Piedmont Arts’ New Studio 107 Provides Artists Room to Grow
american association of museums, culture, martinsville-henry county, permont arts, studio 107, tina sell,
Piedmont Arts Association has been promoting the visual and performing arts in Martinsville-Henry County for nearly 50 years. The organization, which earned accreditation from the American Association of Museums in June 2004, presents exhibits, live performances and arts-education opportunities for all ages. In doing so, it also creates significant opportunities for regional artists to showcase their work.
Last fall, in another stroke of creative genius, Piedmont Arts launched Studio 107 – a facility that offers studios at affordable rates to fine artists.
“Studio 107 is meant to be an open, collaborative environment,” says Tina Sell, director of exhibitions for the Piedmont Arts Association.
Aptly dubbed for its uptown Martinsville location at 107 W. Church St., the climate-controlled building has a total of 12 spaces, including 10 individual studios of varying sizes, a shared printmaking area and press, and a classroom for programs, lessons and workshops. Several of the rooms have ample square footage to accommodate large-scale sculpture and painting, and two overhead garage doors ease loading and unloading of sizable pieces, Sell says.
Currently, the facility has seven tenants who work in various visual arts media, including stained glass, pottery, woodturning, decorative furniture finishing, printmaking and large-scale painting.
“It’s a very creative environment,” Sell says. “The artists are diligent about getting things done. They devote a lot of attention to their individual work, but there is definitely an energy among them.”
Several of the artists also are affiliated with the Southern Virginia Artisan Center – a gallery that showcases and sells crafts made by regional artisans. It happens to be located just down the block at 54 W. Church St. Piedmont Arts sees big potential in the proximity of the two facilities.
“We hope to begin an artistic corridor on Church Street,” Sell explains.
The Uptown Martinsville Farmers’ Market, located across the street from Studio 107, complements that plan perfectly. In fact, Piedmont Arts intends to coordinate programming that will bring Farmers’ Market customers to the arts venues and fine art to the Farmers’ Market.
Meanwhile, the organization continues to call attention to the abundance of artwork produced in southern Virginia – and to the artists that produce it – by spreading the news of Studio 107’s opening.
“We want people to know it’s a really neat place with lots of artists at work,” says Bernadette Moore, director of marketing and communications for the Piedmont Arts Association. “It’s open to the public; just drop in anytime. The artists will be happy to show you around.”
Story by Carol Cowan
Photo by Ian Curcio
