Artist Interview - Zach Henkel
Zach in the stairwell of Chromedge, 2015
Zach outside of the old B&T Metals Factory, 2010
When I start the video for my interview with Zach Henkel, also known as The Captain, he is decked out in 400 Square gear. “I own a piece of clothing from each entity of 400 Square,” he proudly states while showing off an original Strongwater restaurant t-shirt, accompanied by a 400 West Rich knit hat. He lists his library of clothing and accessories from nearly each business on our block. “Everywhere except for Chromedge,” he resigns.
Zach’s collection of 400 Square items is a fine example of his 10 years of work on our campus. His start on the project that became 400 West Rich, the first building in our creative family, was because of his friendship with Chris Sherman. With a small team, they transformed this 109 year-old warehouse, which previously was home to a porcelain factory called EBCO. Section by section, room by room, they made their way through the building, creating a refuge for art and artists. At the time, people weren’t familiar with 400 West Rich, so the goal was to familiarize them with the space so when they left, they’d be eager to return. They hosted underground events to build-up an exciting, comfortable, and safe location.
Zach and Chris Sherman, 2011
Zach repairing the roof, 2014
Zach is serious about safety, which is one reason why he does well in his role as Maintenance Manager. In fact, he tells me he has a sixth sense for safety. “Well, seventh sense. My sixth sense is geography.” He explains he has great spacial awareness, and describes being able to “see through landscapes, walls, and around corners,” which again comes in handy when you’re trying to safely and efficiently house 150 artists in just one building.
He fondly recollects each stage of 400 West Rich’s life: the people or businesses who occupied the building at one time or another. Zach seems to enjoy the assembled history of the building. He describes that it's been "cobbled" together by the different people and stories that have thrived in this space, making 400 into the place we know and love today. He has several anecdotes about what used to be in every corner of the building: a dance studio in The STEAM Factory, a welder and sculptor in the event space of Strongwater, and glass artists occupying the entire 2nd floor. He describes what the area would have looked like before 400 ever opened its doors. He describes how Walnut Street would have run through the Strongwater events courtyard, which we recognize now for beautiful industrial weddings. He knows exactly which portions of the building were originally EBCO and what the giant-sized manufacturing pieces that are left over were used for. He seems to visualize it as if he were there, a witness throughout history in the building, and I figure that must be his sixth sense.
Strongwater Events courtyard
Windows on 2nd floor studios of 400 West Rich, 2012
Former B&T Metals structure on 400 Square campus, 2016
Zach’s own history onsite is prolific. He’s had a hand in every part of each building, and he has “hung almost every door”. When I ask Zach for a favorite memory of the early days, he struggles to pick just one. Some moments at the top of his list include moving Urban Scrawl to 400 West Rich, hosting those early underground events, and even swinging on a tire swing that used to be where Studio 115 is located. He settles on his favorite: building the bar in the Annex event space inside of Strongwater.
He began creating the bar in April of 2016. It took 2 full months of only focusing on that project, and he crafted an extraordinary piece. Many people don’t realize it, but the bar displays a map of an imaginary city, using repurposed wood from the original building. There were other repurposed items from the opening of the building in 1911. Zach found a way to reclaim the original switch gear; the massive metal hunk filled with levers and buttons was once used as the main electrical feed for the warehouse. Now, it acts as a backdrop for the event space bar and a constant topic of conversation during cocktail hour. Even the doors that lock up the liquor shelves at the bar are gates from the old freight elevator.
This creation is just one of the many instances that illustrate Zach’s connection to the building. He has a knack for collecting precious pieces of the campus and then finding a way to elevate them into something unique while still preserving the history. There is an aesthetic to these buildings that he is not only aware of, but actively maintaining.
Construction of Annex bar, 2016
Construction of Annex bar, 2016
The completed Annex bar and backdrop
The Annex bar is not Zach’s only piece of art amongst 400 Square’s campus. He worked on the monster car outside of Chromedge Studios, the bar in the Gallery event space inside Strongwater, as well as the main restaurant bar.
With so many creations, it’s natural to ask him the question “Are you an artist?” Zach replies the same way each time, “Not intentionally. I have all of the tools, the space, the resources… I have the biggest art studio in town.” He formally studied woodworking at the University of Rio Grande. (If you aren’t familiar with Rio Grande, Ohio, Zach easily asserts the connection: it’s the birthplace of the Bob Evans Farm.) There, he received his associate’s degree in fine-woodworking, and he is trained to make furniture as they did in the 1700’s, both with hand and power tools.
Maybe Zach’s practice and discipline is what makes him so capable of taking on the challenges of maintaining 400 Square. The campus’ unique history and varied structures doesn’t lead to a simple, nor easy, way to care for the site. Add in the challenges of preserving the history while also developing a safe and collaborative environment for over 150 artists, and you begin to see why Zach and his team are artists in their own right. They are constantly solving a puzzle in their own creative way.
Despite the appreciation Zach has for the entire campus, he has his favorite spots. The roof seems to be the top of the list, but there are more locations not many others are familiar with: the spray booth in the courtyard, the silo, the abandoned staircase, the catwalk that leads to the only undeveloped part of 400. The spaces that not many other people on campus get to see are special to Zach, because they preserve history.
Roof of over 400 West Rich
Only undeveloped portion of 400 West Rich
Next up for Zach is his trip to Nicaragua in November. Sometime in the future, he’d like to learn welding and metal fabrication. For now when he’s not caring for the 400 Square campus, you can find him hosting The People’s Trivia at Oddfellows Liquor Bar, every Tuesday at 8 PM*.
With a decade of history and hard work at 400, I was curious if Zach had a grand dream for the place. I asked him what else 400 West Rich could have been, if it could not have been art studios. He responds with two answers, eventually admitting he’d enjoy seeing a bowling alley in the building. But the first answer he gave me started with a chuckle as he said, “A toilet factory”.
*This interview was taken during the stay-at-home order of 2020 during the COVID-19 Crisis, and therefore Zach will not be hosting trivia at Oddfellows for a while.
TRAVEL COMPANION WANTED....
for a trip to Nicaragua in November. Must be able to pay attention, follow instructions, stay cool and calm, and speak better Spanish than The Captain. Must have vacation time. Call 614-806-6559.