Artists have been tenants of the 127-year-old building in Deep Ellum for more two decades. Photos courtesy of the Continental Gin Building.
June 13, 2016
You’ve heard of artists repurposing old material for their art. Here’s an old building in Deep Ellum that’s repurposed for artists.
The 127-year-old Continental Gin Building has been home to Dallas artists or more than two decades. The Dallas landmark has attracted painters, recycle artists, interior designers, fashion designers, graphic illustrators, printers, architects and glass artists, as many as 65 at one time, according to Christy Harris, property manager. Currently there are 58 artists and designers who work in the building.
Dallas artist Bob Nunn has had a studio at the Continental Gin Building for 27 years.
The Continental Gin Building bears the moniker of the oldest art community in Deep Ellum, according to Harris. The building's longtime tenant Bob Nunn is a Deep Ellum pioneer who has been working in the neighborhood for 40 years and in the building for nearly 30 years.
“Artists of the CGB community create, interact and collaborate within its historic walls to produce some of the finest work Dallas has seen. No one artist is exactly the same in technique, specialty or style, making the Continental Gin Building one of the most diverse and inspirational art communities around,” said Harris.
Built in 1888 by Robert S. Munger, the Continental Gin Building housed a series of brick warehouses along Elm Street and Trunk Avenue. It was originally a manufacturing company that manufactured the gin that ginned the cotton. The company was closed in 1962 when Deep Ellum went through several transitions.
In 1982, a Dallas investment partnership headed by John Tatum purchased the property. Spaces first began being rented to artists because Tatum was an avid art lover.
“He encouraged the artists and designers to use their creative energy and lend their support in open studios functions and other endeavors,” Harris says.
The building still has 98 percent of the original brick, support beams, window styles and floors and Harris says throughout the years there have only been minor renovations done.
Patsy Davila is one of the artists in the Continental Gin Building.
“Where the building was originally wide open from end to end we have created individual studios and of course bathrooms,” she explains.
The perfect artist location, the Continental Gin Building is not only centrally located with easy access to downtown and uptown, but it is also eclectic with the old Deep Ellum charm and characteristics.
“It has high energy and has developed in to an artist community that is not only individual but collaborative,” Harris adds.
She also points out that the building is strictly commercial and artists rent their studios to create and show, but no one is allowed to live on the property.
At least twice a year, in spring and fall, the studios are opened to the public so that the artists can display their work.
“The Continental Gin Building is an attraction to people that interested in older buildings,” Harris explains. “They know about us and are curious about the buildings' architecture as well as the artists. It keeps people interested in the preservation of the building it is a benefit for the artist and the community.”
Resident Continental Gin Building artist David McGlothlin in his studio.
And as for the artists who rent space in the old building, Harris says they’re all unique.
“Everyone is so distinctly different. We have the recycle artists who can take anything you deem as trash and recreate functioning art out of it; there is Anne Hines who uses found objects and incorporates them into or builds her art around them. We have renowned photographers, and until just recently, we had a production artist who can reproduce any period in time for the background and costume of any movie.”