The History of NorthLight Studios

The Flood of 2024, Asheville, NC

The flood of 1916, Asheville, NC

Wendy Whitson and her husband, John Davis, shared a dream of studio space for working artists. They wanted a place where artists could interact together and also with the public, who would pass through the studio and see work in progress. 
With the passing of Wendy in November 2021, John continues to support the original dream, and NorthLight Studios is shared with working artists and open to the public.
They purchased the building in April of 2011. Upon researching they discovered it was originally a tannery (salt-curing) facility, circa 1904. The upstairs space was the office, and has the original tile floor, moldings, doors, and even some painted graphics on a brick wall. The street level was the actual tannery, and hides were loaded directly into rail cars from the rear of the building.

Bartlett Street and Depot Street cobblestones, 1976

Along the way, it belonged to the Sternberg Family, and an old advertisement says "We buy anything and sell everything." Which also included hides, sheep skins, beeswax, goose feathers, wool, ginseng, second hand machinery, I-beams and scrap metals of all descriptions. 

In April 2011, Asheville Greenworks was the main tenant downstairs, and remained for two years. They moved to Riverside Drive in 2013, where they still have their offices.

A gift shop moved in immediately, and have since relocated to Gerber Village. 

The summer of 2015 was a renovation of the downstairs location, to create new studio space for additional artists. It was more a de-construction than
construction, as the office-y cubicles, dropped ceiling and carpet were eliminated and taken back to the concrete floor and original ceiling height. What has evolved is an open studio plan for three artists on the lower level.

                                       357 Depot Street
                                         Asheville, NC

NorthLight Studios is the small building on the right, 1976.

The flood of 1916, and the Depot, on Depot Street.

pre-construction

During construction.