ART OF LOWE MILL Over 250 artists occupy the campus, showcasing anything from traditional art to the unusual

“Our goal is to offer events that are family friendly,” Sanders said. “Coming off COVID, we want families with small children to have something to do with their kids.”

Hoping to cash in on the Association’s Wassail Trail that was held in December and according to geofencing attracted 790 patrons, the group has set their first spring event, the Spring Fling for Friday, April 8. The event, beginning at 6 p.m., will feature an easter egg hunt, food trucks, the Huntsville Public Library’s book mobile, performances by local high school students and face painting.

“For safety reasons, we have planned for children to go from business to business to collect eggs. After finding all the eggs, they will turn those eggs in for a prize,” Sanders said.

Sanders says the event has garnered many partners, including Kathy Mann of Coldwell Banking and the Rocket City Trash Pandas. Sprocket, the Trash Panda’s mascot will be present and Polaris Industries will have their Slingshots on display. There will be giveaways as well, including a staycation that includes dinner and tickets to a Trash Panda game.

“We want visitors to be mindful that Main Street will be closed off, but there is plenty of public parking behind Old Black Bear,” Sanders said.

Other events for the area are in the works. Patrons can stay up to date on all events, business development and store sales by following the new Facebook page @shoppes of downtown Madison.

THE ART OF LOWE MILL

Over 250 artists occupy the campus, showcasing anything from traditional art to the unusual

STORY BY ERIN COGGINS PHOTOS BY ERIC SCHULTZ/LOWE MILL ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TThe historic red brick building looms large on Seminole Drive, just off Governor’s Drive in Huntsville. A blue-patterned painting adorns one of the outside walls, giving a passerby a preview of what could be behind the large metal doors shadowed by the tall silver water tower plastered with a logo, indicating that the building complex is the home of the Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment.

From the moment one walks into the converted warehouse, art surrounds them. Approximately 250 artists occupy the campus, showcasing anything from traditional art like photography to the unusual of art of making mead.

“All three floors of the building are full of artists. In fact, the space is so large it takes me about an hour to unlock all the doors,” media coordinator Eric Schultz said.

Schultz, a photographer, has studio space at Lowe Mill A&E. He says when he rented the space years ago it was his Plan B after he left his job at The Huntsville Times. He was named the Media Coordinator in October, a position that is allowing him to understand the full scope of the facility and its artistic habitants.

“Creative types like to be around other creative types,” Schultz said. “I don’t paint, but I love to see the process of someone who does. I find myself finding interest in stuff I didn’t know I would like. I think that is the interesting thing about Lowe Mill.”

In 2001, Jim Hudson, founder of the Huntsville-based biotech company Research Genetics, bought and reopened the cotton mill as the arts and entertainment complex it is today. Anna Sue Courtney, an original artist of Lowe Mill A&E, describes the days when the warehouse was divided into studio space with storm fencing.

“At that time, fencing was an easy way to get quick studio space,” Courtney said. “Then people started doing improvements to their space. I picked up doors and other things lying around and started building my space.”

On the same floor as Courtney’s eclectic space, is Studio Theater, an intimate performance space that seats 50+. It is home to Theater Huntsville who moved their office to Lowe Mill in 2020.

“It’s a great place to see a performance,” Schultz said. “I know they have done Rocky Horror Picture Show and because it is a small venue and able to be interactive, it was a lot of fun.”

An elevator ride, which in itself is artistic, being man op-

erated and a trip back to the old days of the Mill, to the third floor presents even more art. Lowe Mill is home to seven galleries that change out every seven to eight weeks. Schultz says that the space is home to artists from all over, but more than often Southern artists are featured. This area includes studio space and a chance for artists to sell their wares, but more importantly develop or enhance their talent.

Dessica Coleman is one of those artists. As owner of 5th and Coleman, Coleman provides interior design services, including the creation of custom-made pillows.

“I did not think of what I do as art,” Coleman said. “I never thought of myself as an artist. There is never a dull moment being around all these artists. I just walk out of my studio space, and I can find inspiration.

Coleman’s space centers around her pillow collection, which she is currently working with a local furniture store to release soon. Coleman is a good example of what Schultz calls the art incubator that Lowe Mill A&E has become.

“Artists move in here to start their business and then they get big and get to move on,” Schultz said. “That’s good news. The constant change of artists is great.”

A walk across the connector takes visitors by two in-

door swings and into another set of studios housing more art, including bookbinding. Sonja Rossow says her passion for bookbinding and printing is genetic as her family has a background in commercial arts and printing. She carefully rebinds the spine of family Bibles, old medical books, photo albums and collector’s children’s books.

“I have a gentleman bring in nine books from his childhood to rebind and am currently restoring a family photo album that contains tin prints,” Rossow said. “It’s like working in history.”

Besides feeding the eyes and mind, the complex offers plenty for the palate as well. The space hosts independent food and drink businesses from Happy Tummy who specializes in pizza to Pizzelle’s Confections who displays a variety of chocolates, each looking like a piece of art and named with a creative flair.

“It’s a great location to spend a Saturday. You can look at art, talk to artists and grab something to eat, all in one stop,” Schultz said. “It’s quality food. The Veggie, located in the Railroad rooms, has gotten national attention.”

Schultz says the great thing about the facility is that it offers a broad spectrum of disciplines that some may not realize is creative. That includes a hair salon, the Cattyshack featuring kittens looking for a home and The Art Cart, an art supplies store.

“The Cattyshack is always booked with reservations, so it is a popular spot,” Schultz said. “The art store shows that the complex can be self-sufficient, supplying art supplies to artist on site as well as being a freestanding store to the public.”

Schultz categorizes the art community at Lowe Mill as a place that provides 250 different stories that need to be explored. Artists open their space to give lessons or talk about their craft. Artists like Danny Davis, a former NASA engineer turned creator of custom acoustic guitars show that art is not just a right brain medium. Schultz says it just shows that there is something for everyone at Lowe Mill A&E.

“It’s just a fun place to be,” Schultz said. “It’s about artists pushing the envelope on what they do in a space open to everyone.”