South Side Studios creates a place for Petersburg creatives to hang their hats.
This October, an outdoorsman from New York set out for Spruce Knob—the latest stop on his mission to scale the highest peak in every state. In Petersburg, his home away from home for the journey, he stumbled upon South Side Studios, where a poetry open mic was alive with local talent. He found a greater sense there of the local people and culture than he had witnessed in any other state during his travels. According to executive director Jenny Nielsen, there’s no better testament to the spirit of South Side Studios.
Housed on the second floor of the South Side Depot, this community arts hub has been hard at work since it opened mid-2024, thanks to a grant from the West Virginia Creative Network. It sought to answer the desire for a local space for artists of all kinds to gather—professionals, hobbyists, and aficionados alike. It’s the type of creative headquarters that Kelson Thorne, one of the resident artists at South Side Studios, could only have dreamt of at the beginning of his career. Through rotating gallery exhibitions, resident artist studios, classes, and retail space, it offers a place for artists to call home.
“There are so many talented people that are doing art in a holler that never get a chance to be seen because there’s not an outlet provided in small towns throughout West Virginia,” says Thorne. “That’s what South Side Studios really does—it has brought out talents that have been hidden in the mountains.”
Such talents have included the West Virginia artists leading the latest workshop series: The Art of Cozy. Is there a better way to weather winter than curling up with a soft blanket and a warm cup of tea? Maybe by adding a cozy craft to the mix. That’s exactly what The Art of Cozy is all about, with classes on traditional fiber arts like embroidery, felting, rug hooking, and weaving. The series concluded in November, but an exhibition beginning December 5 will celebrate the artwork made during the classes—and provide a glimpse into the possibilities of getting creative with South Side Studios.
“Something really special happens when people come together over creativity,” says Nielsen. “When we’re sitting together and working with our hands, everybody encourages each other and learns something new, and stories are shared—it’s such a supportive environment.”
South Side Studios will close in January and February for renovations, but a little construction can’t stop creativity—Nielsen says the group’s plans for the new year are extensive. Look forward to a variety of workshops, gallery shows rotating every two months, and the development of the depot’s backyard into a performance venue, as well as a mural apprentice program and the annual Folk Around Festival, both hosted by Thorne.
126 South Main Street, Petersburg, southsidedepotwv.com, “South Side Studios WV” on FB
READ MORE ARTICLES FROM WV LIVING’S WINTER 2025 ISSUE
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