Artists find space, camaraderie at studio complex

Kevin Flynn still remembers what it was like as a boy, sitting in his grandfather's art studio learning about art. His grandfather was Don Olsen, who specialized in abstract expressionism and pioneered the movement in Utah.

Flynn loved the smell of the oils and the feeling of the studio.

"I just always had a dream to create that type of environment for myself," he said.

Just a few months ago Flynn saw his dream come to pass when he opened the Flynn Artipelago, a collection of 14 studios all housed in the former Baldwin Radio Factory in the East Millcreek area.

Tonight Flynn will be hosting an open house and gallery stroll at the complex, 3474 S. 2300 East, from 6-9 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Each of the artists will have their studio open for the public to tour with artwork available for purchase.

The 26 artists using the studios do a little bit of everything from oil painters to someone who creates furniture and creations out of acrylic to a bonsai tree sculptor. There are also abstract artists, realists, impressionists and someone who makes jewelry or "wearable art."

Stephanie St. Thomas, who works with acrylics and mixed media, said she has enjoyed the unique environment of the Flynn.

"It's been a new experience for me," she said. "To be surrounded by so many creative people, who can give constructive criticism, ... is pretty ideal."

Laurel Hart's studio has been in the complex for the past four and a half years, and she was one of the first artists to be housed there. She said it's been nice to have her own space.

"I just think it's a good idea to have a creative space away from your home, which says 'I'm serious about my artwork,"' she said. "(This complex) is really fun. It's been an important blessing."

Flynn said he called his studio the Artipelago because artipelago is a conjunction of "art" and "archipelago," which means a cluster of islands in the sea, and the building is a cluster of art studios in a metropolitan area.

The location makes the complex a hidden treasure, Flynn said.

"Most people have no idea it was there because it's set back off 2300 East," he said. "Unless you drive back there, you can't see these old brick buildings that made a perfect little enclave."

Hart said it's difficult to find art spaces like the Artipelago without going downtown. She says the location is ideal because it's close to her home, which is only a few blocks away.

The building was built in 1917 by an inventor named Nathaniel Baldwin and originally housed a radio factory. Flynn came across it in 1996 while looking for a rehearsal studio for his band, Slickrock Gypsies.

"It was dilapidated, but I fell in love with it because it had a lot of character, a lot of soul to it," he said. "I purchased the building with the dream of converting it into a community of artists studios."

Flynn didn't get the opportunity to do so until the summer of 2005 when one of the largest tenants moved out. Once the space was available, Flynn got to work.

"It was pretty much an open warehouse-garage type space, and so I had to divide it and put in things like heating and electrical and make it more useful for studio-type use," he said.

The response to the Artipelago since its grand opening in September has been positive, Flynn said. Part of the reason for this may be because the community needs it.

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E-mail: twalquist@desnews.com