Whether you’re a fan of the nitty-grittiness of pottery and clay or the delicate strokes of acrylic on canvas, the Screw Factory has it all. Located behind Madison Park in Lakewood, Ohio, the Screw Factory attracts a diverse range of backgrounds, experiences and ideas that all share one common thread — art. The open studios at the Screw Factory are not just a creative outlet for resident artists, but also provide Northeast Ohio spectators with an opportunity to experience the different forms and love of art.
Business developer Guly O’Brien, who works on marketing and community outreach, describes the gallery as more than a collection of artists. “What I can really describe this entire place as is a maker studio. So it’s not just the gallery, it’s where everything is created here locally, and it could be distributed throughout Ohio,” O’Brien says. Although the intended mission extends far beyond marketing, it touches on the creativity of it all. O’Brien is heavily dedicated to cultivating a colorful, diverse environment where both artists and visitors can immerse themselves in the creative process.
“I feel like the building is always kind of inspiring as an artist. There’s, like, a certain charm to it, and I just love being surrounded by so many other potters. I love walking around and being like, ‘Oh my god, look at that, look at that,’” says Potter Thalia Arias-Gonzalez.
Along with the immersive walk that the Screw Factory provides, they also offer pottery classes from Arias-Gonzalez. This hands-on experience not only opens up a creative hobby for beginners but also provides a raw opportunity that many can’t experience in a regular pottery class.
But the building didn’t start that way. Initially, the factory was established as the headquarters for Templar Motors in 1917. However, spectators in 2025 are able to experience certain parts of the building as they were in 1917. In 1995, the transition to a vibrant artistic hub began, thanks to artist Phyllis Fannin. Fannin brought an immense amount of creative expression to the building, which has provided a pathway for so many resident artists and aspiring artists. Fannin, beginning her printmaking career, allows visitors to see the behind-the-scenes process of imagery that captures the emotional aspects of life.
Fannin’s signature medium is printmaking. Printmaking is the process in which images from a matrix are transferred onto another surface, such as paper or fabric. “When you press it, it will be different shapes. So she used this machine to press it through here, and then she used this machine to go through and put it on paper,” O’Brien says.
The most unique part of the open studios is the opportunity for visitors to experience the raw process of creating art firsthand. In this case, it involves machines that press materials from one spot to another. Fannin’s impact lives in every single one of the open studios.
Printmaking is just one of many exquisite art techniques to see. “Sometimes, if something’s not working, then going into pastel and charcoal, even if it’s on top of an oil painting, … can help,” says resident artist Allison Board-Hall. Board-Hall’s primary mediums are oil and acrylic on canvas, where she brings the world’s visions to life in her paintings.
“I want it to sort of be like a reflection of strength in the everyday. I think we’re all sort of looking for that right now, and I definitely put political undertones in my paintings. But, I think at the end of the day, it’s more just about how we’re all human, and we’re just trying to make it day to day,” says Board-Hall.
No matter the creative outlet — whether it’s pottery or visual art — the Screw Factory shares the value of all creative processes. Specifically for Board-Hall, that means finding the small details in the dark that can be brought to light. Some of her paintings include figures in a window or swans, with each brushstroke conveying the true meaning behind them.
As its legacy has been passed down from cars to storage to art, the Screw Factory has never compromised the true passion behind creativity. Just as the building itself has been used — and continues to be used — for many purposes, the art shares that same value. Whether you are a devoted art lover or simply a casual observer, the Screw Factory is bound to provide Northeast Ohioans with an experience of a lifetime.
