

In February we worked closely with Dapo Onikuyide to host Venture: Night Shift, a pop up showcasing a series of artworks centered around bringing the outside in. Dapo’s project, Venture, sees him exploring the world through scent and a belief that our environment leads to creativity just as much as our mindset. A belief we wholeheartedly agree with. While the event was a success, we are primarily thankful to Dapo for donating a significant portion of his sales to support Problem Children.

Then, in March, we began working with Steve Terry of Wild Life Archive to host a two-day exhibition, Altered States. The exhibition explored a connection between San Francisco and the United Kingdom via their respective summer’s of love. Through material in the archive Steve illuminated an oft-overlooked connection that highlights how communities can come together to change the energy of their locales and alter the shape of their moment in history. We’re thankful to Steve for the closeup reminder of this power and for his financial, creative, and material donations.

As a final point in this thread, we launched the pilot for a new program called Barn Raising in July. An homage to the historical act of barn raising, our version aims to raise a barn of community and mutual support toward goals that benefit us all. Barn Raising, led by Danny and Tamara on Sundays, involved guiding attendees through social time, weekly questions, and structured opportunities to share ongoing projects. Their gracious and steadfast leadership often sparked new collaborations and even provided momentum for Nate as he launched his own community gathering and presentation event series, Local Critique.

As we continue to shape Barn Raising into a central program for 2024, the experiment underscored the importance of spaces offering lightly guided programming and structured community building. Places that foster interaction with a shared commitment to openness, respect, and kindness, cultivating relationships that challenge us to explore the edges of our potential. Places where we openly delve into our unique purposes and can find allies in our journey to create things we envision for the world—things that are good, true, and beautiful.

We are often asked “What is Problem Library?” and while the answer can vary based on the person asking, the person answering, and the amount of time available, the truest and most steadfast answer is: Problem Library is a group of people.

While the shape of that group changes frequently - some have come, some have gone, some are coming - we have always been a small team encouraging each other to reach our full potential. This encouragement stems from the belief that individual purpose is found in serving others and the simple idea that we should leave this place better than we found it. That can mean a million different things. We think that is fantastic.

As an organization we have fostered organic and fluid growth, embedding flexibility into our fledgling institution. This keeps us responsive to the goals of our members and sensitive to the needs of the world around us. While flexibility remains a core value, we recognize the necessity of growing towards more tangible goals that demand financial stability.

Which leads to another truth: Problem Library relies entirely on volunteers and self-funding. No mysterious financiers, no large gifts or grants, no wealthy members.

We are merely a devoted group bound by the belief that addressing what is missing in the world is our collective responsibility. While the absence of substantial financial backing affords us exploratory freedom, it also imposes limitations on the extent of our impact.

We figure out where to go by continuing the conversation that has been unfolding over time in our group. This is a conversation that seeks to translate philosophical ideas about the good life into actionable change. From these internal conversations our work is born.

However, this conversation isn't only among us; it involves you. Your contributions and involvement are important in helping us grow. Not only with our programs but in bridging the gap between our ambitions and the financial resources needed for meaningful impact.

So, amidst this immense amount of sharing, we turn toward you with a question that is vital to keeping this conversation alive: will you support Problem Library in 2024?

If your answer is no, we invite you to unsubscribe and unfollow.

If your answer is yes, we invite you to reflect on how you can commit to helping us with our biggest need: financial stability.

The greatest way to do that is through a monthly contribution or donation matching with your employer. We also invite you to finance the tuition of a Problem Children artist, come to ticketed events, advocate for us to those in a position to financially help, or by making connections that allow us to advocate for ourselves.

Beyond the financial, you can show up and take a leap of faith when we explore something new like TMI or Barn Raising. You can reply to our newsletter emails and share your thoughts, ideas, points of connection. And you can help spread the word when we are recruiting for Problem Children and other application based programs. We value your engagement because every voice changes the shape of this conversation, and we think that is fantastic.

You can learn more and make a tax-deductible donation here: 

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In reflecting on the collective contributions and work of this year, our gratitude extends to you all. We thank you for the diverse ways you have allowed us to do work worth doing and expanded the discourse that defines Problem Library. Regardless of your level of involvement this past year, your role in this ongoing conversation is valued.

For those who joined us at events, your smiling faces were always a joy to see. Heartfelt thanks to those who amplified our reach by sharing our flyers and extending invitations to friends. Your efforts helped ensure that our work reached a wider audience than we could achieve on our own.

A special note of appreciation goes out to those who helped make our Garage Sale a success. Together we raised roughly $5,000. This support is instrumental in sending us off into 2024 with less stuff, a slightly healthier bank account, and the warmth from connecting with wonderful people.

Lastly, our most profound gratitude is reserved for everyone who actively engaged with, supported, and committed to our work through donations of money, time, and heart – our year would have been weaker without your contributions:

Airis, Agelio, Alex, Annika, Ben, Caroline, Carter, Charlotte, Chelsie, Colin, Daniel C., Daniel F., Dapo, David, Eliot, Elizabeth, Georgia, Giovana, Ian J., Ian L., Jared, Jennifer, Jenny S., Jenny V., Jeremy, Jessica, Kainoa, Kaiya, Ken, Lizette, Lukas, Lyn, Lynette, Monica, Nicole, Roberto, Sarah, Sofia, Sophia, Stephanie, Steve, Susan, Vicki, and Will.

Thank you one and all.

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We hope the remaining days of 2023 bring you wonderful new memories with loved ones and we look forward to being, working, and growing with you in 2024.

With much love,
Problem Library
(Blake, Danica, Daniel, Danny, Jeff, Jess, Nate, Sharon and Tamara)