In an unassuming corner of Prescott’s industrial district lies one of the city’s most compelling artistic enclaves. At 697 6th Street, the 6th Street Business Park is home to a vibrant group of working artists who have transformed light-industrial units into studios brimming with color, texture, sparks, sound and story. From metal and stone sculpture to fine glass, textiles, oil painting and kinetic mobiles, this unlikely space pulses with creativity, and the public is invited inside, year-round.
The Art on 6th Street event series offers a rare chance to see this community in full swing. Scheduled open-studio dates for 2025 include May 16-17, June 21, July 19 and August 16, all 10am-4pm, culminating in the annual Prescott Studio Tour October 3-5 and a festive Holiday Show November 21-22.
To call it a collective would be misleading. “It’s a loose group of creatives,” explains says glass artist Cindi Shaffer, “We all work in our own media, our own studios, but we organize these shows together because it just makes sense. We’re neighbors, and there's a shared energy here that draws people in.”
Cindi’s studio, Astral Glass, is filled with sheets of glass, industrial tools, kilns and cast pieces glowing with vibrant hues. Just down the row, sculptor Paul Landis crafts kinetic mobiles that respond to the slightest breath of air, transforming spaces with motion and balance. Both artists emphasize how important the synergy among neighbors has become to their own work. “Need something welded? I go two doors down, to Ron Miller. Want to incorporate a piece of glass? I talk to Cindi. If it’s fiber or textile work, I visit Joan Knight. We’re not formally organized, but there’s an appreciation and respect that fuels collaboration,” Paul says.
The business park was designed for light manufacturing, which makes it ideal for artists who need space to build, fire, weld, pour or carve. You’ll find tools and raw materials scattered beside finished pieces, offering a glimpse into the hands-on nature of the work. During open studio events, the studios are cleaned up and arranged for visitors, but even then they retain their lived-in, working character, more a behind-the-scenes pass than a traditional art show.
And that’s the magic of Art on 6th Street. You’re not just viewing finished work, you’re stepping into the process. You might see a jeweler soldering a clasp, or a glass artist sawing wet sheets to prep for fusing. Conversations unfold over the whir of a fan or the hum of equipment. It’s art being made, not just displayed.
The lineup of artists shifts slightly each year, but visitors can expect a wide array of media and personalities. There’s the rich, vibrant oil paintings and monotype prints of Mary Hays, known for her bold color use. There’s the upcycled, industrial steel sculpture of Leslee Oaks, who recently rejoined the Prescott arts scene after years away. Joan Knight, a textile artist, shares her space with jeweler Hillarie Strong, while Jonathan Decker and Marcella Hirschy’s Miramontes Studio offers sculpture, scarves, and eclectic visual pieces. Arliss Newcomb, a stone sculptor well into her 80s, works from Cindi’s studio, living proof that creative energy doesn’t wane with age. Sculptor Mary Schulte was the first artist to set up in the complex. Newer arrivals, like the young jeweler duo Dave and Harvest, bring fresh energy into the mix.
The artists encourage visitors to take their time. With onsite parking and six buildings to explore, it’s easy to spend a full afternoon wandering from studio to studio, chatting with the artists, watching demonstrations or purchasing a unique piece. During summer events kids may be running lemonade stands. Someone might be grilling. Paul once offered discounts to visitors who entered dancing. There’s a sense of joy, generosity and deep authenticity that makes this event something more than a market. It’s a celebration of what happens when artists are given the space to thrive together.
If you want to visit outside of scheduled events, most studios are accessible by appointment, though it’s wise to call ahead; these are working spaces, not storefronts, and artists can’t always stop mid-process to host drop-ins. Contact information can be found on brochures or through the group’s Facebook presence, and for event days, look for the bright yellow signs along 6th Street to guide you in.
Is this a temporary phenomenon? Hardly: “We’re dug in,” says Paul with a laugh, and he’s right. Tenants may shift and new artists may arrive, but the energy at 6th Street continues to grow. As Cindi notes, “This didn’t happen overnight. It evolved, artist by artist, over the years, and it keeps getting better.”
Facebook: facebook.com/arton6thstreet
