Artist Studio Rental Space
The Pioneer Building is currently home to studio work space for over 35 talented metro-Detroit artists, including; painters, sculptors, photographers, and woodworkers.
Pioneer Building Artists:
Linda Allen ~ Suzanne Andersen ~ Madeleine Barkey ~ Jeanne Bieri ~ Matthew Breneau ~ Joyce Brienza ~ Loralei R. Byatt ~ Jenny Chope ~ Renee Dooley ~ Barbara Dorchen ~ Joan Farago ~ Joe Ferraro ~ Anne Fracassa ~ Marcia Freedman ~ Rosemarie Hughes ~ Birgit Huttemann-Holz ~ Carole Kabrin ~ Charlotte Weaver King ~ Denise Kozlo ~ Paul Kowa ~ Bobby Litwin ~ David Mikesell ~ Sherry Moore ~ Corinne Pemberton ~ Teresa Petersen ~ Josephine Primeau ~ Claudia Shepard ~ Scott Taylor ~ Sioux Trujillo ~ Alan Watson ~ Christine Welch
Pioneer Building History:
In 1905, two brothers named Trippensee started a corporation to make orreries, mechanical models of the Earth, Moon, and Sun. In 1908, they built their own building and shifted manufacturing to enclosed bodies for Buick and Ford. Sometime in the early 1920s, they sold the building to Barney Everitt and it became home for Rickenbacker Motorcar Co. Through 1960, the building served various tenants who made everything from ice scrapers to hacksaws.
For more history on this era, here is an interesting link:
http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/t/trippensee/trippensee.htm
Gerhard Woberman bought the building in 1960, using it for his Pioneer Office Products business. Here he built large wooden conference tables and other office furniture. In 1985 Gerhard decided to downsize his business and rent unused space in the building to artists. While working towards her MFA at Wayne State University, Anne Fracassa began renting a space there. In 1994 when Gerhard decided to sell, Anne's six children purchased it and eventually completed the conversion of the entire building into artist studio spaces.
Currently our studios are fully occupied. If you are interested in future space, drop us a note and we'll put you on our list.
The building is private space, but once a year we host an open house that draws hundreds of visitors to see the working studios of the artists and purchase some great local art!
