Bend may be known as a beer and bike town, but Cari Brown, founder and owner of the artist collective The Workhouse, also dreams of making Bend a well-known art town. In 2012, when she decided to open The Workhouse, Cari had witnessed other art hubs in town fold after the 2008 recession. Bend was struggling, but the creative spark was alive and well.

The Workhouse in the Old Bend Iron Works shares the plaza with nine other creative businesses. Developed in the early 1900s, the Iron Works property originally housed a machine shop and foundry pinched between the railroad intersection and old turn-of-the-century lumber mill lots. Today, it’s across the entry road to Crux Brewery, with Highway 97 rattling above and busy 3rd Street churning to the east. But nestled between, in a narrow strip of mixed commercial and residential neighborhood, is an artist’s oasis. Combining open studio spaces with a thriving marketplace, The Workhouse is home to eight working artists and represents over 70 Oregon artists and artisans in their retail shop, mostly from Bend and the surrounding areas.

The idea began when Cari was working as a studio assistant for jeweler and artist Stuart Breidenstein, owner of Stuart’s of Bend, who rented a workspace next door. Cari managed and worked as a baker at the nearby Sparrow Bakery (now called Café des Chutes, also owned by Cari) and loved the charming, niche neighborhood feel. When a space became available in the Iron Works, Cari and Stuart discussed how to bring more business to the area and agreed to become co-owners of what they called The Workhouse.

“The name is a cheeky nod because we were coming out of a major economic depression,” says Cari. “We wanted to create a space that invites people to make creative work and labor a positive thing, especially when working on behalf of one’s community. At that time, there weren't a lot of opportunities for artists to sell their work locally. So, we decided to create a hybrid model that would allow working studio artists also to have direct access to retail through a showroom.”

Using salvaged wood from the landlord and other places in town, they improved the space, highlighting the building’s natural arches, beams and brickwork. In March 2012, they opened during what they call Last Saturdays, a spin-off of downtown Bend’s First Fridays. Last Saturdays remains a property-wide event, including most of the businesses at the Iron Works. They play live music in the grotto, stay open for longer hours and celebrate the creativity pouring throughout Oregon.

After more than a decade, the business has evolved organically. Cari bought Stuart’s half of the business, and now she owns The Workhouse and neighboring Café des Chutes with her husband, Christian Brown, who is also a fine artist, metal fabricator and finish carpenter. Meanwhile, artists continue to apply to become studio members, joining the waitlist until one of the eight studio spaces opens. The Workhouse focuses on artists and artisans from Central Oregon but also features artists from other areas in Oregon. Some artists have been renting studios on a month-to-month basis for 12 years. Some have been there only a month. Next door, another artist collective, Mud Lake Studios, has 16 studios, mostly clay and ceramic potters.

Studio artists at The Workhouse are expected to work the retail counter at least two days a month, which helps the space offer retail hours seven days a week. It is also recommended they be in their studio during business hours at least three days a week so customers can see them at work. As a perk of being a studio member, they also pay the lowest commission rate on their art.

The value of walking through an artist collective, besides shopping for locally, hand-made quality fair, is that visitors get to meet the artists and understand the amount of skill, dedication and creative energy it takes to make high-quality art. “There’s this whole idea about the lonely artist working in their studios struggling to get by,” says Cari. “We want to have an artist community that creates opportunities for more collaboration and support between artists. Then, we invite the public to witness art in the making and help demystify the art-making process. We want to show that artists are people too, and anyone with a creative spark and curiosity can pursue art and turn it into something.”

Many customers love meeting the artists, asking questions, and learning how things are made and how they work. One of the biggest assets of bringing artists closer to the public eye is that people can see the effort and skills required to create many beautiful and unique things. According to Cari, “Roughly 80% of our artists are making a living at making art or turning their life in that direction.” Having a space like The Workhouse, where artists can make and sell art, allows artists to be more dedicated to their craft while having the built-in stability of artists in numbers.

Shoppers can buy a plethora of amazing gifts and souvenirs, including handmade greeting cards, artisan soap, blankets, stationery, art prints and originals, custom jewelry, ceramics, pottery, letterpress works, illustrations, books written by local authors, tea, chocolate, stained glass, self-care apothecary products, handmade puzzles and so much more.

“Our goal is to represent the community that’s right here,” says Cari. Instead of curating the shop to any person’s aesthetic, The Workhouse represents the types of creative people living in Central Oregon while still holding a high standard of quality and professionalism.

The Workhouse is open seven days a week and offers many special events, such as Last Saturdays, the Iron Works Art Walk every month from March through September, Gathered Wares' 2nd Sunday Vintage Market and the Craft-O! holiday bizarre, which traditionally occurs on the second weekend in December.

Next time you’re in Bend, plan a visit to The Workhouse and this iconic artist village on SE Scott Street. Consider riding your bike and making a day of it. Have coffee or lunch at Café des Chutes and spend time in each of the wonderful shops. Feel free to ask questions of the artists—they are there, after all, because they, too, are seeking community. The joys of art making should be shared with others, and places like The Workhouse are helping make that happen for everyone living in and visiting Central Oregon.

The Workhouse; 50 SE Scott St #6, Bend; (541)241-2754