Just for Artists

Midway Studios, a $23 million renovation of three former warehouses in Boston's Fort Point Channel neighborhood, began leasing its 89 loft spaces to painters, sculptors, writers, musicians, and dancers in May. Most tenants pay close-to-market rents for their live/work spaces, while some lower-income artists (selected by lottery) receive subsidies.

The rehabilitation is the work of the Fort Point Development Collaborative, a entity made up of the nonprofit Fort Point Cultural Coalition and the for-profit Keen Development Corp. of Cambridge. The collaborative holds a ground lease from Beacon Capital Partners, whose subsidiary Channel Center Residential LLC is developing the nearby Channel Center condo-office complex. Once it meets certain criteria, such as the completion of a first-floor theater, the collaborative can exercise an option to buy the Midway property for $1.

According to Cheryl Forte of the Fort Point Development Collaborative, after fi ve years, resident artists will have the opportunity to purchase their studios.

"We wanted to make it possible for working artists to continue to still live and work around here," says Forte, an artist herself and, coincidentally, granddaughter of an old Fort Point merchant. She notes that development of large blocks of luxury housing and upscale office space has pushed up real estate values and forced out many artists once drawn to the neighborhood by low rents and large, open warehouse spaces.

Poised to move into a studio space in December are twin brothers Billy and Bobby McClain, who teach hip-hop dance. Performers as well as teachers, the McClains have danced at the Apollo Theater in New York and worked as backup dancers for such entertainers as Bobby Brown. The McClain brothers will share their 2,300-square-foot duplex with older brother John, a painter and framer.

"Maybe they'll have a floor, and I'll have a floor," says John. "Or maybe we'll all live on one level and have our studios on the other. We're still working that out. But I want to have both a frame shop and a gallery. And they need space to both teach and rehearse. This place seems perfect for us."

Since May, Kippy Goldfarb, an actress and photographer, has been in her fifth-floor loft, which doubles as rehearsal room (currently The Festivities, a Chekhov play) and photo studio. Goldfarb has been struck by the community atmosphere that has already sprung up. "We have been having potluck suppers on Sunday nights, and, during the summer, there was a film series here that was well attended," she says. "Plus, of course, you run into other artists in the elevators, the halls."

Tim Murdoch, whose laminated Douglas-fi r tower marks the entrance to his loft on the north side of the building, has divided his 1,000-square-foot space into a studio, wood shop, and living space. With the help of architect Jeff Brussel, he has created something of a village square. Walled curving "lanes" lead to a relatively grand space filled with greenery, surrounded by secluded pods for working and sleeping.

"In my sculptures, I'm interested in exploring the relationship between insides and outsides and the places where those two things intersect or blur," Murdoch says. "I wanted the build-out of my loft to reflect that same investigation."

Open Spaces

Some vacancies remain at Midway Studios, though there is a waiting list for subsidized spaces. Information is available from Cheryl Forte, 617-928-1725, or online at www.fortpointdc.com.

Many Midway artists will participate in the 26th annual Fort Point Open Studios, October 14, 15, and 16. Information is available at www.fortpointarts.org.

Homework Tips

Three Point Plan: Even a makeshift space can be well organized. Like a good kitchen, a good office should be designed around a work triangle. Instead of "sink, stove, refrigerator," think "desk/computer, printer, files," and make sure you can get from one point to another easily.

Morgan Mead is a freelance writer. He can be reached at MorganNMead@aol.com.