LAKEWOOD —Nestled in a 19th century schoolhouse on West First Avenue in Lakewood, the Washington Heights Arts Center has become a staple in the community and is striving to live up to its nickname: “The artistic center of the universe.”
With a variety of art classes — including pottery, wood carving, weaving, watercolor painting, portraiture, abstraction, acrylic painting, sculpting, etc. — the center has become a refuge for beginner and advanced artists alike.
“I’m currently in a pottery class, and there are people in my class who have been doing pottery for 20 years, and there are people like me who were there for their first class,” said Meghan Ruble, marketing and promotions coordinator for the city of Lakewood.
Ruble has taken two watercolor classes at the center and is currently enrolled in a pottery class. She has taken several art classes across the Denver metro area and finds herself returning to Washington Heights because of the warm and welcoming environment.
“You have to walk in to feel the environment there,” Ruble said. “It’s a come-as-you-are, unique place where everybody feels a little bit of ownership of the center. It doesn’t feel like a municipal building: It feels like a quirky, artist commune that’s owned by the people who do the art work there.”
Jim Olson, director of the center, loves that feeling of community. He says it’s that free-spirited attitude and incredible talent that helped the organization come up with the nickname.
“We take ourselves very seriously, but on the other hand, it’s a heck of a lot of fun here,” Olson said. “When we came up with the nickname, we thought, ‘That’s reaching too high,’ but then we thought, ‘No, we can do it.’ “
A lot of the draw of the center stems from the building’s history. It was one of the state’s longest-running schools, operating from 1898-1968 when Foothills Parks and Recreation acquired the building. In 1995, the city of Lakewood took over ownership.
With a few years in limbo, the schoolhouse was rehabbed as an art center and was opened in 1998.
Though the city renovated the building, designers kept a lot of the building’s original characteristics and décor.
“Its character is one of the reasons people feel so comfortable here,” Olson said. “I’m sitting here in the principal’s office, and above me is the old lunch bell.”
One of the things Olson enjoys the most about the property is having students from the old schoolhouse stop by and see how the building has been renovated.
“People who went to school here in the 1930s, ’40s, or ’50s stop by, particularly in the summer,” said Olson. “People come in and find themselves in class photos in the hallway and they sign the back of them. Everyone who comes in here has a story to tell.”
Instructor Janet Schreiner has been teaching glazing at the center for four years.
“I love teaching here: The students are lovely,” Schreiner said.
Washington Heights has become increasingly popular over the years, largely through word of mouth.
“It takes time for the community to embrace new things and get the word out, but we’ve accomplished that and everyone’s proud of it,” Olson said.
Olson said that students travel from Aurora, the Foothills and all over Colorado to come discover new talents, or improve their existing talents.
“No matter what you’re interested in learning, there’s a class for you — and it’s not intimidating to be here. There are students of all levels,” Olson said. “This is what makes it so fun. It just feels good to be here.”
Catherine Elsby: celsby@denverpost.com
Washington heights arts center
Where: 6375 W. First Ave., Lakewood
When: 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday
Info: 303-987-5436
