Artists’ Village is planting a community of homes, galleries and studios in East End

The first house in Lexington’s Artists’ Village in the East End is almost finished.

It’s a renovated home with subway tile, sleek new flooring and light fixtures that are works of art themselves, molded paper and mid-century starburst design. But this 1,200 square foot house is different from others in the neighborhood: Its front has a glassy front garage door that shows what will soon be a working artist’s studio.

Mark Johnson, president of Art Inc. Kentucky, a project of Community Ventures , pointed to the area bounded by Goodloe, Warnock, Race and Third streets that are the borders of the Artists’ Village. The area will include 14 homes with prices starting at around $100,000, an art park for events that Johnson says will be like a “mini Woodland Art fair,” and a retail art gallery.

“We wanted to make it cool and contemporary from an artist’s perspective,” Johnson said.

Former Kentucky poet laureate Frank X Walker has bought a lot on the site, Johnson said. Walker’s will be one of the larger homes in the village with three bedrooms.

All of the houses, even the most modest, will include studios where passersby can see the artists at work. The mature trees on the lot form a bower that will be kept as the lot is developed, Johnson said. Sculpture on site will be made of wood and metal.

The Artists’ Village should be built out in the next two to three years, Johnson said. Kevin Smith, president and chief executive officer of Community Ventures, had the idea for an arts village, Johnson said. Community Ventures’ mortgage division helps clients who need down payment assistance and assistance getting the best mortgage interest rate.

Community Ventures also helps citizens start businesses, save homes from foreclosure and provides education and training.

Other cities, such as Detroit, have an “arts village.” There, the village is on a once decrepit commercial strip where there are now coffee shops, arts events and a summer art camp. Other cities worldwide host “art villages” that provide opportunities for artists to bond and study.

In Berea, there is an artisan district that allows shoppers to browse a variety of artist’s wares.

It is important to make the homes “as affordable as possible for an artist no matter where they are in their career,” Johnson said.

The project will also offer studios for rent for artists living off-site. The organization still needs to raise around $250,000 for the art park and retail gallery.

Already, the project has received donations from organizations including the Blue Grass Community Foundation, Women’s Business Center of Kentucky and the Kentucky Arts Council.

Johnson intends to live there. An economic development professional for 20 years, he is also a glass artist.

“The opportunity for artists to live with each other and collaborate with each other, that’s what I’m really excited about,” Johnson said.

This story was originally published September 28, 2018 at 8:59 AM.