We've been hearing about ArtSpace in Shaw for some time, and on August 13 we stopped by during one of their open studios, which go on every Monday. The nonprofit offers classes and studio time to local adults.

Located in the basement of the New Community Church at 614 S Street NW, ArtSpace has one full time staffer, Kristian Whipple, and is largely volunteer driven. Whipple and volunteers offer numerous classes (pottery, drawing, photography, weaving, Photoshop, Flickr, and others) for only $5, and volunteers and students are able to make use of an open studio on Mondays.

Whipple, who previously worked in education, said ArtSpace's mission was to "make art accessible to the masses," and pottery teacher Hope Hodges, who was there during the open studio, called it "incredibly valuable." ArtSpace was "designed to serve the people who live and have lived in Shaw," Whipple said. He estimated that 75 percent of the people using the space came from within a 15 block radius.

Whipple said classes are once a week for about 8 weeks and are for students of all skill levels. He said 3 to 4 students and volunteers usually come to open studio, which is on a first come-first served basis. The group asks for $5 or some food for people at open studio. When we visited, three other people were there using the loom, darkroom, and so on.

The space also featured a number of photographs by students and volunteers on the walls, many for sale or already sold. ArtSpace encourages students to sell their work, and takes a 20 percent commission from sales with the remaining 80 percent going to the artist. The group regularly holds shows of student and volunteer work and has an online gallery. The group also has an "art bank" where offices can lease art to hang on their walls, a pretty neat idea.

Started in 1999 by the church, Whipple became a full time staffer last year and worked to "solidify" the space — painting, wiring, and so on. As a registered non-profit, the group gets its funding from a variety of sources, including grants, donations, and the D.C. Arts and Humanities Commission. The group also works with the New Community Church and the church's youth program.

ArtSpace is "very small, but with an ambitious entrepreneurial spirit," Whipple said. He's always looking for more volunteers and hopes to do more community outreach in Shaw.

ArtSpace is at 614 S Street NW, right off the Shaw Metro.

Photo by Andrew Wiseman