At 16 Main, an empty upstairs room with blank walls is waiting….waiting for that destined artist move in and join the family.

16 Main provides studios for artists as well as a gallery for them to sell their work.  Currently 10 of the 11 rooms are occupied by one jeweler, one photographer, three potters and five painters.

But as Michele Lee of 16 Main said, the current artists are looking forward to welcoming a new artist.

“I love seeing people that are talented and well-rounded that’ll bring that something special in,” Lee said.

The room has $250 a month rent and is for a one year lease.  The rent includes use of the classroom to teach, the greenroom for events, and, of course, the gallery to sell art.

How the artist then makes the room a studio is up to him or her.  Lisa Riccardi’s room invokes the feeling of the beach, just like her paintings.  Kristy Stewart has drawers of antique silverware in her room that she uses to make jewelry.  Her room smells faintly of the candles she makes.

The requirement at 16 Main is that an artist be working, whether full time or part time, to create pieces to sell.

“We are a gallery and we have to make sales,” Lee said.

Each artist that is in the house is voted in by the current artists.  Lee said they are open when it comes to the artist’s medium.  But they have a discerning taste as to the vibe the new artist will bring.

“Our goal here is that you walk into the house and you feel like you want to stay here,” Lee said.  “We want it to stay like that because art is something fun.”

Lee calls 16 Main a “house,” and the artists in the house are, naturally, a family.  The artists all pull their own weight around the house, taking turns cleaning and working the gallery.

“Yeah, there’s going to be arguments and yeah, there’s going to be bad times, but this needs to be a house of fun and laughter,” Lee said.

Interested artists should get an application at 16 Main, pick three sample pieces to present, and prepare to meet with 16 Main.  For more information, call 16 Main at (256) 325-0161.