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Stockton "hatching" a new work space for emerging artists in city's growing art scene

An non-profit hopes to not only give artists a place to work, but also to open it up to the community and to educate students in the Stockton Unified School District to the possibilities of becoming an artists.

Like his first name, Phoenix Trent is hoping to help a pair of buildings rise from down and out to a rising star on the Stockton's infant art scene.

"We want to be a pillar for the community. We plan to be here 20, 30, 40 years down the road. We really love this place," said Trent, CEO for HATCH Workshop.

The former 1923 print shop is being transformed on N. Aurora Street on the edge of Downtown Stockton into a "Center for Emerging Makers."

Makers include artists using wood, metal, jewelry, CNC or Computer Numeric Control for cutting, carving and more. In addition, an old hotel next door built in 1918 is being renovated into more than a dozen living spaces for artists.

The non-profit hopes to not only give artists a place to work, but also to open it up to the community and to educate students in the Stockton Unified School District to the possibilities of becoming an artist.

The project has been a year-and-a-half in the making and is funded by grants and donations.

Eventually, HATCH would like to have monthly memberships to give anyone in the community access to machines to create their own works of art.

@kurt rivera

Daniel Koy isn't so coy when it comes to fire and melting metal.

"There we go some liquid metal," said Koy, pouring the metal which turned into a liquid.

He melts it into blocks which he sculpts into unique pieces of art.

"This is aluminum. We have a bronze piece right here. Iron," said Koy.

Welcome to the non-profit HATCH Workshop on North Aurora Street downtown.

It's a 35,000 square foot "Center for Emerging Artists" renovated warehouse in a former 1920's print shop.

"Here at HATCH we want to lower the barrier to entry and get as many people involved in the arts and crafts movement as possible because this allow people the opportunity to pursue what they love," said HATCH Workshop CEO Phoenix Trent.

And that love might come from an artistic spin on clothing or jewelry.

"I have endless possibilities down here. And, so that's really enabled me to experiment a lot with my work," said Mirabai Trent, Jewelry

Rowan Diioia is shop director and co-founder.

He also creates unique metal and wood furniture.

"There's no welding. It's all friction fit. There's inserts here. And, as you can see this just comes loose," said Rowan Diooia, HATCH Workshop, Co-Founder

There's also a CNC or Computer Numeric Control for cutting, carving and more.

"It's like the surface of an ocean. So, we are cutting this and making this into coasters and casting resin on top. I just woke up one morning and I was like I love to see the ocean in cedar," said Elezar Abraham, the HATCH Workshop Digital Creative Specialist.

Another part of the artist's workspace includes renovation of a 1918 hotel into more than a dozen living spaces.

"People can bring clients up as well as meet with the rest of the community here," says Malachi Trent, the HATCH Workshop Executive Director.

The bottom floor will become an art gallery.

"We demo'd the whole wall and pulled down the old lathe and plaster to expose this beautiful brick," added Malachi Trent.

Funding for this artist oasis comes from grants and donations.

But, their plans also include spreading a love of art to school kids throughout Stockton.

And, they'll also offer anyone the chance to rent their space and equipment or learn a new skill.

"We want to be a pillar for the community. We plan to be here 20, 30, 40 years down the road. We really love this place," added Phoenix Trent.

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