Five artists transformed a vacant Seattle bungalow slated for demolition into a temporary exhibition space called "Once Removed," conceived by gallerists Zoë Hensley and Sammy Skidmore. The project invited visitors to experience site-specific works made from impermanent materials like wax, cornstarch, and charcoal, set against the backdrop of a house left mid-renovation. The event culminated in a single evening of music and art before the house was torn down.
This project matters because it challenges the commercial gallery system by prioritizing ephemeral, experiential art in a city grappling with a severe housing crisis and the loss of shared cultural spaces. By repurposing condemned houses, "Once Removed" acts as a small protest against gentrification and the impersonal nature of digital culture, emphasizing the value of real-life, in-person gatherings in an era of AI-generated content and online isolation.