Temporary art display

BATAVIA – Artist Steven Lockwood is inspired by ordinary objects, like the gear shifter he stuck on a piece of sheet metal.

"I work mostly from scratch," Lockwood said. "I create what I wish I saw in every day life."

His piece fits comfortably among a diverse group of works from other artists in Water Street Studios' gallery on Wilson Street.

The gallery is Water Street Studios' temporary home as work progresses on converting the former All Dressed Up costume shop into a community art center equipped with studio work places for local artists, an art gallery and classrooms for teaching workshops.

Batavia Enterprises owns the building at the corner of Water and First streets, which will house Water Street Studios.

Lockwood is gallery coordinator at Water Street Studios, which hopes to open its art center in May. The non-profit group Batavia Artists Association operates Water Street Studios.

West Aurora High School senior Katie Cullen will be sharing studio space in the new art center with her mother, Roberta.

Both mother and daughter are artists. Cullen dabbles in painting, drawing and photography.

Katie Cullen is looking forward to working side by side other artists.

"When you are surrounded by artists, you get more creative," Cullen said. "They give you ideas."

Water Street Studios is also trying to inspire budding artists through its community classes and workshops.

In the "Star Wars" children's art class, students design and build their own droids and ships.

"That's our most popular class so far," said education director Kari Kraus.

One of the teen and adult classes being taught this month focuses on recycling and reusing common household items like coat hangers and glass jars.

Water Street Studios is now trying to get its name out into the community through its temporary gallery.

"The purpose of it is to energize the public and get people aware of Water Street Studios," Kraus said.

Water Street Studios plans to be an integral part of the community.

"We plan to do a lot of work with the annual Art in Your Eye festival and host our own events for artists," art director Joi Cuartero said.