Rogers Experimental House (RXH) is a cooperative platform for creative activity, incubating contributions to the cultural fabric of Northwest Arkansas by collaborating on an array of services, material resources, and learning opportunities for artists, designers, entrepreneurs and the local community. After much anticipation, Rogers Experimental House has announced the location for their creative space, 121 W. Walnut St. on the bricks in Downtown Rogers. For the next eight months, the first floor will be used to pilot a pop-up location supporting various creative activities, projects, and community initiatives. The long-term goal of the Rogers Experimental House is to build a community-accessible resource for people to create, inspire and learn.
About the Building
The historic structure was built in 1912 and for many years supported retail on the ground floor and the Elks Lodge upstairs. Most recently the building was occupied by an architectural and engineering firm but has sat empty for nearly a decade. While others may see an old building, RXH Board President Dayton Castleman sees 6,000 square feet of potential.
“I came to Northwest Arkansas to help shape the rapidly transforming art and culture landscape, and I noticed how difficult it was to access certain services, tools and specialized studios that I’d taken for granted in larger urban areas with more developed art and creative environments,” Castleman said. “I’d like to see that access grow in our area because it’s an important component of a healthy creative ecosystem. I want to attract artists and entrepreneurs to Rogers, and help make it a hub for people who make things.”
The RXH plans to feature various specialized art studios, art classes, co-work spaces, and areas for 3-D printing. They have a partnership planned with GPP Cycling to develop a bicycle repair clinic to teach people how to repair and maintain their bicycles. The organization, a 501 (c) (3) corporation, envisions for the future a permanent location close to Downtown Rogers that includes a commercial kitchen space, computer, art and technology studios and wood and metal shop spaces, to name a few.
More about RXH
Two of the five RXH board members have experience developing makerspaces in other cities such as Chicago, Philadelphia, and Rome, Georgia. RXH currently has three public art/mural projects in the works that will involve students from Rogers high schools, with one of the murals appearing at the Rogers Activity Center skateboard park.
How You Can Help
The RXH launched a crowd source funding campaign on Indiegogo.com to raise $12,000 and begin the creative offerings. To maximize the potential of the temporary space, RXH has some immediate financial needs. Members of the community who are willing to partner with RXH and donate time, talent and financial items or services such as art supplies and equipment, work tables, supplies for painting murals, 3-D printing materials, etc. will be recognized by name with a 3-D printed hexagonal tile on an ever-growing mosaic honeycomb donor wall.
For more information, contact the Rogers Experimental House by phone at (479) 202- 8631, follow them on Facebook or visit their website at experimentalhouse.com.
2017 RXH PROJECT AREAS
ART AND DESIGN | Workshops, classes, and exhibition
CO-WORKING AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SUPPORT
FABRICATION AND MAKING | Woodworking, Technology-driven Tools
PUBLIC ART CURATION AND DEVELOPMENT
CULINARY | Unique Community Dining Experiences
PERFORMANCE | Site-specific Dance, Theatre, and Music Productions
CYCLING | Cooperative Bike Shop
ROGERS EXPERIMENTAL HOUSE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT | Dayton Castleman, Artist, Museum Manager at 21c Museum Hotel
VICE PRESIDENT | Jessica Hester, AIA | LEED AP | NCARB, Owner/Architect, Verdant-Studio
SECRETARY | Karen Wagaman, VP of Downtown Development, Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce
TREASURER | David Vaden, CPA, Managing Partner, Ernst & Young, LLP
Morgan Hooker, Principal, High Street Real Estate Development, LLC