Indy Indie Artist Colony: The residents

Colonizing cool

Where artists go, everyone else goes — because that’s where the cool stuff happens. Take Fountain Square. When Phil Campbell opened the Murphy Art Center in 1999 with partner Ed Funk, the neighborhood wasn’t full of art galleries, cool bars, restaurants and vintage shops.

“The artists were and are responsible for Fountain Square’s success,” Campbell told Metromix in December. “We invited them in, but they made it their home.”

Campbell sold the Murphy in 2009. Now, he’s helping to arts-ify another part of the city, with the Indy Indie Artist Colony, where starving artists get super-affordable rent and public space to exhibit their creativity. Tenants, from sculptors to jazz guitarists, starting moving into the apartments in November. Rent ranges from $420 to $595, which includes Wi-Fi and utilities. (Other upcoming perks: a gym, bike parking and a rooftop garden terrace. Shown here? The lobby!)

The IIAC, in the former St. Regis apartment building, 26 E. 14th St., is owned by Christopher Piazza, who hired Campbell to attract artists and manage the street-level gallery.

Piazza, president of Reverie Estates, is also an artist. His vision for IIAC, he said, “is to help creatives follow their heart, in whatever way they are inspired, in a building where they can live for less to live for more.”

The 72 units are full, and there’s a waiting list. Turn to Page 18 to meet some of the artists, learn about their projects, and discover why the laundry room gets so much love. -- Compiled by Ryan Baggett, special to Metromix

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