At the inception of Modern Out West, we had the opportunity to clean, restore, and document the historic Bliss Studio, simultaneously working towards a space that would serve as our home base, a working shop, a library for the impressive Bliss collection, and a community gallery space. Through documenting the Bliss collections and work, and documenting their lives, we were able to approach our many tasks with the perspective of historic preservation.

Updating the building’s structure was a hands-on, collaborative process. Every team member got their feet dirty, painting, cleaning, organizing, and forming strong personal connections to the building from the outset. It’s clear that the building is loved by many, allowing it to continue to serve as a creative studio and cultural touchpoint.