Shelter for the Muse

A new kind of studio/gallery space will rise out of the shell of an old family business tonight when Helikon Gallery & Studios officially opens its doors at 3675 Wynkoop Street with an inaugural exhibit and community reception. Illustrator Cayce Goldberg, whose family once ran a limo service out of the building, says the structure was gutted and completely redeveloped after the business was sold in 2011 and now houses a 1,500-square-foot gallery space, studio rentals, flex space and a mixed-use retail space and cafe selling Novo coffee drinks, fine-art prints, T-shirts, stickers and other handmades.

“We look at the building as a community for artists, not just a gallery and studios,” says Goldberg, who helps run the space with his brother, also an artist. “I didn’t design the space, but I helped to guide the designers to make it a good fit for artists. Every artist has a fantasy.”

Helikon will introduce itself to the neighborhood tonight from 6 to 10 p.m. for the opening of Muses of Mount Helikon (Helikon is a reference to the mountain refuge of the Muses in Greek mythology), an eclectic group show of works by artists from across the nation. A second, more formal reception follows at the same time on First Friday in November; for details and more about Helikon, go to helik-ongallery.com.

Tue., Oct. 29, 6-10 p.m.; Oct. 29-Nov. 30; Fri., Nov. 1, 6-10 p.m., 2013