Lakewood, a city known for its blossoming artistic community, constantly supports the flow of small businesses and artists that shape its identity. One key venue hosting this creative scene is The Screw Factory, which recently held its annual “Small Business Saturday event” on Nov. 29 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Kathleen Anderson, who handles the day-to-day operations and event coordination at The Screw Factory since joining last October, provided background on the event.
“My hopes are just to have people come in and be able to look at the artist’s work, and hopefully the artists are able to make some sales,” Anderson said.
The event’s impact goes beyond a typical sale day. Anderson stressed the importance of the sales for the vendors: “A lot of them (small business owners) are reliant on small business sales, so this event really helps them push towards the end of the holiday season and gives them the boost they need, since a lot of them rely on these sales to make a living.”
The Screw Factory hosts similar events throughout the year, with the next one being the holiday showcase scheduled for Dec. 19 through the 21st.
The “Small Business Saturday event” spanned the factory’s three floors, filling every corner of the extensive building with vendors who lease space there. It began on a chilly Saturday morning and continued into the evening.
One featured business was “Forbidden Morgue,” run by artist Ellen Kilpatrick. Her space, specializing in “rather morbid yet amazing acrylic paintings,” is one of the first businesses visible when entering from the west on the first floor.
Kilpatrick is one of the 80 artists present in the factory and has been running the Forbidden Morgue since 2023, said, “I just wanted to bring my art to people and make it accessible and just overall share what I love,”
The factory showcased more than just paintings. Attendees could also find intricate wood carvings, such as those offered by Grizzlies Workshop. Owner Greg Sanford said “I’m a laser-based woodworking company, and I’ve been doing this for about three years.”
Sanford has been with The Screw Factory for a little under a year. “I’ve just been enjoying seeing all the people come through who are all enjoying my work,” Sanford said
Events like this are not only an amazing way to find heartfelt and thought-out gifts for loved ones, but they’re also a chance to interact with the small business owners and learn more about what they do and how they do it.
Among the participants were business duos, including Patrick and Pattianne Baran. Patrick Baran, who has been in the business for five years, handles the “concepts, paintings, drawings, sculptures, and overall ideas. His favorite work is his “Suds Buds,” plush animals that double as beverage koozies. Barren appreciates having a space to sell their creations. “Well, it keeps us off the street, so we’re not panhandling, so come on down.”
Pattianne Baran, the other half of the duo, has a long history in art. “Well, I’ve been an art director and an industrial designer for 25 years or more, and I’ve been semi-retired, doing portraits for the balance of my career,” she said. She specializes in commissioned portraits of pets and families and hopes to see support for her small business during the holidays.
Events The Screw Factory serve as a great reminder to residents of Lakewood of how important local artists and businesses are not only to the foundation of the city itself, but they also mold Lakewood’s identity as an ever-growing and welcoming community.
