The Art Factory, located at 777 S. Cox St., in the popular Cooper-Young District of Midtown Memphis, once housed the offices and machine shops of Stephen Brothers Heating & Air. When offered the opportunity to purchase the property in the fall of 2004, Mindy and Frank Roberts, owners of The Palladio Group, saw an opportunity to expand its business into a collection of centers for the decorative and fine arts.
The Art Factory had a very humble beginning in about 2006 when a fine art photographer asked for a place to house his studio. The photographer began mentioning his studio to other artists and a few others joined him in the unremodeled space. As time passed and more artists showed interest in having private studios in the Cooper-Young District, it became apparent that it was worthwhile to clean up the property by transforming a portion of the building into studio space. The effort resulted in the current total of 19 studios for artists and artisans who practice a wide variety of arts-related disciplines.
The now completed adaptation of the original offices into suitable studios is Phase I in the development of the ongoing project. Phase II, expected to begin in 2011, will double the size of the Art Factory by creating open studios in the former machine shop on the western half of the building. The Machine Shop Studios will be almost entirely for fine art painters who enjoy spontaneous interaction with other artists.
Phase III will focus on the exterior. Preliminary plans are to redesign the machine shop portico on the north to create an inspiring entry off of a new forecourt. Plans include the painting of the exterior brick; installation of awnings; landscaping; and the creation of a common area for classes, meetings, seminars, art shows and community events.
Once completed, we hope to see the formation of a strong group of artists who, with the support of The Palladio Group, will organize events and shows for the benefit of the artists within Art Factory.
My studio has a personality of its own. It can be a monstrous clutter from one end to the other or, at times, the very model of simplicity. (Harley Brown)
