Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Inside the all-female Bienville Street Studio
The communal fridge stocked with beer and wine at Bienville Street Studio was rattled one January night back in 2007. A drunk driver hit the side of the house, knocked it off a pier and burst some windows. Luckily, no one was working on her next masterpiece at the time.
Despite the cheap rent, Jennifer Oliver knew the house wasn’t prime. The lighting was off, and shows were difficult to plan because of space issues. When the house took a bashing, she began scouting for a new location.
The story of Bienville Street Studio started when Oliver’s twin toddlers painted her red sofa beige one afternoon. “I knew then I needed a space away from home to paint,” Oliver says. That’s when she called friends from art shows and school and asked if they wanted to chip in a monthly rent to start a studio.
Now, the co-op of seven artists operates across the street from their previous location, in a strip of businesses at Bienville and Government streets. On moving day, they just walked their paintings to the new studio.
The new gallery’s tone is unique. All of its members are women. “There’s a driving creative force from women working together,” says fellow artist Sallie Bynum.
The artists of Bienville Street Studio are Lauren Hawthorne (front row left), Jennifer Oliver, Elizabeth Mackey, Lauren Ragland (back row left), Betsy Williamson, Sallie Bynum and Yvette Owens.
“We welcome men, though,” says Oliver. “And we throw good parties, too.” Twice a year she holds an open house when guests can get the feel of the space, check out each artist’s unique style and take in the eclectic vibe.
These artists sell most of their work in Baton Rouge and surrounding areas.
“It takes a lot to keep it going, but we welcome new artists and want to keep working in a studio atmosphere,” says Oliver. jenniferoliverart.com
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