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Alchemy Station, a consulting firm and art studio that supports local artists to realize this dream in the Allston community, launched their Allston location earlier this year at the Allston Labworks (280 Western Ave).

The duo Kate Anderson and Suzi Hlavacek of Alchemy Station works with artists to create spaces that are grounded in the context of the community. “When we work with our clients, we really want to get a sense of […] goals for their space,” said Anderson. “So, for example […] it could be a hotel, and it’s in a historic building, and they […] want to tell the story of the history of the neighborhood.” 

Anderson and Hlavacek founded Alchemy Station in 2022. Prior to that, Anderson had been a member of the Entrepreneurs Organization where she learned the skills she needed to run a business from human resources to contracting. However, Anderson credited a book called Start with Why by Simon Sinek as a motivating factor toward launching her own company.  

“People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it,” she said. “A lot of people don’t even know why they do what they do.” That philosophy carries over to the ethic Anderson and Hlavacek established with their artists.

They enlisted the help of Miki Diminico, managing director of King Street Properties, to help them find a studio large enough to function as a collective for early-career artists. 

Alchemy Station offers more than space. Anderson and Hlavacek work closely with artists throughout the creative process, as well as with practical issues, such as helping them find studio space or referring clients to reasonably priced framing businesses.

Stephen Hamilton, of Roxbury, Mass., is one of Alchemy Station’s residential studio artists. His work centers around African art practices of sculpting, weaving and dying and mixed media. His pieces often require space, and Anderson and Hlavacek were willing to accommodate him.

 “I am one of the artists who participated in the Boston Public Art Triennial,” said Hamilton. “Through [Alchemy Station], I was able to get the space that I needed to work on […] the project.”

Four years after they opened, Alchemy Station have been attempting to engage the Allston community by recruiting upcoming artists through organizations such as the Harvard Ed Portal and the Artisan’s Asylum.

King Street Properties facilitated Alchemy Station’s expansion by working with the city’s Office of Arts and Culture, where they have received feedback on potential expansion and targeted marketing.

The artists themselves engage with the Allston community as well. “Part of my work as an educator has been developing programming workshops for Black and brown communities in Boston centered around themes that are important in my practice as an artist,” said Hamilton. 

As the enterprise continues, Anderson and Hlavacek hope to inspire artists to see themselves beyond their role, applying their skills as storytellers, teachers and entrepreneurs. ■