Art gallery opens on West Side

Art gallery opens on West Side

Courtesy Muse

After months of renovation, there is a new space for creatives on the city’s West Side.

There was ribbon-cutting ceremony today for Muse, an art gallery in Grand Rapids, at 727 Leonard St. NW.

Muse will be an “interactive gallery” where people can either host events, take classes, hold workshops or schedule photo shoots.

The building is a former adult bookstore, which was purchased by Stephen Smith and Taylor Smith in 2016.

The pair said they are “literally bringing light to a dark place.”

The windows of the building were blacked out before the purchase.

“We wanted to bring something new and creative to Grand Rapids,” Stephen Smith said. “We are looking to better the community through interactive art.”

The refurbishing of the building started in January.

The 3,000-square-foot building features 2,000 square feet of event space.

Muse is setup with tables, chairs, internet and wireless sound systems.

Stephen Smith also works for Grand Rapids Public Schools, and Taylor Smith also works at World Renew.

The real estate broker for the transaction was Bryan Mitchell, and Chemical Bank provided financing for the purchase.