The Electric Lodge…built in 1940; by the Masons…has remained the Masonic Lodge until this
incarnation began May 1996. Through the 5 challenging years of gestation, including an extensive
renovation, the Lodge has seen the likes of drama, yoga, dance (butoh and other), music,
photography, children's theater classes, the birth of a theater ensemble, staged readings,
art exhibitions, environmental activism and more.

Upstairs is a modular, "black box", full equity waiver theater, while the ground floor studio is an
open space for classes and workshops. Both spaces are also designed for professional level
(still and other) photographic shoots, as an exhibition venue for painters, sculptors and the like,
as well as rehearsals of all sorts. The theater can also serve as a "low end" sound studio.

In 1999, since completing the renovation, the Electric Lodge has been honored with "Earthbeat"
a sold out, city granted, collaboration of resident dancer Oguri and the world touring jazz
percussionist, Adam Rudolph (both Venice residents); "Bootstraps" (created and co-produced by
Adam Rudolph), the critically acclaimed avant-garde jazz festival, involving over 40 musicians in 5
performances; "Boil", an original production by the resident theater company, Venice Theatre
Works; Daresay, 2 unique solo women performances, which mesmerized the audiences (a co
production, by the Lodge and VTW); Stephen Fiske's, one man musical creation and The Venice
Arts Mecca's fall culmination performance by over 30 young folks, from 4 to 18 years old!
(VAM is a group based at the City's adjacent Vera Davis Community Center)

The year 2001 brought more dance, music and theatrical productions: from the resident artists,
Oguri, Adam Rudolph and VTW, as well as from other talented performers; art exhibitions; the
birth of a musician's composers lab; the dawning of a monthly performance lab ("Max 10"),
the explosive beginning of the Organic Orchestra, an amazing avant garde music ensemble,
and an ever expanding dance/performance class schedule.

Though I am the Managing and Artistic Director (as well as a performer), the true owners
are all the other performing and visual artists who have used and will use this space.
Without their energetic and loving spirit, this generative space would be just a
structure of planks and nails…

For purely selfish reasons…please enjoy the space…for once you have shuffled off this
mortal property…some of your energy remains…adding to the potpourri of inspired
spirits roaming the lodge…

so…welcome…Joel Shapiro