Remembering the Victims at Ghost Ship in Oakland

Around 11:30 pm on Friday, December 2, a massive fire engulfed a makeshift venue for the arts known as Ghost Ship in Oakland, CA.

The warehouse space was central to the local DIY scene and provided a home to live-in artists looking to escape skyrocketing rents in the Bay Area. Events held there supported the space and those who contributed to the Staya Yuga art collective.

The fire, described by Oakland fire officials as “the largest structure fire the city's history," has left a confirmed 36 dead - including artist Cash Askew of Them Are Us Too - with many more sustaining injuries and the loss of their homes and/or belongings.

The show - set to feature Wisconsin synth wizard Golden Donna (aka Joel Shanahan). Shanahan survived unharmed, but label co-owners Britt and Amanda Brown confirmed with LA Weekly on Sunday that two of the label’s artists, Cherushii (Chelsea Faith Dolan) and Nackt (Johnny Igaz), are still unaccounted for.

Three days later, much of the building has yet to be searched and many attendees are still missing.

Many musicians and artists around the globe struggle to find reliable places that welcome the type of challenging, innovative styles that many had brought to the Ghost Ship during its run as a makeshift venue.

The two-story building was reportedly without smoke alarms or sprinkler systems, and had limited access to exits, making it an especially dangerous place to be in the event of an emergency.

Musicians and artists have taken to social media to open up a discussion about the problems associated with obtaining legal spaces where performance events can safely take place. Singer-songwriter Kimya Dawson posted a heartfelt meditation about the risk-reward paradox in the wake of the fire on Facebook.

The Gray Area Foundation, a San Francisco-based non-profit, has set up a YouCaring donation campaign in the wake of the disaster to assist with fire relief, which has raised over $200,000 since it was launched Saturday morning. You can make a tax deductible donation here.

Our hearts are with the victims, their families, and the broader musical community affected.