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Fargo DIY Art Space for ‘Little Stinkers’ Started with Just $50

by Amy Felegy

An open doorway looking into a room with colored lights. There are small posters stuck to the door.
Photo Credit: Amy Felegy
Parachigo is located in Fargo, North Dakota.

A “community voice of art,” Parachigo is approaching its second year as a sober, affordable and all ages space. Its only rule: Parade equality.

Director Anj Karna describes Parachigo as a three-layer cake. 

Sitting on multiple floors, the grassroots art venue in Fargo, North Dakota, hosts pay-what-you-can studios, a music and event stage, a 24/7 band practice room, and an art store. 

It’s what many call a third place — a no-cost hangout spot. Run by five board members and a handful of volunteers, Parachigo is for all ages, alcohol free, and low cost. 

“Parachigo is a seat at the table that we built ourselves for local artists,” Karna says. “It’s the community voice of art.” 

This particular voice has a particularly uncommon name, too. 

A person wearing black smiles and poses with their leg up on a couch under a large sign.
Photo Credit: Amy Felegy
Director Anj Karna takes a much-needed (but far too brief) break from their endless task list at Parachigo.

“I think a lot of the people who run the space and are passionate about the space share very similar views, but the goal is also to be neutral ground, regardless of that, for anybody recovering or like may come from a different angle, but shares the understanding that equality is important. So I think that’s kind of the only guideline and expectation.” 

Storefront Director Crona Solberg says Parachigo is “the little glue” between people and community, which often don’t meet due to financial or other barriers. 

“Parachigo is a seat at the table that we built ourselves for local artists.”

ANJ KARNA, DIRECTOR, PARACHIGO
A person of light skin tone smiling. They have colored hair and are wearing a dark shirt with floral embroidery on it.
Photo Credit: Amy Felegy
Crona Solberg, Parachigo’s storefront director.
A room with boxes filled with electronics, cords, and musical instruments.
Photo Credit: Amy Felegy
Miscellaneous music making equipment in the practice basement.
A large stack of books on a shelf.
Photo Credit: Amy Felegy
Pay-what-you-can books at Parachigo.
A person with dark hair and dark colored clothing with their arms raised as they adjust a painting on the wall in front of them.
Photo Credit: Amy Felegy
Anj Karna rearrages art for sale at Parachigo.
A handdrawn paper sign with bold purple letters that spells "parachigo," and the phrase "we love you!" written under it.
Photo Credit: Amy Felegy
A handdrawn Parachigo sign on the door.

“Everywhere in life, it seems, everything is just so disconnected. And this is the only place that feels connected,” Solberg says. “Mom and pops died 40 years ago. We’re bringing that back, but now it’s like 30 mom and pops all together.” 

Up next for Parachigo is adding more board members and volunteers, partially to lessen Karna’s workload as director, manager, fundraiser, outreach specialist … the list goes on. 

A main goal is climbing out of $2,800 in debt from relocating this year. People can donate by texting DIY to 53555. 

A dedicated space to make art happen is just as integral as the art happening in it, Karna says. Parachigo is Fargo’s unwavering reminder of it. 

“I think in all cities, local communities and art communities are a dying breed. But they’re not going anywhere. [Artists] just need a place to get together. And if you have an empty space and open it to local creatives, they will fill up the space with beauty.”