TRASA: Urban, Art, Collective

-Simon Powell-Evans, Gadfly Magazine

TRASA is located in a 14,000 square-foot renovated pickle factory in a unique part of West Downtown that used to be covered by freeway ramps. They’re in great company—this area also houses Kilby Court, Area 51, Positively Fourth Street, the Utah Animal Rights Coalition, and was once the mecca of local punk rock: the Speedway Café, the Painted Word, SL Indian Center, squats and freight trains running along the middle of the streets. Now, I’ve only lived here since 1995 (moving from Barcelona and before that, England) but I still remember this area fondly for the impromptu warehouse punk music, Chola’s early shows, and standing on the roof of 4th and 4th, standing around a fire in the snow, drinking PBR and feeling that something was really happening. Nothing came, mainly because we did nothing… not this time.

TRASA is ushering in the new movement—a convergence of local art, music, and activism, to create better social awareness. This is similar to what I experienced in Spain, where art, music and activism are synonymous forms of expression; where 500,000 turn out on the streets to protest injustice.

TRASA has started out by offering on-site classes and workshops, sponsoring projects in schools and community settings, and participating in projects with other Salt Lake non-profit organizations, social service agencies, and community groups.