LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- This Friday, from 5-9 p.m., the Screw Factory Artists, located in the Lake Erie Building, 13000 Athens Avenue in Lakewood, are opening their studios for a spring open studio event. About 40 artists, 30 of them with resident studios in the building, will be displaying their works for sale and their studios for viewing.

The Lake Erie Building not only houses Lakewood's largest artist community, but functions as a working factory for small business tenants, and is also the home of the automobile collection for which the building was built. Templar Motor Company manufactured automobiles in the building as early as 1917.

The Templar Motors Factory Museum will display nine automobiles that were built in the building between 1917 and 1924. The automobiles will be showcased in the Templar Room on the third floor. Come visit with the artists, make a ceramic piece, enjoy artwork, food and step back in time to learn about Cleveland automotive history.

Katie Hanrahan of KHanrahan Designs will have her jewelry studio open for the event. A former librarian, Hanrahan began making jewelry after a friend showed her how to make a pair of earrings. She now has time for her passion and her work features silver and copper metals as well as beads.

Hanrahan, a seven-year tenant of the building, says "It's a wonderful atmosphere here with other artists, even if they aren't working in the same medium, they have great input." Hanrahan's inspiration comes from all over, other artists, Pinterist, magazines, ancient cultures. She is currently working on an Egyptian inspired series.

Gina DeSantis of gina desantis ceramics helped Kathy Patton of Screw Factory Artists coordinate the event. DeSantis will open her studio and classroom where guests can see ceramics projects in process. DeSantis, who obtained her art degree from Cleveland State University and her masters from Kent State University, has leased a studio in the building for the last seven years. She opened a ceramics classroom across the hall from her studio about a year ago. This week, DeSantis is working on filling a large order of ceramic mugs for retailer Uncommon Goods.

Jenn Szalkowski of

is new to the building. She leased her studio in October of 2013. She and her studio dog, Blue, love the late shift, thus the meaning behind the name Night Owl Glass for her studio. Szalkowski produces fused glass jewelry, home decor and gift items. She pairs her glass soap dishes with soap produced by another artist in the building to make a lovely gift set. Szalkowski teaches glass making class in her studio in the building and on the East side at Orange Art Center.

More information on resident artists can be found at screwfactoryartists.com. The Lake Erie Building is available for special event rentals. For information on the Lake Erie Building go to lakeeriebuilding.com.