Business Spotlight: Pickwick Underground Studio

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Pickwick Underground Studio|ret||ret||tab|

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|bold_on|Owner: Laurie Knowlton|ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Founded: September 2000|ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Address: 1424 E. Cherry St., Springfield 65802|ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Telephone: 417-832-1797|ret||ret||tab|

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by Michele Skalicky|ret||ret||tab|

SBJ Contributing Writer|ret||ret||tab|

sbj@sbj.net|ret||ret||tab|

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Laurie Knowlton is completing her vision at the corner of Pickwick and Cherry.|ret||ret||tab|

Knowlton, a master framer and art consultant, along with photographer Josh Mitchell opened an art gallery and framing shop Pickwick Underground Studio and Josh Mitchell Fine Art Gallery on the southwest corner of the intersection in February 2003. |ret||ret||tab|

Knowlton started Pickwick Underground in the basement of her home just down the street from Pickwick Place in September 2000. She had been in the framing business nearly 25 years, working for various galleries as well as frame and design shops.|ret||ret||tab|

Knowlton had built up a "nice following of clientele a 20-year build up of relationships" in her art-framing career, both with individual clients and interior designers, she said. So she felt confident she could run a successful business on her own. She still does the production aspect of her business in her home basement. But Knowlton reached the point where her business had outgrown the space it was in.|ret||ret||tab|

When space became available at 1424 E. Cherry St. with room for an art gallery, office and a more professional place for Knowlton to meet with clients, she and Mitchell jumped at the chance and leased the first-floor space.|ret||ret||tab|

Knowlton's custom picture framing business offers everything from the vision what a client wants the artwork to look like in his or her home or office to the installation.|ret||ret||tab|

Knowlton offers custom framing, frames and matting supplies. She also has equipment to accommodate oversized artwork.|ret||ret||tab|

"The main thing is working closely with an interior designer and/or the client with their individual needs trying to find the best suitable framing solution for their art and their environment," she said.|ret||ret||tab|

Mitchell has his work on display and for sale at Pickwick Underground Studio and The Josh Mitchell Fine Art Gallery. He also "helps bridge the gap between other artists' work and getting their work to the reproduction level," with his technology and printing equipment, Knowlton said.|ret||ret||tab|

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Entrepreneurial activity|ret||ret||tab|

A few years ago, while framing for local shops, Knowlton felt she needed to look for another source of revenue. A massage therapist had created a spark of interest in Knowlton about getting into the field a few years earlier, and she enrolled at Professional Massage Training Center. |ret||ret||tab|

Knowlton was still working for a frame shop when she finished school and realized she needed more flexibility if she were to be able to offer massage therapy as well, which was an impetus for her to strike out on her own.|ret||ret||tab|

Knowlton has provided massage therapy for the last four years at Visions Studio, owned by Terri Schulte, at 617 S. Pickwick in Pickwick Place. |ret||ret||tab|

In December, Knowlton and four colleagues opened Zen 3 a mind, body and spirit studio at 621 S. Pickwick. Knowlton rented space previously occupied by Sara's Country Keepsakes, as well as space in the back that once was a two-car garage.|ret||ret||tab|

The body, mind and spirit studio offers yoga, massage and artwork, and soon will feature Tea Bar & Bites where people can enjoy herbal tea as well as "healthy snacks," Knowlton said.|ret||ret||tab|

Annette Evans, a massage therapist and yoga instructor who operates the Open Spaces Yoga Studio at Zen 3, felt like Zen 3 was a good opportunity for her. "I've been surprised at the response I've got with the yoga studio," she said. Classes filled up quickly, and she had to add an evening class.|ret||ret||tab|

Knowlton's other partners in Zen 3 are Colleen Smith, owner of Tea Bar & Bites, Jeremy Shipley, who does massage therapy and yoga, and Mary Bendure, who does massage therapy.|ret||ret||tab|

"I liked the idea of being with a group of peers and all of us working together, and yet all of us being our own boss," Knowlton said.|ret||ret||tab|

Eventually, Knowlton said, they'd like to offer the courtyard and backyard space at Pickwick Place for wedding receptions and other outdoor events, and she'd like to bring back the farmers' market that had previously operated at Pickwick Place.|ret||ret||tab|

As for Pickwick Underground Studio and The Josh Mitchell Fine Art Gallery, Knowlton said she and Mitchell would like to feature guest artists in their space. They already offer work by two other photographers Dan Frisch and Mark Shiply.|ret||ret||tab|

"Josh and I are always brainstorming and coming up with new creative concepts to get art out there for people to enjoy... so we feel there's no stopping the creative level here," she said. "And we want to be able to share our space with other artists, to let them have a space to present their artistic expressions."|ret||ret||tab|

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