VALDOSTA — Artists On Ashley started with four friends, four artists, wanting a place to work together and exhibit their paintings.

Jeanne Cowart, Annette Crosby, Deb House and Pam Scruggs each had worked as artists in the past. Cowart, Crosby and House say they put their art on hold for several years to start families and raise children.

A few years ago, they found themselves back in art, taking classes together from area artist Fay Bridges Hyatt. Cowart, Crosby, House and Scruggs had not only returned to art. They formed a friendship in art and, eventually, a partnership.

In December 2007, they approached downtown property owner Buddy Walker about temporarily leasing space at 203 N. Ashley St. They wanted a place to exhibit their works, preferably by the first Downtown Valdosta First Friday of 2008. Walker agreed and Artists On Ashley opened in January 2008. However, what was intended as a temporary situation became more permanent. Not only did they enjoy having a regular place to exhibit their works. They enjoyed being part of Downtown Valdosta’s renaissance.

None of them had the best studio space at home. Artists On Ashley was a perfect fit for these four artists who enjoyed exhibiting and working in their Ashley Street gallery/studio.

More than a year later, the artists and Artists On Ashley were ready for some changes. They didn’t want to move to another location. They wanted changes in their gallery space as well as add a new member to the partnership.

The building’s 100-plus-year-old interior needed some work, and Buddy Walker was willing to help renovate the building’s first floor.

Several weeks ago, Artists On Ashley closed for about a month. It recently reopened with revamped flooring, a new ceiling space, gallery track lighting, and additional gallery space. Browning tiles had been the ceiling. Removing these tiles revealed a framework of wooden trusses. Walker considered removing the trusses, but he and the artists liked the look. The wooden trusses and open space give the ceiling an artistic rural-industrial motif. What had been a storage room was outfitted as additional gallery space. A large back room serves as the artists’ working studio.

Ellen Dewar became the fifth Artist On Ashley.

Given how Fay Bridges Hyatt brought these artists together, one may wonder if Artists On Ashley considers Hyatt’s downtown Kaleidoscope Gallery competition. Not at all. Cowart, Crosby and House believe in the attitude of the more, the merrier. Art patrons are more likely to visit downtown if there is more than one gallery to see. They see Artists On Ashley and Kaleidoscope as complementing each other.

That’s how they see working together as Artists On Ashley.

“There is a great camaraderie working together here,” House says.

“We create an artistic energy together,” Cowart says.



Q: How many artists do you have?



A: Five. Jeanne Cowart, Annette Crosby, Ellen Dewar, Deb House and Pam Scruggs. Dewar is the newest artist. “She is a very established artist,” Crosby says.



Q: Do you plan on adding additional artists to the gallery?



A: No. Artists On Ashley considers itself full with the addition of Dewar. However, Artists On Ashley does plan to host monthly guest artists, by invitation only. The first is scheduled to be local artist and Valdosta State University art professor Steve Lahr.



Artists On Ashley

Location: 203 N. Ashley St., Downtown Valdosta

Hours: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Downtown Valdosta’s First Friday and Art After Dark events. Artists On Ashley is also open by appointment.

Contact: Annette Crosby at 560-8800. Call Jeanne Cowart at 444-2515. Call Deb House at 563-6481.