When touring the US the weird, magical space of HM
157 has been the Los Angeles home of The Druid Underground Film Festival, the
big back yard sprawling with mismatched furniture situated between
two outdoor campers and a giant mansion the easy-going backdrop for frolicking
strangers and friends. Built back in 1886, the house, Historical
Monument #157 on the California Landmark list and located in the Lincoln
Heights section of Los Angeles was home to murderer Horace P. Dibble, a
real estate office and other typical SoCal enterprises.
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DUFF founder Billy Burgess pitches filmatic lunacy at HM157
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My first time there was probably around 2007.
After a day of getting twisted with my buddies down at the LA river we rode our
bikes to where we had heard a "dance" was taking place. Not a “dance
party” but a “dance”. Coming up on the big spooky white house we took a second
to drink in the overgrown fauna and echoing music, locked up our bikes and got
psyched. Following the trail to the back yard, a hardcore SQUARE DANCE was in
full effect with more colored lights than an Italian horror movie. Folks were
letting go in every direction, a weird paradise.
The first night the Druid Underground Film Fest
held a screening at HM157 was the first time we pulled in over 100 audience
members. We dedicated a lifetime achievement award to one of my favorite living
filmmakers, Damon Packard, did a live interview with artist John Geary, drank
and laughed. It was a great, celebratory night of cinema.
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HM157 crowd at the 7th Annual Druid Underground Film Fest
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Although DUFF was
established in LA and had exhibited all over the city, no other venue surpassed
the kaleidoscopic mix of weirdos who gathered their energy there.
On Friday May 1st of this year, at 5:45
pm a fire broke out in a shed in the backyard. The blaze leveled the backyard
airstream, an RV and damaged surrounding buildings. When
Charon Nogues moved in in 2008, 3110 Broadway was
a run down, overgrown dump that took years to turn around. But with the help of
a tight group of artists, the stuffy old Victorian officially
transformed into HM 157, emerging as a stomping ground for
bands, lecturers and artists. I caught up with Charon online to discuss the
crushing blow and possibilities of the future.
BURGESS: Who are the founders of the space?
CHARON: I am one of the 3 founders of HM157. Reid Maxwell is my
co-founder. The third founder has been gone since 2009. My husband & I live
in the HM157 attic.
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| Firefighters getting wet at HM157 |
BURGESS: What happened? How did the fire start?
CHARON: We're not sure how the fire started. But it happened in the work-shed
area. The house is OK.
Two residents have lost everything. Luckily one was in San Francisco
and his elderly cat was elsewhere. Josephine, who lived in the Airstream,
salvaged her guitar & her ukelele, which were completely intact though the
cases were busted open by a fireman’s axe.
BURGESS: What have some of the immediate struggles been for HM157?
CHARON: The scariest thing is the insurance assholes came by for our
info, saying shit like, "you in big trouble!" The rude ass laundromat
owner walked into our backyard last night with a thug & flashlights, saying
things like; "We know what you were doing here" and "you had a grow lab
over there"…
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| Charon Nogues rocking DUFF swag during HM157 restoration |
BURGESS: What’s next?
CHARON: Well… We're taking it as an opportunity for a clean slate. My husband Gaston Nogues had moved into the attic with me in
Sept, to help reimagine the whole aesthetic/functional dynamic of the space.
Thus far it's been a slow evolution made of what ever is handy & affordable.
At this stage we get to decide how to represent ourselves after we fix all the
damage done to the neighboring properties. This time solar power in conjunction
with an upgraded power system, faux bois outdoor seating, shade/weather structures, hospitality outfitting and a more efficient outdoor kitchen. And get building permits!
Check out the HM157 website for updates and find out how you can help get the space back on its feet:
