Third Life Studio

08/21/2019

I so love this painting of a young pianist playing at a student recital of Somerville musician and teacher Liza Kitchell, held at Third Life Studio (painting by Maggie Connor). . . The red wall, the lamp, the linoleum, the grain of the piano wood, the focus, the feeling. Just one little moment in the Studio's history.

08/21/2019

A well-written and interesting article in DigBoston by local musician Steve Provizer, offering a perspective that covers the closing of Third Life Studio and the opening of the Encore casino. . .

Gambling, Jazz, and Boston’s Musical Culture

08/02/2019

So the end of Third Life Studio--at least in its Union Square location--has come. I loaded the last few things into my car this evening. Before driving away, I sat in the empty space in low light one last time by myself, speaking out loud my deep gratitude to that beautiful space, as well as naming many many many musicians, dancers, and teachers who added to the creative flow there over the last 16 years-- as well as to all the wonderful and generous souls who helped me in all ways through the dismantling of the space. I have come to truly believe that what makes a space special is what happens in it, and the communities that add their loving and vibrant spirit to its essence. Perhaps "Third Life Studio" is a concept, an energy, a vibration that will just pick up in the next space it finds to call home for awhile. I hope so, and I will certainly keep you posted. Goodbye--for now. . .

07/15/2019

And a huge, appreciative thank you to the amazing Mark Redmond who has presented 71 shows at Third Life Studio since our collaboration began in 2015--his last being this past Saturday night. He is doing so much to keep the intimate experience of attending live music performances thriving in the Greater Boston area--kudos to you Mark! Long live the Mandorla Music Series!!!

A joyous end to Mandorla's run at Third Life Studio: lots of energy, tons of groove, part circus, part revival meeting. Merenda led this sextet version of TickleJuice through two sets of original compositions and an arrangement of Skatalites' founder Roland Alphonso's 'Higher Sight.' Beautiful night.

07/14/2019

It has been a month since I posted that Third Life Studio would be closing at the end of July; I have been truly overwhelmed by --and very grateful for-- the outpouring of love, appreciation, sadness, and outrage from all of you who have been involved in some way with the creative energy of the Studio over its 16+ years. I have met with a woman from Somerville City Hall. I have met with State Representatives Denise Provost and Mike Connolly. Although nothing can be done, I do feel that the Studio's story has been deeply taken in as a strong warning that more must be done on a political level to preserve the presence of the Arts and other small businesses in the face of gentrification. There are 2 more concerts at the Studio before closing--Indian classical sitar and tabla on Sunday 7/21 and the folk/jazz quartet of guitarist Bob Davoli (with one of my favorite local jazz singers Gabriela Martina!) on Weds 7/24. Please join us and say your goodbyes to this wonderful space! And posted here is an article written after an interview I did with the Somerville Journal/Wicked Local Somerville: https://somerville.wickedlocal.com/news/20190709/somervilles-third-life-studio-forced-to-close-after-16-years
Thanks once again to all of you for what you have brought to Third Life Studio. I said to someone recently that although the Studio will no longer exist, the creative flow through all who have been part of it will absolutely continue to flow onwards on a different course somewhere else. Because that is what water does. Much love to all.

'Open-hearted connection between people — that’s what this space has been about,' said director Susan Robbins. 'To have that eclipsed by

06/12/2019

Dear friends,
I am writing to let all of you know—musicians, dancers, artists, arts supporters, and audience members alike—that I have recently made the extremely difficult decision to close Third Life Studio at the end of July. The current 5-year lease on the space ends on July 31st, and I will not be continuing on after that.

All the growth, change, and development in Union Square is indeed positive in many ways. But it has also made it impossible for me to stay open. I have spent the last four months in an intensely arduous process with the Studio landlord. After much communication, deliberation, and a dedicated attempt on my part to transform the operational model of the Studio into a more sustainable one, the owner was only willing to renew the lease for one year and-- congruent with the changes in property values occurring in Union Square and across Somerville-- for an exorbitant amount of money. More than can be supported by a humble yet beloved arts space.

Third Life Studio has been my personal creative home since 2003 where I have offered all my voice lessons, classes, and workshops, held all rehearsals for my different musical ensembles through the years, and engaged in all my own creative work. And then. . . much to my own surprise, it developed into a really special and beloved performance and teaching space for countless musicians, dancers and other artists of many genres from around the Greater Boston area. High- level musicians repeatedly tell me that this beautiful, intimate, peaceful room with such positive spirit and extraordinary acoustics is their favorite place to play in the entire city. The caliber of artistry presented has drawn audience from all over Eastern MA (and often all over New England) to Union Square. Workshop leaders and musicians from around the world travelling through Boston have taught and performed there. It has been a beloved space of healing, creativity, positivity and artistic expression. We all know how the arts give hope, meaning, beauty and vision to the world--all the more necessary in the world we live in today. So, it is an incredibly deep loss for us all, and it is not just me who is heartbroken.

I extend my deepest gratitude to you all--for pouring your dedicated artistry into the alchemical vibration of that room, for coming to take in the magic of creative live performance over the years, and for letting me know how much the space has meant to you. For me, Third Life Studio has been a labor of love-- and that love has certainly been amplified and extended out into our needy world a thousand fold by all of you.

I hope to see you at one of the remaining concerts through the 24th of July. Thank you, and may we all thrive in these times.

In peace,
Susan Robbins