James Marks had always heard the rumblings of Ypsilanti becoming the new Bohemia for local artists, but he never really bought into that way of thinking until he opened Spur Studios.

Half a year later the Russell Industrial Center-style artist center on Ypsilanti's east side is hanging up its "no vacancy" sign and operating on cruise control. It became such a quick and impressive success that Marks plans to open another studio soon.

"It obviously occurred to us that this is marketable. It's been a fantastic experience," says Marks, who also serves as the founder and creative director of Ypsilanti-based VGKids. "The community has really turned out. Ypsilanti is getting this reputation as an artistic community and I didn't really believe it because I had been here for 10 years and never really felt it. But there is an artistic community here. We have had an overwhelming response."

Spur Studios transformed vacant office space attached to an old manufacturing facility near Eastern Michigan University, 800 Lowell St., into studio spaces for artists and small businesses. Right now that 10,000 square feet of space is full with artists and entrepreneurs looking for a place that costs a few dollars a month in rent and comes with even fewer rules.

"There are some graphic designers making a living here and some people making art," Marks says. "There are some dedicated hobbyists."

Source: James Marks, founder of Spur Studios
Writer: Jon Zemke