Jail time is a familiar path for street artists.  But for the Albus Cavus collective, it’s their job.  Every Saturday, members like DECOY head up to a Maryland correctional facility and give art classes to kids stuck behind bars.  So while a large chunk of the DC creative community (my editor-in-chief among them) soaked up the sun at Art Basel, Albus Cavus went to prison.  Now’s your chance to bail them out:

Above, a view outside the Freezer, the Fridge’s younger sibling.  From left to right: Alex Goldstein, Proprietor & Gallery Director of the Fridge; Kevin “JAZI” Irvin, who creates those giant “Give Me a Vote” hands you see all over town; Alicia Cosnahan, the artist known as DECOY; and Peter Krsko, artist and the executive director of Albus Cavus.  (Also seen are two of of DIABETIK’s traffic cones.)

In addition to their new weekend work, on Wednesday and Thursday Albus Cavus conducts youth development activities with the Perry School, a community services center that tackles chronic poverty around the North Capitol Street area of DC.  This isn’t just a creative outlet for these kids, for many of them it’s a place to eat a square meal, develop valuable skills and grow into a better future for themselves and their parents.

While I mention the prison and Perry School work Albus Cavus has, don’t forget they hold class at both the Fridge and Freezer for people of all ages.  You might come out of a workshop with anything from a tape baby to a Mark Rothko look-a-like.  Your contributions and attendance at the gala on Saturday will help fund these classes, their teachers and if you’re lucky, maybe it will also put some art on your wall.

The Freezer is located a few blocks away from the Fridge on the other side of Barrack’s Row, a trendy spot on Capitol Hill near Eastern Market.  A year into his operation at the Fridge, Alex answered a Craigslist ad for space and landed the Freezer.  Aptly titled for this time of year, it’s a partitioned garage inside a warehouse without any heat.

Above and below, JAZI sorts through an array of empty spray paint cans in the back of his van that he’s collecting for a future sculpture.

Above, Alicia working one of her latest stencils.  If you attended the LIKENESS show, you might recognize the forehead of Alan Greenspan peeking up on the left side of the frame.  Her silk screen of him was damaged but I hope she makes another for more prints.  A long time ago I drove the catering truck for Dean & Deluca in Georgetown and delivered a gift basket to Greenspan’s house.  His security detail received the package and asked if I had any extra candy in the truck.

Below, one corner of the Freezer’s space.  At the bottom of the frame is the top of DECOY’s Christmas tree.  The Freezer is many things: working space, classroom, jazz concert space (Alex also told me bands on the Dischord Records label used to practice here) but most vividly it’s a storage space filled from floor to ceiling with artwork.  BORF’s recent exhibition is stored in a closet, a framed Shepard Fairey print was spotted on the floor, a stack of DIABETIK’s traffic cones sat in a large garbage can and DECOY’s paintings hung on the wall.

Not everything goes perfectly at the Freezer.  Alicia showed me recent attempts to construct balloon animals.  Intended as a pink poodle, the knotted beast on top resembles more of a hybrid farm animal or “your lower intestines,” as Steve Martin made in Parenthood.

Below, one of Peter’s hanging water balloon sculptures (I’m guessing they have roof access at the Freezer).

Finally, Dan Steinhilber, who has a few large canvases inside the Freezer, popped by the space and asked for large black garbage bags.  Perhaps this “van Gogh of Home Depot” will use them for his next installation?  Hope to see you on Saturday everybody.

Photo Credits: Joshua Yospyn (please ask permission to use our images)

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