Unique and Colorful Features of the Gallery & Studios

• Judith Dickinson's gallery is in the former jail made up of two cells and exercise space.  A few former inmates have dropped by to reminisce and tell their stories.
• The interrogation room is now two studios with a one way mirror in between. 
• Jewelry is now displayed in the evidence safe which has a door a bank would envy.
• Entering the back door you will find storage for the officer's guns.
• There is a bullet hole in the ceiling from the accidental discharge of an officer's gun on the 2nd floor ( no one was injured)
• Now the color and excitement comes from the art produced in our 14 or so studios.

History

Located in the center of downtown, 36 S. Main Street started its life in 1953 as Brighton, Colorado’s City Hall, occupying the land on which the former fire department stood. The building was designed by prominent Boulder architect James N. Hunter in the Usonian style. Usonian was a term coined by Frank Lloyd Wright to describe his vision for the New World philosophy of the United States. The City Hall’s cornerstone was donated by the local chapter of Masons and laid with considerable pomp and celebration in 1952. It conceals a time capsule containing a wide variety of items indicative of Brighton in 1952. With a growing population, the City Hall outgrew this space in 2010 and moved to a new location at 501 S. 4th Street, leaving 36 S. Main vacant. 

The Founder

Judith Dickinson moved to Brighton to pursue her art career full time. Originally, Judith set up a gallery and classrooms for the Art Academy of Colorado at 24 N. Main St, Brighton. A few years later, city officials, recognizing the benefit of an art community in the city, offered the empty building to Main Street Creatives as a cultural incubator. 

Main Street Gallery, also known as Main Street Creatives now houses a large gallery where Colorado artists exhibit and hold receptions, a classroom, and 10 studio spaces ranging in size from 200 sq. ft. to 850 sq. ft. Many of those studios have what artists value so much, north facing windows. We have a wonderful mix of nationally known artists and avid hobbyists. Of interest, the building’s origins are still very much in evidence. Judith Dickinson’s studio is located in the exercise area for the two former jail cells. The jail cells, complete with steel bars and the original stainless commodes, hold her supplies and canvases. The evidence safe which is located in the gallery has a door that a bank vault would envy. Near the north entrance, wall cabinets advise you to ‘lock your car keys with your gun’. A two way mirror still connects the interrogation room to an adjacent room, both are now studios, and way back in the ceramics area, a bullet hole in the ceiling caused by an accidental firearms discharge is memorialized with the inscription of the offending officer’s name followed by ‘lives on’. 

We at Main Street Gallery cannot thank the City of Brighton enough for continuing to provide this beautiful and historic space to the artists who have found a home and built a community.



Information on the building’s history and the attached photos were obtained with the help of Kimberly Bauer and her staff at the Historic Preservation Center for the City of Brighton.