Meet Julie Bell | Artist & Co-owner of Trackside Studios

We had the good fortune of connecting with Julie Bell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Julie, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
We formed Trackside Studios in 2015 in a very organic way. We were three friends, Lynn, Michael, and me, who shared a studio space and wanted to expand into adjacent spaces in our building when they became available. Each of us created art for the sheer joy of it and were delighted when someone shared that joy and either talked with us about it or purchased it. As we expanded, our goal was to invite new artists into the space as well as established artists. We hoped we could all learn from one another. It was not an initial goal to make money and we were actually several years into our business before we realized we should at least give ourselves a working space rather than also paying rent. I believe the most important factor behind our success is that we chose artists to share space with us not only for the art they created but even more importantly for themselves … their personality, values, and positive energy. All this positive energy is what I believe created our success in terms of being a place where both artists and those who enjoy art like to gather.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
We would want the world to know that we are a business that was built with love and joy as a place for artists to learn and grow. We now have two owners, Michael and me (Julie). For the past decade, our business itself has not paid us a salary. Our business model has been that we create art in our studio and invite other artists to join us. Their rent pays our rent to the building owner. We then keep a modest percentage of sales to cover marketing, packaging, receptions, supplies, and bank fees.
We got here organically. There was never a written business plan or goal for how we would benefit or make money. The goal was always to find ways to support other artists, especially those who were just beginning their art career.
We’ve learned scores of lessons because it’s always been trial and error. Some of our major challenges came with redesigning and reallocating space based on expanding into new spaces in 2015, a major increase in rent from the 2018 reappraisals that really hit certain areas such as the River Arts District, and changes when the building was purchased in 2023 and the new owner had fabulous new ideas that also necessitated changes in our spaces. We faced these times as an opportunity to grow personally and as a creative space. We also faced them by being honest with the artists about what the changes were, how we were going to adapt, and how it may impact them.
We’ve learned that you cannot please everyone; you need to choose your intentions (e.g., for space) and then stick to it in order to maintain trust; and that the best way to work with large groups is through frequent, open and honest communication that comes from the heart.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We would hop on a trolley that introduces people to the area. Depending on our visitor’s interest, it would be the Gray Line hop-on-hop-off trolley, a LaZoom comedy adventure, or a ghost tour from either company.
If our friends are hikers, we would go to any or all of Graveyard Fields, Black Balsam Knob trail, Dupont State Forest, Rattlesnake Lodge or other awesome trails.
We would definitely spend time at the NC Arboretum to enjoy gardens, the bistro, and hikes along the creek.
The Grove Park Inn is a must to enjoy the architecture, food, sunsets; if it’s the holidays to see the Gingerbread houses and the uniquely decorated trees at each window
Food – White Duck Taco, Good Hot Fish, Corner Kitchen, Chestnut, Chai Pani — too many to name; my primary advice is to eat local!
If my visitor likes beer, we would roam the South Slope hopping in and out of the various breweries or head to Highland Brewing to hang out in the meadow
We would definitely visit the studios of the River Arts District.
We would hang out in my very tiny back yard watching flowers bloom and catch up with one another

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shout Out to family and friends, many of whom are fellow artists, who care about us, support us, join us for a chat, decorate the studio, offer feedback and ideas and jump in when something needs doing. We deeply appreciate the support of the River Arts District Artists (RADA) organization for their commitment to the arts and artists in the River Arts District. And a big shout out to the hundreds of volunteers who donated over a thousand hours to helping us clean up, rebuild, and reopen Trackside Studios after destruction of 3/4ths of our gallery from the flooding related to Hurricane Helene.

Website: https://tracksidestudios.com

Instagram: @tracksidestudios375art

Facebook: Trackside Studios at 375 Depot

Image Credits
Micah Usher, Julie Bell