If you've peeked at the Facebook page of Quincy Ross within the last few weeks, you might have noticed that the local photographer, gadabout and after-hours party guru switched up his current residence to Los Angeles.
It isn't cause for alarm, however, as the artist and nightlife impresario told Jackalope Ranch recently that he hasn't permanently moved to the West Coast, but instead has merely opened a new gallery and party space in L.A. As for the Facebook location change, Ross adds, it's symbolic of how he's currently dividing his time between Phoenix and the SoCal city.
See also: - Peter Conley and Quincy Ross Announce Big Plans for The Icehouse - Quincy Ross Closes The Quincy for the Summer, Announces Upcoming After-Hours Schedule - Quincy Ross in Jackalope Ranch's 100 Creatives Series
"I'm going to change it every time I'm in and out of town. When I'm in L.A., I'll put that up on my Facebook, and vice-versa when I'm in Phoenix. It's going to be weird and strange, but there's a fan base out there that I have that it would make more sense to have L.A. on there when I'm doing things there," he says. "People shouldn't worry because I'm still a part of Phoenix. I'm just also doing this new thing out in L.A."
And from his description, Ross' the new thing sounds pretty fly. Much like his previous joints in Phoenix, Ross says that his L.A. space will be also be dubbed "The Quincy."
Located on the outer edges of L.A.'s South Central neighborhood near the intersection of Figueroa Street and Adams Boulevard, it's a two-story loft/warehouse in close proximity to the city's downtown and the University of Southern California.
According to Ross, the space boasts a dance floor and bar, as well as a rooftop area with a "really sick view of downtown L.A."
"One of the key things is that I've always liked locations that are off the beaten path and this place is not in the L.A. arts district," he says. "So its got the college, art, and downtown L.A. vibe and that's kinda what I'm gonna try to tackle all of that and try to stay away from the whole Hollywood scene."
So far, Ross has already held three parties at the space since it's opening in late September. He says that the events will rock a similar vibe of art and music that have been the hallmark of Quincy shindigs here in Phoenix.
He's also worked with a few L.A.-based promoters, artist groups, and DJ collectives, such as the Villains Crew, Bass Go Boom, and Splat Media. He's also working with former Phoenicians like the legendary Z-Trip and comics artist Jim Mahfood about collaborating on future events at the space.
Here's the kicker: Ross hasn't forgotten about his Valley friends, however, and is planning to bring out a variety of Phoenix-based visual artists and DJs.
"What I'm going to do, basically, what I refer to as art installations called The Quincy out in L.A. where there will be things that you are used to or seeing out here," he says. "DJs and artwork as well, where I'm bringing out the artists that I represent in Phoenix out there."
That includes the likes of painters J.B. Snyder or Michael Little, as well as turntablists such as Pickster One. Ross says he brought out popular Phoenix DJ Ariel Perez to perform at recent party at the L.A. space.
"Those are the artists that I want to expose first. That's the look and feel. Pretty much the artwork that had been shown at The Quincy on McDowell will be brought with new work and a new presentation style," he says. "It's gonna be a good thing for people who want to come out here and check out a mix of Phoenix and L.A., which is what I feel most comfortable with, having my Phoenix people with me when I'm out in L.A. That's what it is, a marriage or exchange between these two cities that have talent."
He's also planning on hosting a few of his signature Turntables and Tamales parties in L.A.
"Z-Trip says that shit would crush out there. So we'll do a beta test at the [L.A.] location but I'll also be doing exactly what I've been doing out here," Ross says.
There's also a possibility of renting charted buses to bring Phoenix scenesters and regular Quincy attendees out to L.A. for a weekend, he adds.
Despite this new focus on L.A., Ross also reiterates he isn't abandoning Phoenix by any means.
"Not at all. The idea is to continue maintaining a studio both at Icehouse and Anti_Space. I'll be working with Rafael Navarro on some projects and presenting art shows at the Icehouse and a couple other things on the menu there as far as art and architecture library."
He also promises that he'll be putting on a pair of Quincy-style parties next month in Phoenix, including a New Years Eve rager and an "End of the World" affair on December 21 to coincide with the whole Mayan doomsday prophecy.
Ross says, ultimately, one of the reasons he decided to expand into Southern California was to help expose Phoenix artists to a whole new market.
"Just because the exposure for the artists that I work with here, even myself, could take advantage of by being in L.A. and showing off their work. I could try to get into another gallery out here or do what I'm doing and open my own and host whoever I want to host instead of getting in the line of whatever artist and gallery spaces that are already out there. Mostly, its the exposure that L.A. has to offer."
