Meet Gaia Rhodes: Sun Space Creative director and artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gaia Rhodes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gaia, what’s the end goal, career-wise?
My wife Elsie and I are dedicated to making art and music more accessible. For consumers of art, but also for artists. There are so many sharks trying to take advantage of young artists. Pay to play, pay to post, it’s a minefield of scams and charlatans. Sunland Sun Space is a place for musicians and artists of all types to share their creations. The goal is to create a community of artists that support each other, to create an ecosystem where someone can share, regardless of follower count or financial concerns. The world needs more art, and artists need safe spaces to create from. At the end of our careers we hope to look back on a community of artists that got their start at Sunland Sun Space, but even If all we accomplish is making one artist not lose faith, that would be enough.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Sunland Sun Space is a space for artists to share their creations. It started as a venue in Shadow Hills. We were known for our Jazz nights and our flagship show, Unusual Tuesdays. We wanted to create a space where anyone could perform, all you had to do was ask. The venue became so much more than what we had originally envisioned. Artists from all over Los Angeles, and the world, came to play in our funky little spot. Unfortunately, we had to close our doors because of Covid. But the spirit and dream stayed alive. Sun Space now operates as a twitch and youtube channel. We are growing our community, and learning the ins and outs of a digital world. It’s a challenge, but one worth taking on. The world always needs more art, and we hope to help fill this beautiful existence with as much weird, wonderful creations as we can.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We would start with a hike to the top of Mount Lukens, the highest point in the City of Los Angeles. From there you can see the entire basin, all the way to the Catalina islands on a clear day. It’s one of the most spectacular views of Los Angeles. There are so many amazing museums to visit; The Norton Simon, The Getty, The Huntington Gardens. We would have to catch a concert at the Disney Concert Hall, preferably one where they play the spectacular organ that resides there. We would go to the Santa Monica Pier, drive down PCH with the windows down. We would explore Topanga canyon, catch a performance at the Will Gear Theatricum Botanicum. We would go for Sushi in little Tokyo, get an original french dip sandwich from Cole’s downtown, and if we were feeling fancy, grab a drink at the Edison.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
We have had so many amazing artists work with Sunspace. One group that I feel deserves more attention is a band called Air Cool Jenny. They are talented, generous, and kind. They also are very active in the artistic community, helping out others whenever they can.

Website: www.sunlandsunspace.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunlandsunspace/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SunlandSunSpace/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sun-space-los-angeles

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWZG1KZuqktMNirIN7LMZTw

Other: https://www.twitch.tv/sunland_sunspace