The Grand Opening art salon and gallery in the Gilman District has closed down, putting the Wingnut Museum, which honors unconventional individuals, at risk. Originally established in October 2023 by Jovi Vidal and Maria Yates, the gallery operated as an experiment, funded by personal savings for a year. Over 14 months, it showcased local art and produced live events while featuring the Illusion Room—a mesmerizing immersive space. Following this closure, the Wingnut Museum is now seeking a new location to continue its unique celebration of creativity and eccentricity.
It is with subtle resistance and an undercurrent of hope that we've come to a difficult decision: it's time to end the experiment that we currently know as Grand Opening.
We started on the premise to operate for a full year and call it quits, Grand Opening noted on Instagram, so after 14 months of successful operation we've decided it's time to actually follow through with that.
The museum honors both the literal wingnut—the tiny piece of metal hardware—as well as the figurative wingnuts of the world: the freaks, the weirdos, the unhinged leftists, as its founder, Neko, put it.
And though the Illusion Room is likely gone for good, the Wingnut Museum is actively looking for a new home.
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