Usually closed to the public, the artists opened their doors to give residents an opportunity to see how they worked and showcase Vallejo’s thriving arts scene.
Coal Shed has provided work space for a growing number of professional artists who work in a range of media, since being founded in 1999 by the late artist, Tim Rose. It occupies 8,000 square feet of space and currently provides studios for 19 artisans. Once a month, the artists meet up to discuss their work and plan events.
Mackenzie Marshall, a seamstress specializing in custom designed clothing, explained why Coal Shed Studios is so important to its tenants, saying:
"I love the people here. There's something about the space that makes you want to work. I'm definitely doing a lot more in the art community since I moved in here."
Artist-friendly communities attract tourists, shoppers, and creative talent in other spheres such as commercial artists in the brochure and poster printing industry – not to mention graphic design.
Adam Musto, one of the original tenants at Coal Shed Studios, added this encouraging remark about the city:
"The town is very artist friendly, and Vallejo has been improving.”