Cole-Noble Gallery at Artistry

Every day, we interact with art. We wear art, consume art, view art, and listen to art; it makes up a significant part of the permanence we perceive around us. An artist’s vision creates the tangible beauty of the lives it comes in contact with. A painting is hung on the wall in a house, and multiple generations come to associate their experiences with it. When art becomes public, its presence serves as a cultural bond among residents. Rather than a passive experience, art is participatory and anyone who intentionally seeks to have a lasting effect on others could be considered an artist. At least that’s what project developers at Milhaus are after. “The goal,” says G.K. Rowe, creative director at Q7 Associates, “is to create more than buildings; the intent is to create vibrant communities with these projects.”

Artistry, in terms of how things are presented and how others are involved in the project, defines the approach, which goes far beyond simply bringing a construction crew on site. “Initially,” explains Rowe, “when we took on marketing for the Artistry project, before it was even named, we knew that the people who lived and worked in the area had a vested interest in the revitalization of the neighborhood, so we were all under the microscope. Therefore, we wanted to make decisions based on our research of the area and what would breathe life back into it. We knew that we had to create much more than just a building; we had to create community. So we looked to the past to help us shape the future.” The Cole Noble Commercial Arts District, where Artistry is located, has a long history of functional art and artisanship. The neighborhood was formerly home to many German artisans and craftsman who built the businesses and homes in it, so it made sense to draw on that artistic approach to housing to help shape Artistry’s image.

Everything about Artistry demonstrates the larger scope of the work Milhaus is doing with all of their projects. Connect with the past and the people who already call the neighborhood “home;” support the local art and culture; grow a richer, more viable urban lifestyle and in turn, more people who appreciate those aspects will come. “In addition to the opening of the Cole Noble Gallery, another way we could impact the local culture was to source local art that would become part of the building’s permanent collection. Many of those pieces will remain on display in common areas,” says Rowe.

Today, on the December 6th First Friday, marks the inaugural opening of the Cole-Noble Gallery, 451 E. Market Street. Nationally recognized artist, Walter Knabe will be the gallery’s first featured artist. Artistry will open its doors from 6-9pm, both for viewing in the Gallery and for the apartment’s model tours. DJ Gabby Love will be playing music and hors d'oeuvres will be provided. Sun King Brewing Co., another locally owned and operated Cole Noble business, will be on site selling their handcrafted beers, as well as Live Art and the “I Am an Artist” project, a photographic public art exhibition, by Mosaic City.